Over the head with a monopod

[90c4]

I should have snapped some shots of this photographer in action, but one of the shooters at the Newport Folk Festival had an interesting setup - he had his camera on a monopod that he held up about 3 feet higher than eye level and used a wired remote shutter. It was a high stage and he said he swears by that approach to avoid nostril shots. He pre-focused the shots, and given the light he was probably using a pretty small aperture to help keep things in focus. I'll have to try that sometime.

[narlus]

ryan muir did that @ ATP last year for Lightning Bolt's set...if you aren't familiar w/ the band, they are a noise rock duo (bass and drums) which randomly set up on the floor...then people pack around them. not much stage lighting to speak of. ryan used his monopod to attach his camera w/ flash and used a fisheye...he arched it over the band and got some pretty cool shots.

[DDCSD]

I will often pre-focus and hold the camera above my head. Its a bit hit-and-miss for me.

[narlus]

I will often pre-focus and hold the camera above my head. Its a bit hit-and-miss for me.

that's why live view is not a gimmick...it actually works well.

[blackshadow]

I've been known to hold my camera high to get the odd shot - some of them have come off very nicely too.

[DDCSD]

that's why live view is not a gimmick...it actually works well.

I can't see the rear LCD when I do this. This is where the articulated screen of the new low-end Nikon would be nice. I still think it would be a bit hit and miss though, I wouldn't be able to tell if the focus fell where I wanted it when holding the camera at arm's length above my head.

[narlus]

i don't depend on seeing the LCD to confirm focus...just the general framing.

[René Damkot]

i don't depend on seeing the LCD to confirm focus...just the general framing.

Same here.

[neil_r]

about 3 (possibly 4) years ago someone posted here a great tutorial on how he had adapted his monopod for just that.

Way too much effort needed to find it now though :-)

[Tim Snow]

I do it quite often, it's pretty useful once you get used to it. It is also a good way to set your images apart from other photogs, which is always a good thing! Pretty easy setup, a fisheye atop a monopod, with either a cabled or wireless release. Good old Hail Mary's!

http://www.timsnowphotography.com/1.jpg


http://www.timsnowphotography.com/2.jpg

[ckckevin]

wow, this is a good way to use monopod. Noted!

[René Damkot]

@Tim: Nice :)