Out of topic but ... breathe control for photography : tips and tricks

Hello to all,


I know it's a bit out of topic but I'd like to know (from photographers, not yogis) how do you manage breathe and body stability in rush situation ?


No IS and 8-600mm f0.5 lenses advice please LoL


Due to often run from spot to spot (sports event for example) , I trained to control breathe but it not perfect for the moment.


Thanks for your help

Get a solid footing first. Tuck in your arms closest to your self and hold your breath when you're about to shoot. Relax. Don't anticipate the movement. That's what I do [:D]

...and don't drink 12 cups of coffee before your morning shoot. :-)

Hey I don't really get it. When I shot sports I never had this problem. Most of the time your shutterspeed is high enough to eliminate any movement from yourself. I found it more hard to concentrate on composure after rushing to another spot. Quickly find out what I want to shoot and what lighting there is and what background is available.


But if you really get out of breath and your photos suffer, the best advice would be a little more exercise to be honest. At least that is what I can think of.


The way I get my steady shots, like slower than 1/30 (tried it with the 100-400 with IS on two days ago and shot 1 sharp picture at 1/6 sec at 400mm, good keeper-rate at 1/30 at 400mm) are mostly by holding the camera with my right hand, supporting the lens with the left hand with the elbow against my body. Taking a deep breath and easily breathing out. I found out that for me keeping my breath doesn't work. But this technique practically works only for still objects.


I hope it helps you a bit.


Jan

It may sound funny but shooting without IS usually means high shutter as others have said. If I have to slow the shutter speed to where I think camera shake is going to be an issue, I stand so my left side is facing the action, kind of hunch over a little, and rest my elbow on my hip. I find that it steadies everything and gives a brace to the camera. I breathe out when I shoot as it seems to calm your body more than trying to hold your breath or anything like that. It may look funny, but I hardly ever get camera shake with that. Doesn't really work if your outside using a 100-400 as you really can't extend your arm, but it works with a 70-200 as all you need is a twist to move the zoom.


Jayson

A monopod would probably be ideal for the original poster. A monopod allows you to quite easily do a run-and-gun type of shooting while still providing crucial stability.

Yeah pretty much the same story. I have to add one thing though. When I use this technique I usually try to keep one of the 9 focus blocks on your focussing screen at a particular point in the frame. That helps me control the movement as well.


Jan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

When I shot sports I never had this problem ... But if you really get out of breath and your photos suffer, the best
advice would be a little more exercise to be honest

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Yeah, thanks to care, but i'm already fit, so that's not the point [:)]


What I meant was (as it's a problem for me sometimes, I'm glad you don't have this probe) just like people who compete in triathlon (which difficulty is to have a run ant then precisely shoot with a rifle), how, is it possible to manage breath.


Aven at 2.8 I believe that it may happen that some people miss their shot sometimes anyway.... or not ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sean Setters

...and don't drink 12 cups of coffee before your morning shoot. :-)

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ha ha, yes. red Bull is better as you can rest the lens on the empty cans ... LoL

Ah thanks for the triathlon (you meant biathlon) tip. Here's something which may help!http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1608/is_2_18/ai_105518168/


Oh and by the way...if you're fit you really shouldn't drink that smelly stuff with the bull on the can [:P]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

Ah thanks for the triathlon (you meant biathlon)

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Yes, biathlon, sorry.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

Oh and by the way...if you're fit you really shouldn't drink that smelly stuff with the bull on the can

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I know, I know ... [:$]


Thanks a lot for the link !

No problem! It's a very interesting question if you ask me. Not per se for taking pictures alone, but also for the shy person between us on this forum it might be a helping hand stressing down before asking people to take photos. See the "how gutsy are you?" topic [;)]


A question: what type of sport do you shoot where you have to run to different spots? Or do you track a specific player?


Anyway good luck!


Jan

I've just begin reading the article : very, very interesting.


Yeah, I think it's useful knowing how to control that point (photography, but also business meetings, and everyday life in fact)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sheiky

what type of sport do you shoot where you have to run to different spots

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Dog sled. It was the first time I covered the Grande Odyssee this year in Megeve, France, and running in the snow to get from one point to the other (knowing it's a one way circuit, they don't pass X times again). I train a lot (running and fit) but in that case, with rangers boots and gear, I was kinda shaky arrived at the shooting point. Even though both lenses had IS, I missed a lot (or a lot was far from perfect according to what I wanted)


Ok, it's not the everyday shooting place, but if you're asked to cover a competition, you need to do it right (or the best you can).


In that case that stop-and-run thing showed me that I needed to work this a bit out.


I understand it's a very personal problem to manage, and most photographer don't have it.


Thanks anyway Jan

Holding my breathe always works for me. I know what you mean, even with high shutter speeds you can still mess up shots. Try breathing in and out really hard before you take the picture so too give you a boost of oxygene.


John.

From my marksmanship training I tend to take a deep breath, exhale and press the trigger. It probably doesn't matter so much when shooting with a camera but it can't hurt.