Hand holding - man vs. woman
 

No, nothing romantic ;)

I've started this post several times over the last couple of days and was a bit hesitant to follow through for fear of evoking provocative answers but then I realized that won't happen here ;)

Okay guys and girls, do you think women have an advantage with hand-holding a camera with long lens due to their "upper attributes"? I was thinking along the lines of more vibration absorption or would men have the advantage being able to snuggle their arms in closer to their body?

You're asking for trouble aren't you!

Dodging the main title, I'm going to repeat what I said in reply to a thread on BF - being left-handed is an advantage as is staying sober the night before and I guess that applies to male and female equally

LOL. I really meant my post to be a legitimate question.

LMAO!! :D

I'd quite enjoy snuggling my lens.......wait..........erm,....actually left handed you say, Adey?:p

Ok, Im sure i'll be thinkin about this one, now KC! :rolleyes: :p

Not sure if the "upper attributes" make any difference. Bracing against the body will give stability, it's just that there's different bits to brace against. I'd agree that being left handed is likely to help and if we're talking big heavy lenses then I dare say that stronger people (either gender) will be at an advantage.

With my weak and feeble arms, I'm ever so glad I have a monopod for my big lens.

Duncan.

P.S. Just about to hit the "Post" button and thought of a business opportunity. You can get gadgets for just about any aspect of photography, why not design and market a "photographer's bra", specially shaped to allow superior bracing. Deluxe model with extended bracket and 1/4" tripod thread built in?

Watch this one, moderators, she could be trouble :D

Being left handed is not really an advantage, I am and still experiance lots of shake, but then, most of my photos are being taken on rather dull days with low sutter speeds.

The left-handed bit is perfectly genuine, btw. Being left-handed myself, I've appreciated that my stronger, more controlled arm is the one bracing the lens which I'm sure can be a help.

Im trying to work out the left handed bit. Cant see why it would be an advantage but maybe I am being dim.

LOL KC I think handholding at the end of the day probably comes down to technique and nothing to do with gendre. I have taught several people with bad camera shake and by improving their stance they have improved considerably. Not getting over excited and staying calm when you photograph something I think is important too. Take your time no matter that the bird looks like it is going to fly away at any second. Rushed shots can be excellent but all too often i think the grip suffers. Having said that I have rather large attributes and I dont have any trouble :eek: ;):D

Hmm, where do I fit in then? I'm left handed - but for writing only...

Depends what attributes you have px18? ;)

I think I can see where Adey is coming from, not dissimilar to driving a manual car (in the U.K), the powerful and more controlled arm is on the side of the gearstick.

Anyway, I just can't get used to holding a camera... how can i have a cigarette in one hand and take a photo without a tripod? :D

Are we talking about weight lifting or do hairy legs give you a better stance ?

Andy I thought you had all mod cons, It's a cup of coffee in one hand, Cigarette in the other and fire the remote shutter release button with your back side.

So if we ladies don't shave for a fortnight...? :eek:

As has been discussed elsewhere, wind induced vibration is a problem on tripod legs. Research has proven that slightly hairy legs are actually more aerodynamic than shaved legs. I used to do bicycle racing, such things get discussed. Perhaps men wearing shorts, or unkempt women have a previously unknown advantage.

My left-handed comments are starting to look quite sane, now!;)

So Ducan have you taken to wearing the brightly coloured Lycra shorts when your out and about talking shots with your left handed long lens ? ;)

I am reading this at work and trying to work out how upper body accoutrements either help or hinder my handholding - difficult without a camera....

I've been banned from wearing my red shorts in public, stricktly indoor trainer use only now. Can be a touch embarrassing, but the girls like them.

I don't shave below my legs any more, it clogs up the plug-hole. Why do cyclist's do it? Vanity and peer pressure, any other reason given is just a cover up for the truth. It's simply part of the culture.

Oh, and yes, I'm left handed. There seems to be a lot of lefty's here, perhaps a new thread with a poll out of interest?

Duncan.

Word has it that we're more creative than 'righties' ;)

The Mrs says .... "p i l l o w s" , I have to agree with her, "though sometimes they can get in the way!".

I have to agree with that also as sometimes they are a distraction to me when I'm trying to hold my camera steady.

Of course its an advantage, if a womens having problems holding her camera all she has to do is wave em at any nearby male and we will rush to hold her camera for her :) :) :)

Aye, but you've nothing on those of us who are ambidextrous!

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous!

I've wondered this one as a guitarist, I'm right handed, but from froming chords etc, my left hand is marginally stronger......I'll stick to the monopod!