Protecting Your Knees

Just wondering how macro photographers deal with the fact that they may be on their knees a lot, leading to sore knees? I am at the age when such considerations have become more prominent. I was thinking of getting gardener's knee pads, but I am not sure that will help since my body weight would still be on the knees, and I am not necessarily kneeling on hard surfaces (earth, grass).

Thanks.

-Charles

charley5 wrote:

Just wondering how macro photographers deal with the fact that they may be on their knees a lot, leading to sore knees? I am at the age when such considerations have become more prominent. I was thinking of getting gardener's knee pads, but I am not sure that will help since my body weight would still be on the knees, and I am not necessarily kneeling on hard surfaces (earth, grass).

Thanks.

-Charles

I use these when I'm out shooting Macro. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BPWV83H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

People will give me the crazy eye, but it doesn't matter...they'll give you the crazy eye for bing on your knees with a camera shoved into a bush or flower or grass anyways.

I know plenty of people in their 70's that get along just fine with their knees in all sorts of activities that require being on them because of my other primary hobby of metal detecting.  The main difference between those that are good and those that suffer is those that are good usually tend to exercise regularly.  The old guys that rode their bodies hard and put them away wet usually have issues, but still get by and do great with a good set of knee pads.

Fantastic. Thank you for the suggestion! I take pictures in my backyard where no one can see me, so no problem about attracting attention!

-Charles

Good suggestion. Thank you!

-Charles

Makes sense. Thanks Richard!

-Charles

This is very useful. I will check out whether I can find workman's trousers with knee pads. Thanks!

-Charles

gardenersassistant wrote:

charley5 wrote:

Just wondering how macro photographers deal with the fact that they may be on their knees a lot, leading to sore knees? I am at the age when such considerations have become more prominent. I was thinking of getting gardener's knee pads, but I am not sure that will help since my body weight would still be on the knees, and I am not necessarily kneeling on hard surfaces (earth, grass).

Thanks.

-Charles

I used knee-pads for several years but they annoyed me by slipping down very often, and I found the elastic could get uncomfortable at the back of my knees. Eventually I discovered workman's trousers with built in (removable) knee pads and I have been using them ever since. As well as the pads not slipping out of position these trousers also have the advantage of having lots of pockets, which I find very useful. I use them for photography and for gardening.

The knee pads look as though they are too low, but I find they ride up to the right position when I kneel down.

The workman's boots have steel toecaps and good support around the ankles. This is also good for kneeling down as the toes and ankles can stay in a more comfortable position rather than the toes being bent backwards and/or the ankles getting stressed as can happen with less rigid footwear.

1. Gardeners' or tilers' (hardware store) kneepads or a thick closed cell foam pad. Plus side of foam pad is that you can sit on it as well

2. Set of hiking poles, to help you get up from the kneeling position (particularly useful if you are wearing a backpack). Poles should be for balance, your arms alone aren't going to get you up.

3. Do practice getting up from a kneeling position at home - consider it an exercise for balance and for leg strength.

4. Get yourself up, then bend down and fetch your gear.

Those look like great knee pads, I may have to upgrade from my "standard" hardware store tilers' kneepads. The old ones might get a second life as elbow pads in low blinds.

Thanks Nancy. I appreciate your suggestions!

-Charles

NancyP wrote:

Those look like great knee pads, I may have to upgrade from my "standard" hardware store tilers' kneepads. The old ones might get a second life as elbow pads in low blinds.

After 12 years in the Army and probably a couple dozen different knee pads, these are the first ones that stayed put no matter what. I probably went through a dozen pairs on Amazon alone just to get to these.  I was so worried for some reason they might disappear I ordered 8 pairs so I have reserves until I’m in the dirt 😂

Thanks Steven. I appreciate the tip.

-Charles

I don't do much macro but I do work with concrete. Cheap HF knee pads are worthless, but they do sell better quality pads. They always want to slip down that's just the nature of it. Our legs are long thin,tapering poles. I kind of like the idea of built in pads in the trousers. The tough boots are a good idea too.

lost alaskan wrote:

I don't do much macro but I do work with concrete. Cheap HF knee pads are worthless, but they do sell better quality pads. They always want to slip down that's just the nature of it. Our legs are long thin,tapering poles. I kind of like the idea of built in pads in the trousers. The tough boots are a good idea too.

Did you see the ones I linked above? After a decade plus of using kneepads and dozens upon dozens of types, I finally found knee pads that don't drop, no matter how hard I work them. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BPWV83H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?creativeASIN=B07BPWV83H&linkCode=w61&imprToken=.5e21ODQeVU6UvAUXqToFA&slotNum=0&ie=UTF8&psc=1

I normally carry a portable chair so that I can sit and take low down shots.

Thanks Lim. What happens if you have to go very close to the ground though?

charley5 wrote:

Thanks Lim. What happens if you have to go very close to the ground though?

Get a camera with swingable LCD display. Use the LCD as viewer when u want low angle or closed to the ground shot.