Protecting Your Knees

Interesting. I have a swingable LCD but never explored that possibility. Always used the viewfinder because of the critical focus I need to make.

lim yau tong wrote:

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.

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 carry a carpet scrap when out shooting.  I put it down and kneel on it.  It fits in one of the pockets of my camera bag.

Another thing that helps is a right angle viewer.  I slip it on the viewfinder and I don't have to get down too low.  Works great, especially when it's too light to see the LCD.

Another thing I use is a Hoodman Loop with the sleeve for attaching it to the LCD.  Works if your camera has a Flipout Articulating Screen (FAS) instead of a Tilt Screen.

Finally, if you can't get really low, I can use my phone to connect to and control the camera.  I can mount the camera on an upside down monopod, and mount the phone higher up on the monopod, and then get the camera really low while I stand or sit (on a WalkStool).  That's really comfortable.

There are lots of ways to deal with reduced mobility and flexibility as one ages, or just gets tired of lying in the flower beds.

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.

Brilliant idea 👍👍👍