This picture was taken with my Nikon F or I should say one of my Nikon F’s. I had the waist level finder attached for some shots I took in the grocery store. I’ll talk about that in another blog, but I wanted to talk about this shot because I found that the waist level finder works great for still life photography.
I have been doing a lot of still life since the Covid 19 quarantine started, and I’ve tried it with all my different cameras and film formats. I have found that the waist level finders are better to use than eye level prisms in this case, because you can look down into the camera instead of bending over and, in my case, hurting your back to try and focus the camera.
This doesn’t just go for my Nikon F. I’ve also enjoyed using my Hasselblad in this setting because I have the waist level finder. I hope to find the WLF for my Mamiya 645 Pro because that is my favorite camera to use for still life photography. I just can’t seem to find one on eBay or KEH.
Here in Florida it doesn’t seem like we are going to go back to normal anytime soon, since covid cases are climbing. So I will continue experimenting with still life photography.
What about you? What have you been shooting in quarantine? Do you enjoy still life photography and if so, what have you learned to make it enjoyable? Let me know in the comments.
Thanks for stopping by. I want to thank those of you that have donated using my new Donate to AVCA page. I can’t express how much it meant to me when I got the emails letting me know. I truly appreciate it, and I appreciate every one of you who stops by and reads my articles. Thank you.
As always, until next time, stay motivated and keep shooting.
I’ve never used a Hasselblad but I was interested to read that you prefer your Mamiya over it. Why is that?
I don’t think I said I prefer my Mamiya over it. I enjoy both cameras for doing still life pictures. I do however like the 645 format for the flower pics I take rather than the square format. The hassleblad is actually a lot lighter. I haven’t used it much yet though.
I’ve hit a very rough patch creatively. That said, I’ve been trying still life on flowers with all the spare yard work time. “Grow-Your-Own-Subject”.
I feel ya. Being stuck at home is driving me crazy. I’ve been getting flowers from the grocery store and shooting them.
There’s a few spots around the city I want to shoot, but it feels a little awkward with so few people around. Especially if I’m out on a weekday setting up a tripod to get the sharpest pics I can.
Difficult to get inspiration these days. Cities don’t look nice and people are tense.
Waist level camera’s: wish there was a nice digital design with fit for old vintage F mount lenses. Kickstarter job I guess 🙂
Also FYI, if you are old and half blind a waist level VF is much easier to focus.
LOL I don’t think I’m old yet but I am pretty blind. So I agree