Shoot from the Hip…
I love this photo project idea. It gives us a different perspective from how we normally see. It adds creativity to your style by changing the way you shoot. It is a fun exercise in seeing. And ANYONE can do it, from young to old, amateur to professional.
Shoot from the Hip Photo Project:
Use any camera that you feel comfortable holding at your hip level. I find my phone or point and shoot works best for me. The only rule is that it must stay at your hip level when you shoot. So grab your camera and have some fun.
I will say this. The Shoot from the Hip Photo Project was a little challenging at first. It took me a while to get a feel for what I was doing. It is somewhat of a grab bag of results. Some I had to take over quite a few times if I wanted a particular crop. A challenging alternative to this photo project would be to not look at your photos until you got home. I probably would not suggest that the first time you do this project. It does take a little getting used to.
Apparently, this photo project alone was not enough of a challenge for me. I went during the worst part of the day when the sun was high. The lighting was a bigger challenge than the way I was shooting.
Make sure your batteries are charged, especially if using your cell phone. I would even suggest bringing your charger. I used my cell phone and found my battery started to die pretty quickly.
Places and Ideas for the Shoot from the Hip Photo Project:
- Around town
- Your favorite room/space
- Your neighborhood
- Your backyard
- With friends
- In a garden
- On vacation
- At the zoo
- At the beach
- Running errands
- At the park
- At a local event
- At the fair
Things to look for to keep your pictures interesting:
- lines
- angles
- contrasts
- perspectives (get really close to a subject for an interesting perspective)
- lighting
- something that tells a story
Variations:
- Do not look at any of the photos until you are finished.
- Do all close-ups.
- Give yourself a certain amount of time to finish.
- Shoot like you have film with only 36 exposures to shoot.
Equipment:
- Camera: iphone 4s
- Photo editor: Camera+ Iphone App
Here are my results….
So interesting! I wonder if focusing is an issue?
That is a good question, Pam, and I initially wondered the same thing. I think I remember reading somewhere someone saying that they would pre-focus their camera a certain distance. Yeah, I didn’t do that. Honestly, it is not something that I want to worry about with a project like this. It was not an issue with my camera phone at all. And I would think with other cameras I would look for an auto focus/tracking type setting for these. I know. It’s crazy to even think of shooting like this, isn’t it? With a portrait photography background, I almost forget these options exist. Just keep it fun. If you do it, please share! I bet they will be fantastic!
These photos are great. It’s a great idea for a photo project. I have taken photos at hip height before, when I want to be discreet, but the results tend be a mixture of photos of nothing, and good ones! 🙂
Oh, I hear you, Christine. It was a little mind blowing when I first tried it. It took a bit to sync up my eyes with my hip. Ha ha! It’s nice to meet you!
This is a fun idea for a project. There are so many photo-a-day projects but this is a neat variation. Thanks for the idea, I may be trying this in the near future 🙂
Hi Heather! I am a photo-a-day wanna be. I think if I were to attempt it again, I would definitely include more shoot from the hip images. It’s nice to meet you!
Love this project. I shoot a lot, some from the hip, but never permit myself to stray from daily projects. Thank you for the new perspective!
Thank you, Debbie! I’m glad you enjoyed it! It was such a fun project, and I just love that anyone can do it…even kids. Thank you for stopping by! It’s nice to meet you.