Any suggestions for getting the camera above the model when she/he is lying on a bed/floor and you want to shoot her straight on? I've been trying to figure out how to get above her myself, but I can't overcome blocking the light/getting my legs and feet in the shot (not to mention the ridiculousness of straddling a model...), and when I shoot from the side often it is just not what I am looking for...

-- shawn gibson (shawngibson_prophoto@yahoo.com), February 06, 2000

Answers

A few thoughts:

1. You could mount the bed vertically against the wall and just pretend the model's lying on it.

2. You could build one of those Peter Pan type wire-flying rigs they use for stage productions and just hover over her.

4. Why not stand on the bed? Just tuck your toes under the covers and your home free...just be sure her boyfriend doesn't find out.

Actually, not having done this, I think I've seen photos of scaffolding type rigs where you can sit in the middle, or you might want to try two ladders with a very wide, sturdy board running between them. At least, if you fall, you'll have a soft place to land. The model might not appreciate it, however! But, remember, these are just suggestions and I accept no responsibility in this at all...if the model sues, I don't want to hear you say, "Todd made me do it!"

-- Todd Frederick (fredrick@hotcity.com), February 06, 2000.

you might want to try two ladders with a very wide, sturdy board running between them

BINGO!!! Thanks Todd.

-- shawn gibson (SeeInsideForever@yahoo.com), February 06, 2000.

Shawn...promise me: a little "challenge," as it were...when you do this you need to take a picture of yourself over the bed, and post it here so we can all see how you solved this problem...as well as how you were able to take a picture of yourself on the ladder scaffold, taking a picture of the model...would that be a picture picture?!...but, YOU must take it yourself...no assistants please! Also, that's kinda what I meant by "creative self-portraits." Something unusual. Good luck with it.

-- Todd Frederick (fredrick@hotcity.com), February 06, 2000.

I've done this before with good results. Put your camera and a w/a lens on a monopod with a sturdy head (locked down tight). Set the self timer and hold the monopod over the subject, trying to keep the camera level. Flash is proabably important here to minimize camera shake from your holding it. A better answer, and much more $, is to buy or rent a boom and do the same thing.

-- Sean Noonan (stnoonan@yahoo.com), February 06, 2000.

That's a good idea too. Preset focus and compose as best you can, buy a long cable release, and mount on a boom. This is probably a good way to interact with the model as well...

-- shawn gibson (SeeInsideForever@yahoo.com), February 06, 2000.

Do the boom thing with the self timer.. check your results in the proofs :) The ladder idea sounds the best!

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@eisa.net.au), February 06, 2000.

P67...no timer that I've found...Polaroid back on the way...help I've fallen and I can't get up (not that I'd want to if the fall was from the ladder...)

-- shawn gibson (SeeInsideForever@yahoo.com), February 06, 2000.

Either get proper scaffolding or else have the bed (nearly) vertical. Don't try a DYI solution with a board on two ladders: it is not nearly stable enough and if you fall and hurt your model you will be in a bad position.

By all means go to great lenghts to obtain great images, but not to the point of risking other peoples health.

I have previously had good results with standing on a sturdy table (for height) with the bed at an angle. Not exactly from the top, but it was good enought for what I wanted. (Soory, no images on-line.)

-- Allan Engelhardt (allane@cybaea.com), February 07, 2000.

Above model

Big A-type ladder is probably enough.... If not, there are good aluminium ladders available with 3 joints. Those can be put up like A or middle part horizontal,or somewhere between. They use such ladders in construction work or putting up wallpaper etc. You can't get very high with those, but maybe high enough.

The pose of a standing model is not so relaxed and natural, so maybe it is not very good idea to put the bed against wall....

Sakari

-- Sakari Mdkeld (sakari.makela@koulut.vantaa.fi), February 08, 2000.

I don't know--I think I've settled on the boom idea with a long cable release. I'll still have to buy a ladder probably, since if I'm using a boom in the first place I'm gonna use a longer lens to get a little moore compression...maybe poke a hole in the ceiling as well (just kidding if my landlord is listening...).

-- shawn gibson (SeeInsideForever@yahoo.com), February 08, 2000.

Hi Shawn, A not entirely satisfactory option(but not the first one!) --if the shot isn't a one time deal, a mirror could be mounted at an angle on the ceiling(or frame-mounted overhead, if in a studio)...this, combined with a relatively low raising of one end/side of the bed would give the desired "directly overhead" angle(apparently, anyway) and yet the bed would be "horizontal" enough so that the model"s "repose" would appear natural.The angles, mirror size, focal length and distance all are mutually dependent variables, of course. But this method permits the photographer to shoot from beside(not above) the bed and from a lower position... both "good" things, in the event of a fall, or dropped equipment.

-- Larry H. Smith (LarryHS@webtv.net), February 09, 2000.

Hi Shawn, A not entirely satisfactory option(but not the first one!) --if the shot isn't a one time deal, a mirror could be mounted at an angle on the ceiling(or frame-mounted overhead, if in a studio)...this, combined with a relatively low raising of one end/side of the bed would give the desired "directly overhead" angle(apparently, anyway) and yet the bed would be "horizontal" enough so that the model"s "repose" would appear natural.The angles, mirror size, focal length and distance all are mutually dependent variables, of course. But this method permits the photographer to shoot from beside(not above) the bed and from a lower position... both "good" things, in the event of a fall, or dropped equipment. Now,..where to find one of those cheap, giant, front-surface mirrors?! Larry

-- Larry H. Smith (LarryHS@webtv.net), February 09, 2000.

Sorry about the dup. I thought I had stopped the "send"...but Nooo! Was one (silly)sentence short of completion. Shawn, how about one of those "check it out before you send it" pages like on Photo.net "top-level"? I'm nearly computer-illiterate, so have no clue as to how difficult that might be to include. Larry

-- Larry H. Smith (LarryHS@webtv.net), February 09, 2000.

Can't do it with the 'stock' forum software. I'm gonna TRY to add a preview page and an image download page, but probably not for some time, since it will take me that long at least to learn the language/s...shawn

-- shawn gibson (SeeInsideForever@yahoo.com), February 09, 2000.