Photographers need to be fit - how do you keep fit

[flame70]

great to see some behind the scenes shots of your work again and the effort that goes into your work.
Big tick from me

[Scotty72]

Wouldn't it be nice to live in a world where people were judged on their ability and determination to do things - rather than the preconceived, usually incorrect prejudices of others.

This idea that photographers are going around pushing themselves to the limits of human endurance (to shoot a wedding) is bizarre. How many times do wedding togs come home and think, 'I was lucky to survive that!'?

As for accessing certain locations (again, I am not speaking of the tip of Mt Everest), even when I was reduced to a walking stick (a tripod is a good substitute), I was able to scramble up and down a 10 foot rock ledge and over rocks at Bare Island (an AP meet). All whilst carrying my camera, tripod, 10-20, 24-105L, 70-200L, 150-500 & various other crap.

So, it is far more relevant to judge people on what they are capable of or determined to do: not by what your pre-conceived, prejudiced notions of what disabled or elderly should resign themselves to do.

By the way JM, despite not being a green beret, I can still:
-throw a door into a creek (why I would want to is a different story) but, I may not be able to out-run the park ranger who comes to take me away.
-stand waist deep in water
-push a piano (in fact, this I did just last month - pushing and shoving furniture is an everyday teacher activity)
-drool over a beautiful lady striking a suggestive pose (I think I could summon the strength for that)
-go swimming with a TV (again, not something that would ever occur to me)
-walk through snow (well, I walked across a few hundred yards of soft, wet beach sand yesterday)
-carry a bed down the middle of a busy street - I think you may want to re-read your OHS obligations (well, I had to (with the help of a mate) carry a fridge)
-OK, you got me, I am not willing to be crucified (is that a requirement on your photo shoots?)



Scotty

[gerry]

pffft that pianos got wheels

this thread reminds me of that situation where the wildlife photographer camped out in a swamp to a nail a shot and caught all kind of nasties..

I keep wondering how a simple question has turned into such a debate

ah you should know better - AP is the best place for conversational topics and social commentary....

fitness and physical wellbeing have nothing to do with photography imo, why stay fit/healthy just for a job or hobby? - fitness and physical wellbeing are a simple fact of life and come well before any occupation or hobby i have ever had. Take photography out of the equation

replace

Photographers need to be fit - how do you keep fit

with

People need to be fit - how do you keep fit

[JM Tran]

throw a door into a creek (why I would want to is a different story) but, I may not be able to out-run the park ranger who comes to take me away.
Carry 3 house doors into the forest and creek and back, I dont know, can you? I had a hard time with it as most people would.

stand waist deep in water
in winter whilst trying not to slip and juggle camera gear as well. A bit of manual dexterity required there. Not hard at all to do, but clumsiness has claimed many a good camera.

push a piano (in fact, this I did just last month - pushing and shoving furniture is an everyday teacher activity)
how long did you move heavy props for? A single push or for a 10 hour photoshoot on location?

drool over a beautiful lady striking a suggestive pose (I think I could summon the strength for that)
forgot to mention one has to carry all those props around her and under her like the chaise lounge? Can you do that for a whole day around the city?

go swimming with a TV (again, not something that would ever occur to me)
manual dexterity and stamina goes a long way

walk through snow (well, I walked across a few hundred yards of soft, wet beach sand yesterday)
with about 15kg of gear on your back for a whole day? Walk on soft sand with 15kg on your back and tell me how it was?

carry a bed down the middle of a busy street - I think you may want to re-read your OHS obligations (well, I had to (with the help of a mate) carry a fridge)
sorry my staff knows exactly what they are doing and what they are capable of and what they cant do, and I do not make them do things I would not do Dont forget to bend at the knees!

OK, you got me, I am not willing to be crucified (is that a requirement on your photo shoots?)

make a giant heavy cross and hold it up and secure it into the ground, can you?

I dont know, your responses have came from the rational to the amusing, some might say you are scraping the barrel for replies.......

[Kym]

This idea that photographers are going around pushing themselves to the limits of human endurance (to shoot a wedding) is bizarre. How many times do wedding togs come home and think, 'I was lucky to survive that!'?

I shot a wedding with my wife as assistant Saturday fortnight ago in Melbourne. (and I really don't normally do weddings, but it was a classic family friend scenario etc)
While not requiring 'military' fitness levels, it was a very long and tiring day, by the end of the reception (which was an afternoon event) we just crashed in our room.
Arthur dropped by a bit later for a quick catch up (which was great!) but he could tell I was quite stuffed.

Bottom line, if you are going to shoot this sort of event you do need to be mobile and need to keep up with everything.

JMT goes to more extremes than I would

[Dylan & Marianne]

I think I agree with the sentiment that you don't NEED to keep fit
But the benefits of fitness in whatever you do (including photography) seem to be brought into question.
How about this question (allbeit not really related to the OP question)
With you current skill set - would you be a better photographer if you fitter?
- you might say there would be no difference, but you definitely wouldn't be worse off!

Now, back to the OP topic - have a laugh at me if you like but this is me keeping fit :P

[peterb666]

great to see some behind the scenes shots of your work again and the effort that goes into your work.
Big tick from me

I have moved a grand piano by myself and it was quite easy. They are on wheels. You don't need to be fit to push a grand piano.

The photos are a nice stunt but what it shows is that a major photo shoot is a team effort.

If there is a specific requirement for fitness in the job, it should be in the job description. I haven't seen that in the job for a photographer but no doubt there would be specialist niche jobs where there would be a such a requirement.

This thread has become quite silly.

[JM Tran]

I have moved a grand piano by myself and it was quite easy. They are on wheels. You don't need to be fit to push a grand piano.

lol and when someone pulls their back or muscle, what then?

The photos are a nice stunt but what it shows is that a major photo shoot is a team effort.

team effort or solo effort, either way someone needs to be able to do it, be it a group exercise or you, or me. You need to be able to carry out the task and perform regardless if it take 1 or 1 million ppl to do something.

once again, being fit is more than just about physical fitness as we have already established that a few times on here. If you think you can do it, go ahead and have fun! Just dont complain when something happened which could have been avoided.

For some of us on AP, photography is more than just grabbing a camera and going out for a leisurely stroll to get a photo. I hope you can understand that Peter.

[gerry]

Now, back to the OP topic - have a laugh at me if you like but this is me keeping fit :P

I had a little chuckle - but seriously, I never laugh at any one having a go at staying fit - as long as your working hard got that heart rate up it dont matter if your in the slow lane or the fast lane. two thumbs up dylan.

[Longshots]

OK SO.......

Sighs silently......


Original question was

Photographers need to be fit - how do you keep fit ?

I began with an opinion formed as a full time photographer.

I didnt say that you HAVE TO be fit, whatever your occupation.

Nor did I say that to be a photographer you MUST be fit.


The only question I asked was what other people do to keep fit - regardless of their occupation. Few people actually answered it ?

Surely thats a simple question ?

[peterb666]

For some of us on AP, photography is more than just grabbing a camera and going out for a leisurely stroll to get a photo. I hope you can understand that Peter.

I have no problem understanding that. That doesn't mandate super-human fitness or a level of fitness that is generally irrelevant to the task. Photography for many is JUST more than a leisurely stroll and I am quite happy to have photography as an obsession.

I think it is important to respect other people and not make undue demands that are generally irrelevant.

My first workplace was a factory over 35 years ago and I am not totally unfamiliar with OH&S. I have seen what happens when someone falls trough an asbestos roof and breaks their back on a milling machine. Later I became the OH&S trainer for a government department. That may have been a while ago, but common sense is important as is the knowledge on how to do a job safely. It doesn't matter how fit you are if you don't have the knowledge, common sense and judgement acquired with experience, it won't help you.

[peterb666]

OK SO.......
Original question was

Photographers need to be fit - how do you keep fit ?

Easy. I walk a lot - probably more than most people. I eat healthy food. I don't consume much alcohol and I don't take drugs. I look after my health. I use common sense.

[Longshots]

Who said anything about a "super human fitness"

[JM Tran]

I have no problem understanding that. That doesn't mandate super-human fitness or a level of fitness that is generally irrelevant to the task. Photography for many is JUST more than a leisurely stroll and I am quite happy to have photography as an obsession.

I think it is important to respect other people and not make undue demands that are generally irrelevant.

My first workplace was a factory over 35 years ago and I am not totally unfamiliar with OH&S. I have seen what happens when someone falls trough an asbestos roof and breaks their back on a milling machine. Later I became the OH&S trainer for a government department. That may have been a while ago, but common sense is important as is the knowledge on how to do a job safely. It doesn't matter how fit you are if you don't have the knowledge, common sense and judgement acquired with experience, it won't help you.

Exactly, common sense comes first and foremost.

Longshots was speaking from a full time professional's point of view, and so was I. Obviously it is a different requirement for amateurs and hobbyists. But for the latter to say that you dont need any level of fitness is a bit absurd.

If you dont think you can do it then dont do it. Nor should ppl think oh I can do that just by looking at photos without having an idea. Its not just about lifting or moving or doing something just once and saying you can do it, its about doing it again and again and again over a long period of time or a whole day.

I dont know why there is this idiotic notion in this thread about having military level fitness to do things, can someone please quote where it was written? Or was someone assuming/implying things again?

[Scotty72]

@Peter, maybe we are just pining for the days when we were younger, more perfect, bullet-proof and STILL knew everything?


Now, one more time. Yes, it is important, IN LIFE, to have a reasonable level of fitness so you can live a normal life and not be bed ridden.

This applies to photography - but no more or less (more or less) than just about any other hobby or profession.

My mother used to stress the importance of being fit and healthy in order for her to do her knitting (long hours of concentration and arms that quickly feel heavy).

Photography is NOT special (or photography is just as super special as every other endeavour).

Scotty

[Parkeran]

I do running to stay fit. I also walk around and take photos, which I find is just as good for practice as it is fitness.

[gerry]

The only question I asked was what other people do to keep fit - regardless of their occupation. Few people actually answered it ?

Surely thats a simple question ?

But it was in context of photography, now if you asking what I do to stay fit fullstop then thats easy - cycle to work (25 kms each way - not every day though), swim at least 2km at least twice a week and bench press a very heavy 2yro every day (probably 3 sets of 10?) . Food wise - that ain't rocket science, balance and very very little soft drink (that stuff is a killer).

[yummymummy]

how to I keep fit?? I HAVE 6 KIDS!! I don't get TIME to go to the gym, I am forever running around after one or 6 of them, Karate twice a week ( for all of us except hubby, and Abby( me included as soon as my knee has been fixed ) ), footy training twice a week, game every sunday, then we try and get out and go somewhere on a Sunday afternoon after footy, with 5 boys we NEED them to wear themselves out before the afternoon lol.I walk the kids to daycare twice a week, and I've just started volunteering as a marshal at QLD raceway for Champions Ride days... so yeah, I don't get time to get fit lol..
Oh and as far as junk food goes... we can't AFFORD to eat it, one meal at maccas for the 8 of us, costs nearly $70! that's nearly a quarter of our weekly food bill! lol

[Dylan & Marianne]

I forgot to mention something else which I find critical to photographing landscapes on a hike.

People at Unley oval might know me in the months before a trek as I am lugging 30kg up and down the grandstand as fast as I can for 1 hour.

Thinking about this has made me change my mind about 'needing' to be fit. For what I personally want to do with photography, yes , I need to be fit. But that is only because of my desires. You may not want to take images of Everest from Kala Patthar but many photographers do and do require a certain degree of fitness to do so.

So in revised summary - yes, for some genres of photography, you do NEED to be fit. For others, it would not be a disadvantage.

[Scotty72]

But it was in context of photography, now if you asking what I do to stay fit fullstop then thats easy - cycle to work (25 kms each way - not every day though), swim at least 2km at least twice a week and bench press a very heavy 2yro every day (probably 3 sets of 10?) . Food wise - that ain't rocket science, balance and very very little soft drink (that stuff is a killer).

100%

Since I went from cycling 12,000 km a year to about zero, my weight has been maintained - ok, a bit heavier. I thought I would go the way of a balloon. But, I have 95% cut out soft drink... That is prob the root of most dietary evil.