Workout routines for camerapeople

[Stefan Christou]

Hey all,

Since the red can get up to 30lbs quite easily I've started trying to get a bit more in shape for when scarlet comes along. I know that it'll be a lot lighter, but word is the prototypes are still pretty heavy. I've never owned a "big" camera before, so this might be a new challenge.

Do any of you guys and gyals have an excersie routine you'd like to share?

Stefan

[XiaoSu Han]

20 pushups every morning, right after getting out of the bed. helps getting the body activated for the day and eases the handheld red setups :)

[David Rasberry]

Not many have the patience to pursue it, but Tai Chi is one of the best things to learn if you want to protect your back and joints and improve moving smoothly for handheld shooting. Been doing it for over 25 years now. Yoga provides similar flexibility benefits, but not the moving balance benefits IMO. Add some strength training routines, especially core and back, if you want to steadicam.

[Zakaree Sandberg]

walk around with a 70 lbs sand bag on your shoulder all day everyday..
by the time you have to take it off and put a 30lbs camera on.. its light as a feather

[Stefan Christou]

Thanks guys, interesting that you're both bucking the cultural stereotypes! I'd love to do some Chi Gung (like Thai Chi but a bit more strenuous) but I've not found anywhere close enough to me (south London). At the moment I'm on the 15 bastard push ups and a couple sets of ten reps on the 10k dumbbells.

[Stefan Christou]

walk around with a 70 lbs sand bag on your shoulder all day everyday..
by the time you have to take it off and put a 30lbs camera on.. its light as a feather

I've got a feeling I wont have a back if I do that. Was that a military sort of training you did there?

[David Rasberry]

Whatever approach you take, balance and core strength, legs, back and abs, are most important. You don't use that much arm or upper body for either steady cam or shoulder mounted shooting. Protect your back!

[Stefan Christou]

Whatever approach you take, balance and core strength, legs, back and abs, are most important. You don't use that much arm or upper body for either steady cam or shoulder mounted shooting. Protect your back!

Noted

[Andrew Martin]

I just carry my Red One everywhere that does the trick. Soon builds your muscles up.

Andrew.

[Steve Gibby]

I like David's analogy of Tai Chi. Good shoulder held camera work is like doing Tai Chi with a camera - body centered, knees slightly bent, smooth movement, etc.

Balance, coordination, flexibility and strength all come in hand for shoulder held and hand held work with RED - or any camera for that matter.

For conditioning I regularly go surfing, mountain bike, hike, power walk, skateboard, snowboard, and if none of those are available, I go to the gym and workout.

Show me two camera people with the same talent and experience, and the one with the better balance, coordination, flexibility, and strength will consistently get the better shoulder held and hand held shots.

Your body is the tripod and Steadicam in shoulder and hand held shooting - and the better condition your body is in, the better chance you have to get the best shots you are capable of.