What about the old trick of a length of slender cable, a loop for your foot and a screw and washer to fit in the tripod socket?
Place your foot in the cable loop, pull up taunt, take a deep breath, exhale and push the shutter release...
Should work on a Graphic or other hand-held field camera.
Kino
We never have time to do it right, but we always seem to have time to do it again...
Never been to Mexico, but I have been to many places where no monopod or tripod is allowed. You can adapt.
First off, anything that does not move can serve as a "tripod". Your camera can sit on top of your photo backpack while it is on the ground, if all else fails. But I have used the tops of park benches, garbage cans, tree stumps, the top of a fence, even the top of a control box mounted on the side of a traffic post.
You will not get the angles and shots you normally would like with a tripod, but it works.
Second thing you can do is sit on the ground, cross your legs, and hold your camera in your lap. Press down on top of it (not too hard) into your legs, and you will be surpirzed how steady you can get it to be.
As for framing your shot, you have to hand hold it and guess as best possible. What I do in these situations is use a lens that is slightly wide or wider angle than I might normally use, just to get everything in.
another trick I have done, but this one might get you into some trouble, is to hang my camera from a tree branch or similar with a rope or hook of some kind, pull down on the camera while taking a shot. Very similar idea to the cable & foot loop idea in the message above, but backwards.
Last thing I do, when all else fails, is find a tree, post or wall to lean against, and hold the side of the camera against the tree/post/wall and then shoot.
In all these cases, I use either my crown graphic or my tachiharia. I find my Zone VI to large and bulky for my taste in these situations, and i suspect the same is true for other large 4x5 cameras.
Thinking about it however, in your specific situation, if I was in your shoes, I would use my crown graphic. It is compact, tough, and I find my tachihara is a camera that gathers a lot of attention. I can mount my 135mm sironar on my crown graphic, and close the camera between shots. I can also preset the stops on the rails of the crown graphic for infinity for my 135mm, and when I am in a real hurry for a shot, I can snap open my crown, do a couple of shots, close up, and move on. Also readng other comments about using a 90mm, I used to have a plain old 90mm Angulon that I could leave on the crown graphic and close it up when not in use.
I personally think that's the way to go. You will loose some of the movements you might get with other cameras, even the tachihara, but I think it might be easier for you to shoot.
good luck
joe
eta gosha maaba, aaniish gaa zhiwebiziyin ?
I am visiting some Mayan sites in the Yucatan this November. The Mexican Government requires a permit to use a tripod or monopod at these sites. I do not know of anyone other than NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC photographers who has gotten these permits. So I am looking for alternatives. Does anybody have any suggestions/ideas on how to shoot a view camera (5x7) without a tripod or monopod?
The only other solution I can think of is getting a 6x7 rangefinder camera, but it is just not the same as my 5x7.
Daniel
4x5 Crown Graphic.
Have to agree Crown Graphic, with a decent lens and fast film. I have similar problems in Turkey. While you can get permission it takes time & is very inconvenient.
Ian
Jnanian,
You can't put the film holder in the camera on a beanbag (Neither on a monopod, for that matter).
Many photographers in the 40s used to shoot with a Graflex (Crown, Century, Pacemaker, Speed Graphic...) handheld. Only a problem of frequent training.
Once you tried to use such cameras handheld, you appreciate the freedom not to carry a tripod.
Yes, the permits are almost impossible to get, and if you can get one, it will be very expensive.Originally Posted by DolphinDan
If you insist on using the 5X7 format you might be able to find some level elevated places where you can place the camera. I have had some success with this method, but it severely limits what you can photograph.
I faced the same problem several years ago and eventually decided that the best solution was to photography with a 6X7 or 6X9 rangefinder camera, first Fuji GW690 and GSW690, and more recently Mamiya 7II. A wide angle lens is the one you will most use in this type of photography.
You get a lot of sun in Mexico so for the most part you should be able to stop down a bit with high shutter speeds if you use a high speed film. In fact, even a ASA 100 film is fast enough for most scenes.
After working this way for a few years the only thing I really miss about not being able to use the 5X7 is the lack of perspective control with MF. However, if you scan you can do a lot of perspective control in Photoshop with the image file.
Sandy King
Thanks to everyone for your feedback and solutions. I figure I will lay my camera on my backpack to shoot and maybe use a belt or something to hold it still.
I have heard mixed reviews on the press cameras, so for now I will pass on them.
I am still debating whether to get a 6x7 camera like the MAMIYA 7II.
For some reason my previous e-mail of thanks did not post... Hopefully this one will make it.
Namaste
Daniel
If they allow walking poles, you have the option of your colleague carrying two identical poles and you carrying a single pole with a camera bracket on. With a little jiggery pokery, these could be simple clamped together onsite and with the addition of a small ballhead permanently attached to the camera, will make an ad-hoc tripod.
I figure you'll need a metal loop on each pole about 2/3 the way up which you can then attache a length of strong cord. This would stop the poles 'spreading'. For the connection at the top, you could have another three metal loops thought which you can tie a cord. I've knocked up a quick diagram...
I reckon this won't be the most stable concoction but with some testing it should be safe and flexible enough to get you the shots..
The trekking pole is by Awetech and has a hidden tripod socket on the handle and rubber feet so that the 'police' don't complain. A cheap ballhead from RRS or Manfrotto will screw in quickly I imagine..
Tim
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