Articulating LCD screens have been a great new tool to use for photography. Now we can hold our camera above our heads, or at our feet, and use the LCD to focus, compose and shoot. I especially like using this technique for ground level wildlife photography. In Antartica last winter we weren’t even allowed to squat (trying to avoid spreading any bird flu, all ships enforce this), you had to bend at your waist and hold your camera near the ground to shoot. Now if you are a back button focus shooter like me, my wrist doesn’t bend at that angle to push the focus button. Instead I adopted a new technique, I use my thumb to press the shutter, and my other fingers to support my camera.
Last week on our Kenai Fjords workshop we were photographing otters at water level using this technique. An added benefit of using your fingers to support the bottom of your camera is you can feel the water when you get too close. I accidentally dipped my Z9 into the ocean a few times, but I knew instantly since my fingers got wet first. I wrote an article for Nikon on this shooting technique, check it out here. And the next time you are shooting using your LCD at ground level, try using your thumb to press the shutter, I find I get better support for my camera and less dips in the water.