photography from a wheelchair

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Andrew Sartain
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This message must be directed toward "Sky" as it was he who came up first in my search.
I am looking to share knowledge and idle banter with a like minded photographer.
I suffered brain haemorrhage ten years ago leaving me wheelchair bound Unable to pursue my previous obsessions, fishing I turned to fishing of another sort. Photography. I focus on what I know I can do well. In my case flowers and Garden birds. I. love Seascapes too and get out when I can. I use my Nikon z8, z5 & D500 along with my other obsession vintage 50mm lenses. I am a pixel peeper who loves detail.
 
Hi Andrew and welcome to the forum.
I too have an obsession with vintage lenses although I'm not too picky on the focal length. There are a couple threads over in the General Photography section of the forum devoted to vintage lenses adapted for digital if you're interested.

If you want to bring another user's attention to a post throw an @ in front of the username and they will get an alert i.e. @Sky
 
This message must be directed toward "@Sky" as it was he who came up first in my search.
I am looking to share knowledge and idle banter with a like minded photographer.
I suffered brain haemorrhage ten years ago leaving me wheelchair bound Unable to pursue my previous obsessions, fishing I turned to fishing of another sort. Photography. I focus on what I know I can do well. In my case flowers and Garden birds. I. love Seascapes too and get out when I can. I use my Nikon z8, z5 & D500 along with my other obsession vintage 50mm lenses. I am a pixel peeper who loves detail.
 
RyanB said:
Hi Andrew and welcome to the forum.
I too have an obsession with vintage lenses although I'm not too picky on the focal length. There are a couple threads over in the General Photography section of the forum devoted to vintage lenses adapted for digital if you're interested.

If you want to bring another user's attention to a post throw an @ in front of the username and they will get an alert i.e. @Sky
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Appreciate your reply, I too use flikr for my jpegs
 
Hi Andrew, welcome to the forum. :welcome:

How can I help?
 
I have joined this forum based soley on a thread within which you posted back in 2018, details of your disabled nature.
I personally dislike forums as I find typing one handed, due to my stroke terribly fatiguing. I will give it a go though. How are you finding the experience, a bit rhetorical I realise as it is now 2025 and an open forum.
 
Hi Andrew, I've seen a few wheelchair photographers who have attached a monopod or tripod head to the chair itself, they mostly seem to be shooting with longer lens though.
 
swanseamale47 said:
Hi Andrew, I've seen a few wheelchair photographers who have attached a monopod or tripod head to the chair itself, they mostly seem to be shooting with longer lens though.
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I have tried most of the disabled accessories and do not use anything attached to the chair. In my experience vibration and shake are a major problem, even with IBIS. I use a tripod straddled across the chair. and raise shutter speed slightly and go auto ISO. Always in manual mode, as I am a control freak
 
Ted 2 said:
I have joined this forum based soley on a thread within which you posted back in 2018, details of your disabled nature.
I personally dislike forums as I find typing one handed, due to my stroke terribly fatiguing.
Click to expand...

OK, what caught your attention? Can you link to the post?

I'm doing a lot less now than I was back then as I'm now losing the use of my hands. I only have about ten percent of the strength I had then (which wasn't good anyway), so I have to be very careful not to drop anything. :rolleyes:

I've always been a pretty fast touch-typist and find it incredibly frustrating not being able to do so now. I really feel for you only being able to use one hand. Have you tried Windows voice-typing? It has its limitations, but it does work once you get the hang of using it properly.

I agree with you about fastening things to the chair - like you, I straddle a tripod over my legs or use a monopod. Nothing else works for me either . . .
 
I simply typed into google "finding photography friends". I empathise re losing strength it's a bummer. Oh and I use a Mac. Voice activated software can't understand me. I have a permanent speech defect since my brain haemorrhage. On the plus side, I have not handled cash or been in a shop for ten years.
Photography means a great deal to me. I love it. and Printing just as much. I am woking on another calendar for 26. "Through the letterbox' [65x24] four seasons of north Pembrokeshire. A topping print run of 15. Christmas presses for family. Always good to have a project.
 
I'm so sorry to hear that Andrew, I find my frustrations bad enough - I can only imagine the distress yours cause you.

Each year I tell myself to undertake more projects, but although I'm not competitive, I hate to fail. I keep trying new ideas only to find repeatedly that my disabilities stop them in their tracks. A calendar may be worth giving some consideration - I've not done one before although I did think about doing one back in '78 when my first son was born.

Despite the pain, frustration and many other challenges I face, the hardest thing for me to come to terms with as a new wheelchair user (nearly ten years ago) is just how badly people treat you when you're 'out and about'. They always assume that because you don't use your legs, you must be mentally disabled too. I get so angry when they will talk to my Assistance Dog, but won't even make eye contact with me.:headbang:

Can you get out on your own, or do you have to have someone with you? I need a lot more help than I have, but simply can't afford to pay for it - even though the government think that us raspberries get too much money in mobility benefit and should stay at home and watch TV.
 
I use Johnsons printing for my Calendar. They are excellent and super helpful. Re: peoples reaction, what can I add? "oh well done" I get that a lot when out shooting from my wheelchair. And yes no eye contact esp when out with wife talking directly with her and ignoring me. Sad but true. To be honest im not unduly troubled by this, Not a huge lover of small talk and happy in my own skin.
My wife is my carer, I need 24hr care. I do not drive now but get a car for our needs and I now have a mobility scooter that breaks down into five manageable pieces to go in the boot. Although we have a posh van type thing. A vauxhall Combi.
I had an all terrain Tramper for ten years, but the sea air took its took its toll and it invariably rotted. Great for off road, but as I Weeknd it became harder and more painful to be jiggled about.
Oh and the TV does not get switched on until 8pm in this bungalow
 
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