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 :beer:

 

[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 :thumbsup:

 

[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.

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

Kettlebells and Yoga.

 

[Coco B]

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

All you need is sexersise.

 

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Gyrotonics.

Best spinal and shoulder stabilizing workout I've found. But I can get sessions for free... so might not be worth the cost. Pushups?

 

[Stefan Christou]

All you need is sexersise.

You tease!

I'm taken.

Gyrotonics.

Best spinal and shoulder stabilizing workout I've found. But I can get sessions for free... so might not be worth the cost. Pushups?

Pushups aint bad for your arms and core. Specially those bastard pushups I've been doing (the ones where you start with your legs together at 90º to your body and then you push down past your hands and then up into a normal press up, and then back down through and up into your starting position. Bastard pushups.). :violent:

 

[Kingslea Bueltel]

30 lbs.? I think many times the RED I've had to throw on a shoulder has been closer to 45, possibly 50 lbs. Going handheld on the fly has often meant just grabbing the camera off the sticks and hoisting it, complete with a hefty Cooke lens, drive, brick, matte box, filters, ff, rails, hh rig, EVF, LCD, and so on. I'm an AC, but am occasionally asked to op shots (or be the human relief tripod for my DP/op ; p) and have to keep the RED shouldered for extended periods.

Given that I'm of the female persuasion and loathe to be called out on set as the weaker sex, I do military presses with free weights, push-ups, flies, and chest/bench presses. They keep me from passing out under the burden quite nicely.

 

[Jacob_Ross]

functional strength, muscle endurance, core strength, and flexibility....

those will help you in ANY task you try to do.

try kettlebells, body weight routines, plyometrics, any sort of cardio..

lower back and abs are super important as are legs/shoulders...

any fitness/training will help you as an operator

looking to really get sick as f**k, try P90x or crossfit.

 

[Craig Ryan]

Isometric training is a must for core work; planks, side bridges, supermans...etc. Hold these for at least 3 minutes if you can. Be creative and try making it more and more difficult.

You can't go wrong with the squat and deadlift. Both will provide most of the functional strength you need. Just make sure to keep the weight light enough for you and to keep your form PERFECT; no one wants an injury.

I also can't stress shoulder isometrics as well; these will give your shoulders more endurance.

And of course do every other bodyweight exercise on the planet; pullups, chinups, pushups, hanging leg/knee lifts, dips, body rows..etc. Do whatever you can think of. +1 for kettlebell training as well. Those are KILLER for balance.

 

[Shawn Booth]

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

But that is what it is like...

EDIT: For me, the RED is a light camera - 35mm camera systems can be quite heavy...
I swim in the ocean, free dive and sometimes my friend convinces me to paddle out and catch a couple waves. I also use the camera almost daily...

 

[Danish P.V.]

I use easyrig. Period. There`s no way anyone forces me to schlepp this or any other super heavy camera and risk my back. My spine`s way too precious to handle excess weight. Even if you`re in good shape it just needs a wrong twist or step - and that`s it...