Good health practices for photographers

Question

As many other professions. photographers tend to suffer of particular health issues, related to the way we use the first and most important piece of our equipment: our bodies.

Manufacturers are making great advances in this sense, but photo equipment can still be really weighty to be carried a whole day, especially when it includes wide aperture telephoto and zoom lenses. This daily muscular effort can cause arm tendonitis, shoulder girdle contracture, lumbar strain, torticollis, and similar affections. I can usually feel even my fingers strained after a whole day of work!

There's also health issues related to excessive use of the view, on which this answer sheds some light.

I simply try to carry the most of my equipment hanging from my belt or in a hip bag, rather than a backpack, avoid letting my camera hang from my neck, try to make a rest and stretch my muscles whenever I can, and keep regular physical exercise, but don't really know mucho about health and anatomy, so just go on my intuition and trainers'/doctors' general recommendations.

Are there more developed practices and/or exercises to help minimising negative effects of photography on our bodies?

Answer 1

Some good general health practices to consider:

• If you have special health needs, consult an appropriate medical provider.

• Use medical providers that follow standard medical guidelines. In the United States, the main guidelines are established by the US Preventative Services Taskforce. Recommendations are graded based on supporting evidence.

• Limit your use of radioactive equipment. They may increase the risk of cataracts or cancer.

• Use photography equipment properly.

  • Some of the conditions you list are not associated with camera equipment unless they are used improperly. You should not swing cameras and lenses around like golf clubs or tennis racquets.

  • Some of the conditions you list have no known cause. There is nothing you can do to prevent them.

To prevent some musculoskeletal problems associated with carrying equipment around:

• Use bags and backpacks that are designed to carry heavy gear for long distances. They will have features that increase comfort and reduce strain, such as neoprene straps. Most camera bags are designed to be used only for fairly short distances.

• Carry less and lighter equipment – a single camera and lens. Use the rest of the space in the backpack for something that weighs less than extra cameras and lenses, like extra batteries or memory cards. Some options, from lightest to heaviest:

  • Smartphone.
  • Compact camera.
  • Bridge camera.
  • Camera with walkabout lens or superzoom (18-135, 24-105, 18-200, etc).
  • Camera with "pro" superzoom (EF 28-300/3.5-5.6 L). I suspect most "pros" wouldn't be caught dead with this lens even though it is an "L" series lens.

• Convince friends and family to carry some equipment for you.

Answer 2

Let's see what photography is similar to.... while deferring to existing advice.

• Outdoor sport. Hiking especially. Advice for hikers should apply here. Some similarities to team sport too if we are talking about a hectic reportage situation (constantly in motion).

• Stage/Rigging work - when doing hard core studio setups. Health and safety advice exists plenty for these professions. Advice for constrained spaces might also apply.

• Screen/VDU/Computer work (when editing and handling results). Advice for professional computer users should apply here.

In addition, there are risks from:

• Radiation. Not as much radioactive equipment, as very bright light (sun and UV exposure while outdoors, strong lighting equipment in studio setups). Probably also from frequent air travel.

• Chemicals. Only applies to film darkroom work and DIY deep equipment maintenance, or when using old school flash technology (also see radiation). Also microbial risks from handling water-based solutions that are NOT inherently biocidal in nature.

• Asbestos. When handling or maintaining very old lighting or projection equipment. Or when engaging in urbex.

• Electricity. From complex, messy lighting and strobe equipment.

• Violence. Valuable equipment might attract robbers, or somebody misunderstanding your intent might want to hurt you.

• Professional stress

For all of these, qualified health and safety advice exists.

Answer 3

I am not a professional photographer, nor I have a lot of equipment, but I have a bag that really helps in easily walking with quite some weight around.

This backpack can be carried like a normal backpack, with a strap around each shoulder. However, if it would be a 'normal' backpack, it is not really comfortable to make a picture, as you need to take off a normal backpack.

But if you detach one side, the backpack hangs next to your body and since it has two zippers, one for normal, and one for easy access when it hangs next to my body, it's easy to take out the camera and even has access to accessories and lenses.

Other tips:

• Do not bend forward or backward too much, try to hold a normal relaxed position, especially when shooting many pictures
• Stand on two feet, this keeps your weight spread, and also more balance means a more stabilized camera
• If you have accessories you barely use, wear it on your back and not in a bag or something you hold in your hand, because it makes you unbalanced and one foot (and your whole body) is pushed towards that side. Even if it is not that much weight, if you walk or stand like that for hours, it makes a difference.
• If you stand still a lot, shake your muscles regularly.
• Avoid keeping your camera constantly around your neck (it's always a trade off, keeping your camera in your bag or around your neck, easy access versus comfortability).
• From xiota (see below): If you have accessories you barely use – Leave them at home.