share creative camera bracing / holding techniques?

[steve waschka]

There's a lot of gear to make camera operating work when you are on the set. But it can be oppressive to lug it all there. I was hoping maybe a share post would open up some collaborative ideas.

 

I always liked Christopher Doyle's pillow brace solution for a makeshift steadicam

 

My recent discovery was shooting soccer. I wanted a low "ankle height" perspective to accentuate the player's speed of movement and the power of the kick. So I sat the camera on a soccer ball. Was a bit fiddly at first but it got pretty intuitive fast. With a camera having an eng shoulder type pad it fit great. Pro level balls that have texture grip and are a fraction smaller than the slicker practice balls worked best. Shots looked great.