By G. Denise Lance
While I would love to catch my great nephews and my dog during once-in-a-lifetime moments, my lack of coordination due to cerebral palsy has always made photography something I left to others in my family. Holding a camera up to my eye and trying to steady it while I press the button is an act of contortion for me. Even when I can hold a camera, I usually end up with either nice shots of my fingers, blurs, or crooked images.
I once took a fairly decent shot of my Dad with St. Louis' Gateway arch in the background, but that was with a Polaroid One-Step. Sadly, the only camera with which have ever felt at ease was a Fisher-Price 110 model that had handles on each side, two viewfinders, and a lovely lanyard, as shown in Figure A. Even more embarrassing, I bought it when I was 30.
FIGURE A
The Fisher-Price 110 has handles on each side. (click for larger image)
Many people with disabilities enjoy photography, but limited mobility or hand use often requires a great deal of creativity to make cameras usable. While tripods offer a way to steady the camera, leaving both hands free, they are not always practical for those moving around to take shots.
Mounting mechanisms
People who use wheelchairs or power scooters have found ways to mount their equipment so that it is always ready. While a few commercial mounts are available from companies such as Orcca Technology, many photographers with disabilities have designed their own mounting mechanisms.
Loren Worthington talks about the challenges of taking pictures from a wheelchair in his Rolling F-Stop blog. As Worthington explains, cameras with pivoting LCD screens offer greater options because they can be positioned to the necessary angle even when the photographer can't move around much.
Because he has limited use of his hands, controlling the shutter is not a simple task. Worthington adapted his Olympus E-330 with a tongue switch made by Conceptus. Since the E-330 did not have an input for a remote, Worthington also purchased an I/R converter modified with a 2.5mm plug from Gentles Limited.
Figure B shows Worthington's camera with adaptations he admits lacks beauty and ruggedness but excels in functionality.
FIGURE B
Loren Worthington made a few changes to his Olympus E-330. (click for larger image)
Michael Papp at the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) on Workplace Accommodations at the Georgia Institute of Technology devised the adapted camera system in Figure C for a photographer with quadriplegia.
FIGURE C
This tripod helps get the shot for a professional photographer who uses a wheelchair. (click for larger image)
He attached a DAESSY locking swing-away mount from Daedalus Technologies to a standard tripod with its legs removed. Levers attached to the tripod's controls make them easier to maneuver. At $823, this solution would likely appeal to professional photographers more than casual hobbyists.
Adapted cameras
As seen in Figure D, Orcca Technology also offers simple digital cameras adapted for operation through a single switch.
FIGURE D
Several switch-adapted cameras are available from Orcca Technology. (click for larger image)
These provide great options for children with disabilities or adults who have cognitive or multiple disabilities. A two-switch system in which one switch pans and the other switch tilts is also available.
Get your gorilla on
Although not specifically designed for photographers with disabilities, a great alternative to the traditional stiff-legged tripod is the Gorillapod by Joby, a tripod with legs that bend and attach to almost anything. This handy camera holder comes in three sizes. Figure E shows the mutant, spider-like Gorillapod in action.
FIGURE E
Gorillapods hang around anywhere you need them.
The Original Gorillapod fits most standard digital cameras, the Gorillapod SLR works with lightweight SLR cameras and video cameras weighing up to 1.75 lbs, and the Gorillapod SLR Zoom holds professional tripod heads and SLR cameras with zoom lenses up to 6.6 lbs. These could easy attach to a wheelchair or any stable object near the subject of interest.
Webcams and more
For those of us desperate for hands-free pictures, webcams come in handy. Since I control my computer with my feet, webcams have been my most reliable picture-taking option. Wired webcams, like Logitech's QuickCam, have long USB cables and bases that swivel to the desired angle, and wireless webcams can be placed in a variety of venues.
I just use the accompanying software to snap pictures from my desktop or laptop, using my toe on the mouse. But at resolutions of only 1MP, I would love to be able to take higher quality photos.
With a digital cameral that can accept remote control and a Gorrilapod over my shoulder, I may turn into a shutterbug after all. I may not even miss my handles and double viewfinder.
G. Denise Lance, Ph.D. is a researcher, online instructor, and freelance writer who often covers assistive technology.