Being disabled can come in many forms as we know, myself I suffer from Fybromyalgia which is a disease that effects the muscles and nervous system making getting some of the shots other photographers can do often unimaginable, and I am not alone here.
There are many photographers who have a disability of some kind yet adapt techniques to enable them to get the shots they need.
In this blog I am going to give you a few techniques I use myself to make the taking of good shots a little easier on the old body.
The first thing I would suggest is whenever possible take someone able bodied with you to carry equipment and support you when you come to terrain you may be uncomfortable on.
When it isn't possible to take someone with you travel light, I usually only take my camera, one lens, a 2x converter, tripod in a carry bag and any filters/flashes I think I may need, I also take my monopod with this being small when folded down it fits easily in the pocket of my waistcoat (which has many pockets) and can be used as a support when stepping on terrain you struggle with.
Getting low: this can be a big issue if like me you struggle with bending or kneeling however taking a small fold up stool with you ( a rucksack stool is ideal as this can be used to carry equipment) place the stool on a flat area and setup your camera on the floor or a sturdy rock, using a timer is essential here and you may have to find some way to prop up the lens to get the shot you want, auto focus is probably best used for this type of shot, if you have a tripod with you use this at a low level.
Location finding: it can be daunting finding places to shoot and even more so if you don't have the ability to get out and explore like able bodied togs, my solution to this is good old Google Earth, with it's street view capabilities I can explore to my hearts content and with the panorama photo app selected I can view other peoples photographs of interest and then decide if I would like to create my own perspective on the location and if it is within a distance I can manage.
Rest often: I probably don't need to tell anyone this however I do find it is essential to rest whenever I feel the need, this can often lead to me spotting a shot I would have otherwise wandered straight past, take your time and drink in your surroundings, often we may miss a fantastic shot because all we are focused on is the pain so relaxing and taking notice of everything around you, above you and below you is a sure way of finding a perfect composition.
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