Half- Mast Bow grip

The mechanics of the "HMB" grip are straight forward:+Shoulders square to the target.

+Back of camera flat against chest

+Top of the camera level with the first shirt button.

+Camera held with a "handshake" grasp, thumb on the trigger.

Unlike a grab shot from chest height, the HMB grip provides a stable, repeatable, position to aim the camera. With a 24mm (35equiv) lens and subject eight feet or more away, the view from the camera will be very nearly the same as that from eye level.

Again, these "goofey grips" only work with proper psych-ops applied. For example.

Camera at your side and you pretend to be interested in something off axis to the target.

Raise the camera to the HMB position with your right hand while reaching with your left hand into your camera bag or left pocket and fish around as if searching for a filter, or whatever. This looks pretty natural to the subject and gives them time to see that the camera is NOT aimed at them, and that you are pre-occupied anyway.

Then at the proper moment square shoulders to the subject, (but to the subject it appears that you are just twisting a little to get a better look in your bag) then without looking up take the SNAP and then immediately lower the camera - as if having decided you didn't need that "filter" after all. Total time camera aimed at the subject: One Second.

Psych-ops can change with any given situation, but the mechanics of the Half-Mast bow grip should always be the same. That is the only way to learn to see what the camera sees when it's away from your eye.