7 Reasons Why I Love Shooting with an LCD Screen

Why I love shooting with an LCD screen:

ERIC KIM STRAP

ERIC KIM STRAP: the perfect wrist strap for RICOH GR II

Simple and elegant: ERIC KIM STRAP, for your RICOH GR or compact camera.

As of late, my only camera is RICOH GR II — and I have loved shooting with the LCD screen. Why?

1. You can frame more accurately

You can look at the edges of the frame when you are shooting, which means you can make more accurate and dynamic compositions. For example, connecting the diagonal lines to the edges of your frame.

2. Dynamic perspectives

With an LCD screen, you can shoot from super-low angles (putting your camera on the ground), or from super high-angles (holding your camera in the air, and shooting downwards).

Low angle photograph of kids. Kyoto, 2017

Bodies of boys in different colors. Low angle photograph of kids. Kyoto, 2017

Bodies of boys in different colors. Perspective lines in white. Low angle photograph of kids. Kyoto, 2017

Bodies of boys in different colors. Perspective lines in red. Low angle photograph of kids. Kyoto, 2017

Perspective lines in red. Low angle photograph of kids. Kyoto, 2017

3. What you see is what you get

Uji, Kyoto, 2017

You can get a real-life preview of what your final photo is going to look like.

I shoot JPEG (positive film preset in Ricoh GR II), and before I take a photo, I see what my final photo is going to look like.

4. You can get closer to your subjects

Walking woman. Kyoto, 2017

If you use a viewfinder, and hold your camera up to your face before taking a photo — it is harder to get close to your subject (compared to using an LCD screen).

Man in suit. Kyoto, 2017

Why?

If you use a viewfinder, you have to physically put your face closer to your subject.

If you use an LCD screen, you only need to physically put your camera closer to your subject.

My theory:

Putting a camera closer to your subject’s face is less intimidating than putting your face closer to your subject’s face.

5. More flexibility

Cindy going down escalator. Shot from higher perspective, looking down. Mall, Kyoto 2017

When I’m shooting on the streets, my body is literally more flexible, with my camera in my hand, shooting from strange angles and perspectives, than always being glued to my face.

6. Smaller camera

Dots. Abstract street photograph. Kyoto, 2017

Generally, cameras with LCD screens (without viewfinders) are smaller, more compact, and therefore easier to be more creative and innovative with your angles with your photography.