Smashed right thumb

[matseski]

I smashed my right thumb metacarpal into 4 pieces this past weekend and had it surgically reconstructed earlier today. The surgery went very well. The surgeon managed to put it all back together with xrays and 2 pins, did not even make an incision...props to him. However I will be in a cast for about 6 weeks then maybe a splint after that and cannot really even hold my camera. Has anyone come up with a way to continue with photography while recovering from a thumb injury? I have a tripod but even that is very difficult to position. I cant do anything that i normally would. Had to drop a few classes, stop my research project, take the rest of the year off from the skiing and cycling teams and cannot paint. Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Bob B]

Sorry to hear about your thumb. May you recover quickly.
Regarding photography, perhaps you may want to shoot still life images in your home while controlling the camera via your camera tethered computer.

[matseski]

I will certainly be doing that more, but I want to shot the final ski race this weekend where all of the seniors dress up in ridiculous costumes. I am thinking that I may be able to put my camera on a monopod and tape that to my cast then use a the shutter button on my battery grip with my left. Wondering if anyone had any better ideas.

[KmH]

I've heard

Where there is a will, there is a way.

[stradawhovious]

These can be set pretty tight, or to fit around your cast, and might eliminate the need for your thumb altogether....

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Other than that, like you were saying, monopod and off hand it.

[cyclohexane]

I am thinking that I may be able to put my camera on a monopod and tape that to my cast then use a the shutter button on my battery grip with my left. Wondering if anyone had any better ideas.

You can use a remote release; run it from the remote port to somewhere on the lens where your left hand falls, and then gaffer tape it to the lens, that way you can hold your lens normally with your left hand, and

Use the monopod as you suggested, and just brace the right side of the camera with your right hand, broken thumb and all.

[Scoril0]

Originally Posted by matseski

I will certainly be doing that more, but I want to shot the final ski race this weekend where all of the seniors dress up in ridiculous costumes.
[...]
Wondering if anyone had any better ideas.

A better idea is to stay at home and recover from your injury.
there will be other events for you to shoot but if you damage your thumb you'll regret pretty much all your life. Repeated fractures are really bad, they never fully recover and they get worse with age. Don't ask how I know this.

[matseski]

Its not just a generic event that I am shooting. Its my team and friends and they rely on my pictures to provide movement analysis and to share their races with their families. This the seniors final race and I will never see them race again. I do not think it really makes a difference if i sit at home with my casted hand with pins in it or stand on the side of the course.

[Mike_PEAT]

With the work that I do I get injured from time to time, and sometimes it's so bad that I can't use my SLR. Those times I switch to my lighter bridge camera or my ultralight P&S.

When I tore a tendon in my right hand, I used a flash bracket (no flash) with my bridge camera, so my left hand could hold the camera and I can trigger the camera with one finger on my right hand.

Today I keep grip straps on my cameras since my right hand is weaker, my favourite is the Hakuba Grip PH with Wrist Support...with that my palm, back of my hand, and wrist takes most of the weight of the camera, and my fingers don't have to support all the weight; an image of the strap in use:
http://www.pleer.ru/i/p/24151/24151.jpg

[graphicography]

good luck on the recovery! Never fun... I am kinda bummed there's no picture of your thumb though