Camera Shake Revisited
We learned how to drastically reduce camera shake by practicing the basic principles described in Shake Your Booty-Not Your Camera. Sometimes those will not be enough. When do we need even more stabilization and how can we accomplish it?
The best example of this is in low light conditions. In low light the camera’s shutter must stay open longer to get a usable exposure. Slow shutter speed means the camera must be stabilized more securely for a shake-free photo.
The photo accessory made just for this condition is the tripod. A tripod allows you to give your camera a set of solid legs, providing unshakable support. Just mount your camera directly to the tripod, aim the camera, lock the position, and press the shutter release.
But what if a tripod is not an option? Maybe you forgot to bring it. Maybe you are in a location where tripods are not allowed, or maybe you need to support the camera in a place where the tripod just won’t fit.
There are still some good options for stabilizing your camera
Brace the camera against any solid object–door frames, trees, fences. anything that will help you keep the camera from moving. This is one time where the digital camera view screen really does come in handy. You can brace the camera against the nearest solid object and then frame your shot using the view screen. This works well if you want to change the camera angle–raising or lowering it–to a level that makes the eye level viewfinder unusable.
Use a beanbag to support the camera on uneven surfaces. This works especially well for low level shots on the ground, and on a tabletop. You can manipulate the camera on the beanbag to get your framing just the way you want it. This is a perfect time to use your digital camera’s self timer to trip the shutter release.
Speaking of tripods, there is a slightly unconventional tripod style on the market now. It has legs that are flexible so you can wrap them around a stable object like a light post or fence railing. A tripod head can be attached so you can frame your shot just like with a conventional tripod. Good examples of this style are the original Joby Gorillapod and the Vidpro Gripster.
These ideas show us more ways to steady our camera and start us down the road to more creative picture taking.
