How to Hold a Camera Steady
Holding a camera steady is one of the most important techniques to learn while taking pictures. No matter the kind of camera you have, holding it steady will result in clearer compositions. Often there are subtle movements you are unaware of like the wind, a passing car or even your own breathing. If your shutter speed is fast, you are less likely to have a blurry picture. A longer shutter speed will need additional help to steady the camera while shooting the picture. Technology has created camera lenses that aid in the steadying of picture taking, but they don’t fix everything and you will need to steady the camera with your body or with additional tools.
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Instructions
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Use Your Body
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Put the strap of the camera around your wrist. Then hold the camera with both your hands making sure not to cover the lens or the flash.
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Hold the camera horizontally. Make sure both elbows are tight to your body using the mass of the middle of your body to stabilize the camera.
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Hold the camera vertical. Keep one arm tight to your torso for stability with the other arm raised above your head and horizontal to the ground.
Use Alternatives
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Use a tripod to stabilize a camera, keeping it steady. It is necessary especially for longer exposures.
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Try a monopod to stabilize a camera, keeping it steady while still being mobile.
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Consider a beanbag as a stabilizer in situations where a tripod is too cumbersome to carry. Place the beanbag on a stable surface and sit the camera on top of the beanbag.
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Use the environment around you. Of course a ledge or table is a great surface for stability. Shooting a vertical shot, hold the camera body tight against a wall for stability.
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Try to stabilize your body. At the very least, breathe out and hold your breath while shooting so there is no movement from your body.
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Tips & Warnings
There are no hard and fast rules. Try what works best for you. Be creative and imaginative.
- Photo Credit Harrison Keely
