Yes, it’s true that many fancy new camera’s have built in image stabilization. But what if your’s doesn’t have it? Can you still take great photos without a tripod? Of course! I’m going to show you some simple insider tricks to improving your chances of taking great crisp photos.
Learn to Hold Your Camera Properly
This tip is targeted towards those people who have a traditional film camera or digital SLR. It’s surprising how just learning to hold your camera properly can massively cut down on the amount of blurry photos you take. It’s simple. When looking through the viewfinder make sure that the camera is firmly planted against your face! That’s right, you use your face as a stabilizer. Sure you may get nose prints on the back, but it’s a very small price to pay for great photos. Your other hand should be holding your lens from underneath. This creates a nice stable platform for your camera.
Tuck Those Elbows In
This applies to both SLR and small point and shoot cameras. Tucking your elbows in to your sides stabilizes your arms and reduces shake compared to having your arms floating in front of you.
Lean on Me
This may seem obvious, but leaning against something is another great way to reduce the chances of a blurry shot. Lamp posts, railings and walls are all great choices. This works extremely well in low light conditions where you can’t use a flash. Combined with the elbow tuck, you can get clean shots that would normally be impossible under these lighting conditions.
Improvise a Tripod
This is great for indoor shots or longer exposures when you don’t have a real tripod. Railings, books, tables, beer glasses and coasters are just a small number of everyday objects that you can use to prop up or rest your camera on. Make sure to use the self timer when doing this. It is essential in order to get non-blurry shots. Just pushing the shutter release with your finger will introduce enough vibration to make longer exposures a complete blurry mess.
There you have it. Some simple and easy tips to get great crisp shots. Give these a try and I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how effective these techniques are. Happy shooting!