How to Avoid Shaking When Snapping pictures with a Handheld Camera
Hand-held doesn’t mean shake it till you make it! If you have used a hand held camera, it is more than likely that you have experience the annoyance of blurry photos that is caused by camera-shake. This can especially be a big problem for those who have very unsteady hands.
If you are at a party or event and you are taking pictures to remember the occasion, it can be very annoying looking through them the next day with motion blur throughout. Unfortunately it can’t be entirely omitted, but thankfully, there is a variety of steps that can be taken reduce it.
You can see Camera shaking when the shutter’s speed is slower than the speed of camera motion, so to reduce it, you may want to consider taking some of the following steps into consideration when taking your photos.
How to reduce your camera’s motion
New photographers do not really value the significance of using faster shutter speeds as well as tripods, while more experienced photographers seem to think their the cat’s meow when it comes to their impact. Most of the time, a photo’s visualization depends on the photographers shooting methods. The resolution does not really depend on how good your camera is, so if you are new to photography, lots of shooting practice is essential.
Even the steadiest hands will not always keep a camera held perfectly steady when shooting. Remember, when you are taking a picture it generally takes a few seconds before the shot has been done so it's almost impossible to keep a very steady hold of the camera. The other thing is, faster speeds of your shutter are not expected to stop motion of your telephoto lens if you have shaky hands. There are a lot of things to take in to consideration when taking the perfect picture. Practice means everything!
How to Increase the Shutter Speed
There aren’t a lot of ways to up your shutter speed. In fact, unfortunately there are only three which are known of and they are as follows:
a) Setup your exposure setting properly
b) Avoid setting that will be too much exposure for your camera to handle
c) Perk up how you’re shooting area will be lit when taking a shot
When shooting photographs, you should always choose the best exposure setting possible. Ensure that you are utilizing perfect use of your cameras exposure triangle and take things into consideration such as using the highest ISO speed the lowest f-stop possible. The smaller the f-stop (or f/value) is, the bigger the lens opening (aperture). You should also decide if you need to use an open field when you choose your aperture.
If you have your camera set in auto mode it is more than likely that the camera is already doing the best that it will to improve the shutter speed. Automatic mode is great for beginners!
One of the most common causes of blurred photos is because of the cameras metering system accidentally setting up a lengthier exposure time than what’s recommended. The likes of odd indoor lighting and dark shade on your subject can easily hoax your camera into potential over exposure. Always try your best to avoid over-exposure for the best shooting and photo quality.
When shooting, it is recommended that you use your camera flash or change the ambient lighting around the subject matter. If you are making use of a compacted camera with an inbuilt flash, you should try shooting nearer to your objective without marring the subject, which in effect will make the subject brighten up extensively, and therefore, a better quality of picture. If you do not have inbuilt flash or you don't want to use it, then you should always try and move a bit more near the light around the subject matter. The theory here is simple, the better the lighting, the better the picture so keep this in mind when shooting.
If these techniques prove futile for you, then you will need to use at least one of the other methods as mentioned below (or you can use both if possible).
Improving your technique when holding a hand-held
Pushing up the speed of the shutter may perhaps be the easiest and one of the most efficient methods you can use to prevent motion blur, however, your shooting technique with hand-held cameras can more often than not make a big difference in the photo quality. You should consider trying out some of these tips that I’ve compiled for you:
When shooting with a hand-held camera, you should use techniques that help you and your hands stay steady. Perhaps setting up near a wall, kneel or sit down if you feel that it helps keep the camera and your hand steady. Bracing yourself is a top tip for photographers; however, it is important that you feel comfortable, as you do not want to strain yourself, which will make your hobby a bit of a task. You need to be in a mode of complete Zen and calmness, that is what you are looking for so be creative when shooting.
You should always keep a firm grip on your camera and not tensely. Remember, photography is fun so you do not want to put yourself under any stress. Keep calm and you will be rewarded. If you are using a camera with a large telephoto lens, it is important that you hold the camera properly. Keep a hand under the lens and put the other hand placed firmly on the camera body for the best effect and comfort. You should practice these methods as before long, your hands will naturally adjust to this and you will be taking the perfect photos.
You should also practice your button techniques when it comes to the shutter. Press the shutter button gently first, about half way and when you are comfortable, you can press it lightly without having to apply pressure. Another top tip is to focus on your breathing, take a calming breath and relax, exhale halfway and then press the button once more.
Practicing these tips is great for photographers and before long your hands and body will naturally adjust to the camera, which in return will help your create excellent photos.
