The Best Way to Wrangle Your DSLR Beast!
Your digital SLR camera is a gentle beast, take the Canon EOS for example, it’s nothing short of a microcosm for an insane amount of imaging power. The zoom is so good it is nearly telescopic; if you were to zoom in any further you’d see the pimply craters of Mars, the planetary teenager of the Milky Way. But let’s not get off topic here, Digital SLRs are tricky to master – and when I mention that they need to be ‘wrangled’, I don’t take this lightly. They are heavy, they have a lot of power and they’re extremely fragile to use. Often these factors lead to ‘camera shake’, causing photos taken on high zoom or macro mode to blur with a visibly discernable different on a standard snap. Camera shake is becoming all too common… Why, do you ask? It’s abundantly clear that as photographic technology is advancing, DSLR cameras are becoming more accessible to the average consumer because they’re becoming affordable.
In addition to the dreaded camera shake, some people believe it to be necessary to hold their digital SLRs are arm’s length away from them when taking the shot… Where’s the logic in this!? There is none, it only encourages a really horrible photo quality. Check this guy out… He’s squinting at the camera screen before it’s so far away from his body AND he’s going to get some shakes because he’s trying to support a heavy camera in a non-ergonomic position.
Unfortunately the only way you will eliminate all effects of camera shake is by using a tripod, but arguably these are a not practical at all; especially if you’re catching a moving, un-staged image on the fly.
Here’s how you can wrangle your digital SLR camera to ensure that you’re capturing the best quality image possible:
- Grip the right side of the camera with your right hand and rest your forefinger just above the shutter release so you’re ready to snap. Curl your other fingers comfortably around the front of the camera and rest your thumb on the back side of the camera. Your grip should be firm enough to support the weight of your SLR, but don’t grip with too much vigour or you’ll have the adverse effect – you will still get camera shake because you are tensing too hard.
- Your left hand should wrap smoothly around the contours of your DSLR lens, with your thumb on the left side of the lens, the base of your hand underneath supporting the weight of the camera and your forefingers curling around the other side.
- Shooting with the view-finder on a digital SLR camera means that you’ll need to hold the camera nice and close to your body. Keeping your grip, move the camera closer and maintain stability by tucking your elbows into your sides and leaning the camera out a little bit from your face, about 10 inches should be nice and sweet.
- Add extra stability by supporting yourself against solid surfaces. For example, if you’re standing up to take the shot then lean against a brick wall or fence. If you’re out in the open and the shot is better suited to a kneeling position, then rest your elbows on your knees for added stability.
- When taking an intricate photo, for example if you’re taking a macro picture, aim to slow down your breathing before you take the shot so you have the added stability of your body being relaxed and complacent. Think of it like archery, you want to be as still as possible before you release your arrow to ensure the utmost accuracy.
It’s pretty simple stuff, isn’t it? Make yourself a part of the shot, and show that camera whose boss! Do this and you’ll never have the shake problem again!
