Photo Tip #6: A Man with a Chain Saw Can Shake Your Camera

My former colleague/photo chief Richard Thomason, who retired in September 2004 after 30 years of taking pictures for the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, stopped by the house this past Sunday, chain saw in hand, to help me cut down a tree in my front yard. Well, I helped him cut down the tree. He roared, I clipped and stacked branches. It didn't take long. Richard worked the chain right off of the saw. Literally. He had to stop once to put it back in place.

It wasn't a large tree. As you see in the 'before' photo (moving day), there are (were) matching trees, possibly some variety of crabapple, in the front yard. I decided, after they hit a growth spurt during the great summer rains we've had, that the scraggly bushes on stumps block the view of my house. It's a cute little 107-year old Victorian. Needs a little paint, but who doesn't. The pair had been hacked instead of pruned, are encroaching on the power lines, and upon closer examination, it's obvious that they are both a bit sickly, too.

And if you take a close look at the two photos, you might notice that they are not quite in focus. It's camera shake, and it can ruin an otherwise good photo. The little point and shoot camera that I used is small enough that, if I hold it with one hand, it moves as I press the shutter release. It just doesn't hold steady when you mash the button. So watch your hand as you shoot with a small camera. If the camera moves, your shot is out of focus. Use both hands to keep it steady.

The same holds true for the larger 35mm cameras, whether it's film or digital. As well, the shutter speed that you choose is important. So watch for the shutter speed when you shoot in any program mode. The rule of thumb is, don't shoot any slower than the focal length of your lens. For example, if you have a 200mm lens on the camera, set the shutter speed to 250th of a second or faster. This will vary, of course, with the many zoom lenses that are on the market. You probably cannot hold a 35-300mm lens still at a 30th of a second when you shoot at the 35mm focal length. The longer the lens, and the heavier the lens, the harder to hold it still. Either increase the shutter speed, or use a monopod or tripod.

Here's a tip on how to properly hold your camera: as you grip the camera with your right hand, cradle the bottom of the camera body with the palm, or butt, of your left hand. It gently rests there. Your thumb and fingers now lightly cup the lens from underneath, making it easy to move the focusing rings, and zoom in and out. Don't squeeze the camera with all of your might using just your right hand, then hover your left hand over the lens to move the rings. It's awkward. Trust me. Once you become accustomed to holding your camera with both hands, not only will you look like a pro, you'll shoot more like a pro.

And a few more tips to help you stay steady, especially in low light:
** breathe slow and easy, shoot on the exhale, or lightly hold your breath, like a sharpshooter
** depress the shutter button smoothly and easily, like a sharpshooter
** hold your elbows in close to your body if you need to steady yourself
** lean against a wall, or a table top, or place your elbows on your knees if seated. The idea is to make a tripod out of your body.
** set the camera on a flat surface - you can still look through the viewfinder

HOLD THAT CAMERA STILL!!!
Robin