How to Reduce Camera Shake
Are you struggling with camera shake? Do your photos turn out blurry whenever you hand-hold the camera?
Youâre not alone.
Camera shake is a huge problem. Itâs the reason why beginners (and even experienced photographers!) end up with soft, blurry, unwanted photos.
Fortunately, there are a few simple techniques you can useâŠ
âŠto ensure that your photos never suffer from camera shake again!
So here are six simple techniques for avoiding camera shake and achieving crisp, delicious images â no matter what.
Letâs dive right in, starting with the very first technique:
1. Tuck your elbows in
This technique is simple, yet it really works.
Just pull your elbows in toward your body and let them rest against your chest.
(You can press your elbows firmly into your chest for even greater stability.)
Like this:
It will give your arms a rock-solid foundation to work with so that your hands are utterly motionless.
And when you press the shutter button, youâll have no camera shake to speak of.
Another quick tip:
Once you have your elbows tucked in, exhale completely before hitting the shutter.
Why?
Because even the slightest movement can cause unwanted shake, especially as you increase your shutter speed.
2. Raise your left shoulder
If youâre a right-eyed photographer, then youâll need to shift to your left eye to use this technique. If youâre a left-eyed photographer, then you wonât need to change a thing!
Hereâs what you do:
Raise your left shoulder high. Then brace your left elbow against your ribcage.
For further stability, you can pull your right elbow into your chest (as discussed in the previous technique).
Also, make sure you exhale completely before pressing the shutter button to avoid introducing additional camera shake.
3. Create a tripod with your knee
If youâre taking a photo low to the groundâŠ
Or you donât mind getting a little dirtyâŠ
Then this is the camera shake reduction technique for you!
And itâs pretty darn easy to pull off.
Simply sit down.
Bring your knee up.
Then rest your elbow on it, like this:
Again, bring in that other elbow for greater support.
Youâre essentially creating your own tripod â so you have solid support wherever you go.
4. Lie down on the ground
In general, this is the most effective way to avoid camera shake without a tripod.
All you do is lie flat and let the lens sit directly on the ground.
To prevent any downward tilt of the camera, you can put a hand underneath the lens barrel or lens hood.
(If that doesnât do the trick, you can always create a fist.)
In the first image, youâll notice that I placed my hand flat against the cement and balanced the lens on top to give myself some height:
In the second image, I created a fist with my hand to give myself even more room to shoot.
Of course, this technique isnât always feasible. If your subject is high off the ground, youâre probably not going to want to shoot from such a low angle.
(Imagine doing an engagement session while lying flat against the ground!)
Plus, lying on the ground can be uncomfortable, especially if youâre shooting on cement, in mud, in water, etc.
So work with this technique when you can, but donât be afraid to use one of the other options on the list if need be.
5. The machine gun hold
This next technique is sometimes referred to as the machine gun hold, because you hold your camera like, well, a machine gun.
Personally, I donât use this technique much. I find it awkward and difficult to maintain for more than a second or two.
But just because it doesnât work for me doesnât mean it wonât work for you. So give it a try and see what you think!
Hereâs what you do:
Hold your camera to your eye with your right hand. Then raise your left elbow until your lens barrel can rest on it comfortably.
For added stability, place your left hand on your right bicep.
Like this:
6. Cradle your camera
Hereâs your final technique for reducing camera shake:
Cradle your camera!
Like this:
As you can see, I crouched down and placed my left elbow on my knee.
Then I created a sort of cradle for the lens between my shoulder and my wrist.
Itâs a pretty solid hold. Unfortunately, itâs tough to change positions once youâre cradling your lens, so the hold works best if youâre shooting an unmoving subject (e.g., a model during a portrait session).
Six techniques to reduce camera shake: conclusion
Well, there you have it!
You now know six simple techniques for reducing â or eliminating â camera shake.
And I can assure you that they work well; theyâre the exact techniques that I myself use to avoid âThe Shake.â
Now over to you:
Which of these techniques is your favorite? Have you tried any of them? Share your thoughts on camera shake â and camera shake reduction techniques â in the comments below!
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