Your "Anti-Shake" tips!

[Bail]

Besides the obvious tripod. List the methods you use to reduce camera shake.

I'll start off I guess.
http://www.jeffreybail.com/photos/20dbracket.jpg

I made the bracket for my 20D. It helps me out a ton when it comes to taking pictures on the move. I tuck and lock my elbows in, exhale then snap the photo. That bracket really does wonders for me since I have huge hands and the picture comes out more clear in low light with a lower ISO setting. Plus it fits in my bag!

Anyone else?

[hitkaiser]

I use the self timer even when using a (mini) tripod

[Darren Rowse]

here's something I wrote on the topic a while back (http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/alternatives-for-tripods-and-monopods/)

[NaturesPixel]

here's something I wrote on the topic a while back (http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/alternatives-for-tripods-and-monopods/)

since this is a Professional site.. wanna fix the typo in this paragraph Darren ??Get Down Low - Ever been at the top of a tall building and felt it sway in the wind? The higher you go the more you feel the sway while if you’re on the ground floor you wont fell it. The same principle can apply here - sit, lay down or kneel in a way that you feel as still as possible and you should keep your camera sturdy.Should be wont Feel it :) excellent Article tho thank you

[Bail]

since this is a Professional site.. wanna fix the typo in this paragraph Darren ??Should be wont Feel it :) excellent Article tho thank you

It's really a blog... tee hee!

Ninja edit: Nevermind, I see he updated the site.

[whitemug]

lean on something solid like a pole, wall, or vehicle (make sure the alarm doesn't go off, of course).

[mlai]

For a big coffee drinker (me!) those anti-shake lenses work great. VR for Nikon, IS for Canon, OS for Sigma? and whatever else. :)

I picked up a Nikon 24-120 VR and have taken good photos that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to, hand-held.

[jhawksley]

Body position is critical when you are shooting at low shutter speeds. Stagger your feet and bend your knees slightly. I often shoot on one knee and prop my right arm up, which steadies the camera.

[smc1377]

A photographer I once worked with, Art Sprague out of Wichita, KS, once recommended a trick that any of us could afford.

Go to your local hardware store, buy a 1/4" bolt (I think it's 1/4", you might wanna bring your camera with to check the fit) and a length of chain.

Put the bolt thru one of the chain links on one end and then insert the bolt into the tripod mount on your camera. Then let the rest of the chain fall to the ground. Now step on the chain and put some upward pressure on the camera and there you have it. The upward pressure will actually help steady the camera.

This is of course only when you don't have a tree or other solid object to lean against. A cheap simple solution that will take up little room in your camera bag.

[Fraggleroxer]

gorrila pod all the way people!

www.joby.com

im also used to shooting in low light situations, cause i love to shoot concerts. its a matter of learning and paying attention to how ur body moved and flows. i meditate with my 20d. i try to balance it on my head....needless to say,canon is sick of covering my repairs...

anyways, a mono-pod goes a long way also!

http://static.flickr.com/144/323313732_74b8aec21e.jpg

love,
me

[Gromguitar4]

I find using my body works the best when I don't have a tripod with me. Make a triangle out of your arms by pressing them against your chest, or if you can, lean on something like a rail or post. But then again, how can you beat the Gorilla Pod? That thing looks sweet!

[Learner]

I read and do - elbows close to the body, set-up shot, hold breathe and push shutter button. or I put it on 2 sec. timer. Darren this might have actually been one of your suggestions!?:D

[Fraggleroxer]

i keep telling u...meditation man

[Lynette 77]

I tend to lean on something solid (like a wall), very slightly bend my knees (but only if I can get away with it - I'm 5' 2") and exhale slowly as I release the shutter.

[Nancy Pohl]

Some of these suggestions have been a great help. I usually try to just pull my elbows close to my body or lean my elbows on the back of something, but doesn't always work. Sometimes I get lucky but most of the time I get blurry shots. Will have to try that "get down low" idea.

[Fraggleroxer]

Some of these suggestions have been a great help. I usually try to just pull my elbows close to my body or lean my elbows on the back of something, but doesn't always work. Sometimes I get lucky but most of the time I get blurry shots. Will have to try that "get down low" idea.

and if u can, always use a tripod if the situation calls for it

[SueB]

I learned this from a professional photographer. Set camera to continuous and snap three pictures. Usually the middle one is quite focussed because it doesn't have the jab or mirror movement. I've tried it many times and it works well.

[mox601]

i simply inhale and stand beside a steady wall, tree, door, thing and keep my elbow on my chest. cheese!

[Bail]

I guess if your camera has a mirror lockup feature, I would use that. You would have to press the button twice to grab the photo but by having the mirror up before you take the photo will take some of the blur off. The problem is that you have to remember that your in mirror lockup mode. Sometimes I forget and I want to shoot a quick photo, I end up loosing my shot because of mirror lockup.

[BusShooter]

Good tips everyone!

For me, I've started shooting in continuous... I figure I'll get at least one good shot out of the 10s and 20s of the blurry ones :D. My dad always taught me to breathe deep and then snap the shutter to take a decent picture without a lot of shaking. I like the 2 second shooting timer and I've been using that as well.

I'm going to try the elbow technique the next time I shoot though. :)

[Gunsotsu]

I simply do what Uncle Sam taught me to do.

Steady.
Aim.
Breathe.
Squeeze.

'Course that was a different type of shooting, but the principle is sound enough.

[Fraggleroxer]

I simply do what Uncle Sam taught me to do.

Steady.
Aim.
Breathe.
Squeeze.

'Course that was a different type of shooting, but the principle is sound enough.

thats your mantra. like when i use photoshop with the pen tool. "click, drag, repeat"

[z999]

have 2 tripods.
and you must be asking why?
one should be one of the big one that are hard to carry
and the second is one of those 10-20 cm tripods. but ask the seller to let you try it! I got stuck with a quite annoying one (his head moves slightly if he isn't exactly locked.

[Gunsotsu]

thats your mantra. like when i use photoshop with the pen tool. "click, drag, repeat"

And it's served me well.

[Englishteacher]

I've never thought of the "meditation" idea, and the "chain" idea sounds promising -- sorta a reverse monopod? I do a lot of available light shots including long lense and macro. I find that I never have a tripod or monopod when I need it, so I rely upon something I learned in concealed carry class. Squeeze the trigger (shutter release) and be surprised when the shot goes off. That process eliminates the anticipatory shake of a jerky shutter release.

[Seltzer]

Squeeze the trigger (shutter release) and be surprised when the shot goes off. That process eliminates the anticipatory shake of a jerky shutter release.

I was just going to mention something like this. Applying gun shooting to photography helps a bit, stabilizing your body in a comfortable position. Trying not to move in anticipation of the click, just pressing down slowly until it surprises you. Making the Triangle with your arms helps as well but as there is no recoil from the camera this doesn't entirely make the same amount of sense and using the 2 second release negates this as well.
Personally, holding my breath or just waiting for my natural body motion to shift where I am set for a moment works best for me. My issue is still a matter of how to control personal hand shake, not just from my core body shake. Most of that I think can be fixed by just making sure to have a monopod or tripod with me if I'm planning to do long shutter or slow ISO.