Digital Photo Tip #29 By Bruce Kirkby Jun 1, 2007

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Hold Steady

To get sharp images, your camera can’t move while you’re snapping. But today’s point-and-shoot models make it easy to lose sight of this fundamental maxim, especially with small display screens that make every photo appear crisp (until you get home and see it on a computer screen). Make your memories tack-sharp with these basics.

 

BRACE YOURSELF Grasp the camera with both hands, and hold it close to your eye—not at arm’s length, as is the common practice with digitals. Brace both arms against your chest by pulling your elbows in tightly to your body. Slow your breathing and squeeze the shutter gently in the momentary lull between exhale and inhale.  

 

SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT STABILITY It’s easy to be unprepared for shooting low-light situations like campfires with friends, dinner parties, fireworks or foreign cities at night. And though a tripod is undisputedly your best tool in these predicaments, don’t be afraid to improvise. Try bracing the edge of your camera against anything solid—a telephone pole, a car roof, a fence rail. The camera still needs to be as absolutely still as possible, but you’ll be amazed at the results. And remember: always take a few shots of the same scene, because one will always be sharper than the rest.

 

TRIPODS Nothing will improve your photography like a tripod. Not only will it ensure a steady shot, it also forces you to slow down and consider your composition and subject more carefully. Today’s point-and-shoots don’t require bulky support, and often a tiny “pocketpod” will do the job. But if you own a big DSLR, you’ll want to invest in a more solid foundation. Here are some of the better options on the market:

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