4.1 ELIMINATING CAMERA MOVEMENT

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Unwanted camera movement during the exposure is probably the major cause of unsharp photographs. You can reduce this problem in bright light and when using flash simply by holding the camera steady and depressing the shutter release smoothly. At slow shutter speeds, such as those you get in dim light, particularly with a lens zoomed in to enlarge a subject, you need a camera support.

As you zoom your lens in on a subject, you are increasing the lens’s focal length. As you zoom back out, you’re reducing it. The focal length, and the amount the image is magnified, determines the minimum shutter speed you need to use to hand-hold the camera and avoid blur. The rule of thumb is never to hand-hold the camera at a shutter speed lower than your lens’ focal length.

Technology has improved but the need for a steady hand, or a tripod, has remained constant. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Supporting a Camera

When the light is dim, and you aren’t using flash, you need to support the camera or you’ll get blur in your images. One way to do this is to lean against a wall or tree and brace yourself with your elbows tight to your body. You can also find a branch or railing to rest the camera on. For real stability you need a small tripod or an even easier to carry monopod.

Holding the camera correctly, bracing it, and breathing correctly can also reduce camera motion. Use the optical viewfinder to take photos because you can brace the camera against your face instead of holding it out at shaky arms’ length. Just before taking a shot, inhale deeply, then exhale and hold your breath while smoothly depressing the shutter-release button. When holding the camera for both horizontal and vertical photographs use your right finger to press the shutter-release button and your left hand to support the camera.

The camera was steady in the left picture and moved in the right one.

Using the Selftimer or Remote Control

Almost all digital cameras have a self-timer and a few have a remote control. Although often used to give you time to get into the picture, the self-timer is also a great way to reduce blur when photographing in dim light. Just place the camera on a secure surface, compose the image, and use the timer or remote to take the exposure.

Increasing Sensitivity

To reduce blur caused by camera movement, some cameras let you increase the image sensor’s sensitivity (or ISO) to light although this adds some grain to the image. Increasing the sensitivity means less light is needed for a picture so the shutter speed is higher. Increasing sensitivity is a good way to get pictures without flash in places such as concerts and museums where flash is prohibited.