Comments on: How to Hold a Digital Camera http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:58:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Leland http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/comment-page-3#comment-243979 Leland Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:02:22 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/#comment-243979 Hey, Benjamin (Dec.24,2007), sheesh! "We must break this trend..."? I find holding the camera vertically with the shutter button on top allows me to press my (right) hand into my forehead for stability, prevents my left eye (which is also open) from being blocked by the camera body. And my left hand supports the lens, with my left elbow tucked into my chest for stability. Hey, Benjamin (Dec.24,2007), sheesh! “We must break this trend…”?
I find holding the camera vertically with the shutter button on top allows me to press my (right) hand into my forehead for stability, prevents my left eye (which is also open) from being blocked by the camera body. And my left hand supports the lens, with my left elbow tucked into my chest for stability.

]]> By: george slusher http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/comment-page-3#comment-218152 george slusher Sun, 23 Oct 2011 03:16:49 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/#comment-218152 @Daniel: If you get a tripod with a ballhead, it should have a notch that allows you to tip the camera over into the vertical or portrait position. Some cheap tripods with "pan and tilt" heads can also be used: you release a catch and can tip the camera over. On the other hand, tripods designed for VIDEO usually don't have this capability. Most decent tripod heads have been able to hold the camera in the portrait position for decades. I have a Velbon tripod I bought in 1977 that can do it. Do note that, often, one buys the tripod legs and head separately. That allows one to tailor the combination to particular uses. I have 4 tripods with built-in heads, 4 sets of legs (various sizes and load capacities), 3 ballheads (again, different load capacities and weights), 2 gimbal heads and a 3-way head, plus "tabletop" tripods, Gorillapods, and the like. @Daniel:

If you get a tripod with a ballhead, it should have a notch that allows you to tip the camera over into the vertical or portrait position. Some cheap tripods with “pan and tilt” heads can also be used: you release a catch and can tip the camera over. On the other hand, tripods designed for VIDEO usually don’t have this capability.

Most decent tripod heads have been able to hold the camera in the portrait position for decades. I have a Velbon tripod I bought in 1977 that can do it. Do note that, often, one buys the tripod legs and head separately. That allows one to tailor the combination to particular uses. I have 4 tripods with built-in heads, 4 sets of legs (various sizes and load capacities), 3 ballheads (again, different load capacities and weights), 2 gimbal heads and a 3-way head, plus “tabletop” tripods, Gorillapods, and the like.

]]> By: Daniel http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/comment-page-3#comment-217903 Daniel Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:57:47 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/#comment-217903 I am going to be taking some night photoshoots, so that means slow shutterspeeds and I wanted to know if there's a way I can still take pictures holding my camera vertically while minimizing movement. Last I know of, they don't have tripods that can hold a camera vertically. I am going to be taking some night photoshoots, so that means slow shutterspeeds and I wanted to know if there’s a way I can still take pictures holding my camera vertically while minimizing movement. Last I know of, they don’t have tripods that can hold a camera vertically.

]]> By: The addicted eye http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/comment-page-3#comment-216311 The addicted eye Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:12:16 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/#comment-216311 It took me a long time to get to grips with camera shake and I have not quite got rid of it completely. When I do remember and have the time to do things properly, these are the things I do. Compose the picture Concentrate on keeping a firm left hand grip around the lens and relax the right hand with the index finger on the shutter button. Consciously drop my shoulders (I discovered I was quite tense when clicking the shutter) Exhale slowly through my mouth, squeeze the shutter button. It took me a long time to get to grips with camera shake and I have not quite got rid of it completely. When I do remember and have the time to do things properly, these are the things I do.
Compose the picture
Concentrate on keeping a firm left hand grip around the lens and relax the right hand with the index finger on the shutter button.
Consciously drop my shoulders (I discovered I was quite tense when clicking the shutter)
Exhale slowly through my mouth, squeeze the shutter button.

]]> By: Paul http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/comment-page-3#comment-166079 Paul Sun, 27 Mar 2011 18:51:18 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/#comment-166079 For P&S cameras without viewfinders I adjust the neck strap so I can hold the camera just far enough away from my old eyes to focus on the display but keep the neck strap taught against the back of my neck. I then dig my elbows into my sides. I hold the strap against my neck and keep my feet at or just outside shoulder width (if there's nothing to lean against). You kind of turn yourself into a tripod with your body. In breath holding I was trained in firearm shooting (over 32 years ago) to not take breaths and hold or take a breath & exhale but to just stop the breath where ever I was in the breath cycle... and squeeze the trigger... or in our case the shutter button. Now days I always keep a mini tripod around just in case and just use the self timer. For P&S cameras without viewfinders I adjust the neck strap so I can hold the camera just far enough away from my old eyes to focus on the display but keep the neck strap taught against the back of my neck. I then dig my elbows into my sides. I hold the strap against my neck and keep my feet at or just outside shoulder width (if there’s nothing to lean against). You kind of turn yourself into a tripod with your body.

In breath holding I was trained in firearm shooting (over 32 years ago) to not take breaths and hold or take a breath & exhale but to just stop the breath where ever I was in the breath cycle… and squeeze the trigger… or in our case the shutter button.

Now days I always keep a mini tripod around just in case and just use the self timer.

]]> By: Lape http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/comment-page-3#comment-161131 Lape Sat, 05 Mar 2011 14:50:27 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/#comment-161131 Hi, I know this may sound funny but I recently found that my hand shakes a lot holding a camera if I'm hungry! So I guess a good tip would be to make sure you've had a good meal before taking a whole load of photographs :-) Hi,
I know this may sound funny but I recently found that my hand shakes a lot holding a camera if I’m hungry! So I guess a good tip would be to make sure you’ve had a good meal before taking a whole load of photographs :-)

]]> By: KRISHNAKUMAR NAIR http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/comment-page-3#comment-157592 KRISHNAKUMAR NAIR Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:42:57 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/#comment-157592 XABIR, for power saving, click photos using viewfinder and not LCD screen. Always keep LCD off when not clicking, and take out the batteries when finished clicking for the day. XABIR, for power saving, click photos using viewfinder and not LCD screen. Always keep LCD off when not clicking, and take out the batteries when finished clicking for the day.

]]> By: Biomech http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/comment-page-3#comment-156373 Biomech Sun, 13 Feb 2011 19:08:16 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/#comment-156373 xabir, If you are taking a few photos you should leave the camera on. Your camera will use more power turning on and off repeatedly than it will just in idle mode. You should also find an option in the menu to have it automatically turn itself off after 5 or 10 mins. xabir, If you are taking a few photos you should leave the camera on. Your camera will use more power turning on and off repeatedly than it will just in idle mode. You should also find an option in the menu to have it automatically turn itself off after 5 or 10 mins.

]]> By: karthiban http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/comment-page-3#comment-155584 karthiban Wed, 09 Feb 2011 07:02:32 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/#comment-155584 is it wrong to look the viewfinder with left eye? is it wrong to look the viewfinder with left eye?

]]> By: xabir http://www.digital-photography-school.com/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/comment-page-3#comment-155466 xabir Tue, 08 Feb 2011 13:04:03 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-hold-a-digital-camera/#comment-155466 i've bought a new digital camera & wanna know after using camera should i put off the batteries from the camera?after capturing a photo should i turn off my camera?i wanna know how i increase the life time of my camera & batteries?i'll b great full if any one reply me> i’ve bought a new digital camera & wanna know after using camera should i put off the batteries from the camera?after capturing a photo should i turn off my camera?i wanna know how i increase the life time of my camera & batteries?i’ll b great full if any one reply me>

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