There are several regular ways of supporting your camera:
• Hold it in your hands.
• Rest it on your shoulder.
• Use some kind of body support.
• Affix it to some kind of mounting.
For brief shots, or when shooting on the move, it is often sufficient to hand-hold the camera – provided you grip it properly.
• Palmcorders are best held with both hands: your right hand through the support strap on the zoom lens; your left hand under the camera’s body. Although some cameras are fitted with an electronic image stabilizer don’t rely on this device to compensate for wavering one-handed operation.
• Compact models with large lenses are best steadied with the fingers of your left hand under the lens mount, and your right in the support strap.
• Portable cameras have a molded saddle-type base or a pad which rests on your shoulder. You steady the camera by pressing it against your cheek. Your left hand will be on the lens barrel controlling focus, while the right is through the support strap, operating the zoom controls.
When hand-holding the camera, you soon learn the trick of not gripping it so tightly that every breath and body movement shakes the picture. Remember that particularly when fitted with a zoom lens, lamp, videocassette recorder and batteries, even a ‘lightweight’ camera feels increasingly heavier with time, and muscles tire.
It is not easy to move around while shooting, without pictures shaking, bouncing, or leaning over to one side. The best method is to make sure that you tuck your elbows in to your body, and adopt a slightly-bent knee stance to cushion each step. Always keep both eyes open – watching the viewfinder picture, while looking around to check out for obstacles.
It can be particularly hazardous when shooting as you walk backwards, and it’s advisable if you are working with another person (e.g. who is probably holding a camera light, a microphone, and recording equipment) to have them guide you; perhaps with a hand on your shoulder or belt.
Whenever you need to pan the camera round in an arc to follow action in a panning shot, stand mid-way with your feet astride and a straight back, and twist your body from the waist. If you are shooting a panoramic view of a scene, take care not to pan too quickly, or you will reduce everything to an indecipherable blur.
Very often, you will be able to find a firm support nearby, to rest your camera and steady your shots; as you can see in the examples opposite.
Hand-held supports
Any camera shake causes the picture to weave and hop about, so it is essential to hold it as rigidly as possible. Grip your camera firmly (but not too tightly) with your eye against the eyepiece and both arms tucked well in. Various techniques help to steady the camera:
1. Stable body positions: (a) legs braced apart; (b) seated, elbow on knees; (c) kneeling; (d) ground support.
2. Nearby supports: (e) back to wall; (f) resting on low wall, fence, railings, car etc.; (g) leaning side against wall; (h) foot on step or box; (i) resting against post.