Shooting from the lower point of view

You will not always (hopefully) want to shoot standing but would want to shoot from a lower point of view.

The easiest is to kneel with right foot on the floor, while supporting the left hand on your left knee. If you are holding the camera as I have described it earlier, the left hand is bearing most of the camera weight, while the right hand is only controlling the settings of the camera.

If you don’t want to get down and dirty, you can squat and sit back on your right heel.

You can also sit down on the floor and rest your hands on the feet.

Whichever position you choose, just make sure you are giving your hands additional support with your legs.

Using other support

If available, use other solid support, for instance a wall, a door, a tree, a lamp, a fence, a post, a car, a rock.. Anything that is there, really.

You can either put the camera on it (if it is flat) or lean against it (it should support the upper part of your body).

Have legs apart as well to give you more support.

You can use a wall as a support.

It should support the upper part of the body. If possible, press with your head on the wall as well.

Or try leaning on the wall.

When shooting in the city you have many possibilities to use a pole as a support.

Use trees!

Or a car!

You can lean yourself against it or even let the camera stand on its own if the surface of the car is flat enough.

Lying on the ground

When taking macro images, you will sometimes need to get on the floor:

Spot the difference?

Use your (both!) elbows as a support and lean a bit forward!

Now take a picture!

O.K. We have learned how to hold the camera. So now let’s take a picture!

When pressing the shutter release button, try not to breath.

I’m not kidding! In other words: breath in before pressing the shutter release button, hold your breath and take the picture, now you are done and you can exhale ; ) Of course you can do the other way around as well: first exhale, take a shot and then inhale. Whatever suits you better.

Conclusion

It is important to learn a good grip, one that you feel comfortable with and one that ensures you to capture a steady image.

You might be holding the camera steady and comfortably already. If you are new to it, try and practice different grips and then use the ones you feel the most comfortable with. Don’t forget to include changing of the settings of the camera to see which grip you prefer. That includes taking the picture! Even the pressure on the shutter release button with your finger can cause camera shake!

Hope you have enjoyed the article : )

In the next article I look at the accessories you can use/buy to help you support the camera even more.

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