Conquer handheld challenges
Sometimes it is impractical to use a tripod, but perfectly sharp shots are still achievable
Tripods may not be permitted in many buildings or at tourist locations, often with safety and security cited as the main reasons. And in some situations, steep terrain or an elevated vantage point may render tripod usage impossible. As photographers shooting in a diverse spectrum of environments, we can guarantee that there will be times where handheld photography will be a necessity. There are, in fact, advantages to this way of working, namely freedom of composition and speed of operation – tripods can be cumbersome pieces of equipment and may at times hinder the creative process. Portrait and wedding photographers need to be able to move freely to cover multiple angles with ease, while travel shooters prefer the inconspicuous nature of a stripped-back camera setup. There are of course drawbacks to photographing unsupported, camera shake being the most common and discussed symptom. The general rule of selecting a shutter speed that equals or exceeds the equivalent focal length of the lens in use applies and where this is not possible, alternative methods must be employed to maintain image quality. A logical solution to a slow shutter speed is to raise the ISO or set a minimum exposure, below which the camera will not permit the shutter speed to fall, but this introduces the issue of increased image noise. A better approach is to attempt to adapt your shooting technique to stabilise your stance and gain more sharpness from your existing settings. Leaning against a solid wall and holding the camera with the correct posture is an easy way to judge your baseline ability to keep the sensor steady while the shutter is open. From this you will be able predict in which situations a drop in the quality of your handheld images is likely.