Get Sharp Handheld Photos Forever!

I love handholding my camera to get photos, and I hate tripods. So, here are all of my best tips for getting sharp photos without using a tripod! I do most of this after sunrise in perfectly bright conditions, fail!

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[AshleyGittins]

Step 1: No coffee.
Me: Yeah, tripod ain't so heavy after all.

Cheers though, all solid tips.

[iankellam]

Always entertaining just listening to you ramble on.

[Johnmcalester]

“Pretty does not necessarily equal a good photo.” This is one of the most important lessons I’ve come across as a learning photographer.

[madiko]

Hey James, great video and tips. Thank you very much for sharing your insights. I enjoy your videos enormously. I agree to all your points. One suggestion to compliment them: I am a violinist. One of the major things you Iearn is, how to stand steady (footwork), while keeping mobile and flexible in the upper body -- and maintaining it with as little effort as possible (to be able to do so for a long time without ruining your health).

The tricks are: spread your feet as wide as your hipps (in the video your feet are too far apart) and stand on both feet equally. Put your left foot (because it's holding the camera weight) a little in front forming the 3-pod (left foot-- right foot -- body in the centre as you mentioned). Then bend your knees just a little (make sure they are not locked and stiff). Proof / check your standing with bending, leaning or tilting your upper body forward/backwards and left to right. You'll feel your centre more easily. That's enough. To master it even further also pay attention to the pelvis: tilt it, so as to avoid arching your back. Just enough to unlock your spine. That improves steady breathing and standing steady with less effort. 😉

It needs some practicing, but I wouldn't miss it. You can practice everywhere: Standing in line in the supermarket, brushing your teeth, cradling your little one, washing dishes, standing together with friends and chat, riding the bus (best exercise ever! You are a master when you wont need to hold on anymore 😉). Now it's so deeply rooted in my system, it became second nature.

Please let me know how it works for you and feel free to ask further questions. 😊

[onlyClaire]

As a competitive rifle shooter I'd recommend taking images holding no breath in your lungs. You can be without breath longer than you can hold a breath.
I alway take photos using the standing position from 3P target shooting.

[Michael-Bennett]

Can we assume that "a couple of bananas" really means a large bag of Jelly Babies?

[scarcesense]

7:10 Learning a primal squat was one of the best things I've done for photography. Once you've got the strength and flexibility down, you can just squat there forever, completely planted and yet off the ground. I was stalking a few birds at the local wetlands for half an hour without having to sit in the mud. Very handy.

[StevenRaden]

Thank you for addressing things that aren't just camera settings! I have almost never heard someone mention Hunger shakes, in any context. But it is definitely something I experience frequently because I just forget to eat.

[DaveAdams]

A lot of the techniques for not having a shaky camera are the same things we apply in the military for long distance rifle fire. Steady squeeze, calm breaths, fire on bottom of your exhale, don't hold your breath (unless that helps then by all means), etc. etc.

[jwebb]

Me: Okay he's probably gonna start off talking about camera settings, modes etc.

James: Don't drink coffee, eat loads of food...

[davidbecquer]

Love spending a few minutes on my off-day traveling with James!

[nelsbondephoto]

I shoot handheld often and I do run into issues. But, I follow what I learned for shooting a long range rifle when I was young. B.R.A.S.S. or Breathe Relax Aim Squeeze and Squeeze more. Most camera shutters have a 2 step process, if you focus on the second Squeeze as your goal you'll steady your hands and get the shot.

[FrerkMeyer]

You are my hero, getting there with your bicycle, and not a car, a van or a camper! With regard to coffee, I don't follow your advice, but I'm a coffeine addict already, so I would wooble witout coffee ;-)

[spidersj]

Very useful video James... You should call these videos, "The Popsys Synopsis". You should also mention, get lots of sleep regularly and exercise, because a fit body can hold the camera without any shakes longer without shaking than an unfit body. The DJI Pocket 2 has crazy good stabilization. FYI, it's very hard to keep your feet apart and not have your legs apart...

[sharonkerrigan]

I genuinely thought it was a personal quirk of mine that my steadiest shots are taken when I’ve finished breathing out, something I had stumbled upon from trying various techniques. From your comment and the comments here, quite reassuring that I’m not just imagining it. Love your videos due to being the perfect mix of instruction and humour that makes education fun. Congrats on the new baba. 💙

[peterl]

It is good that we have James, isn't it. Always improves the mood 🙂

[Paintbait]

Right so if there are any sportsmen (or veterans perhaps) among your European watchers the basics of marksmanship actually can apply. My favorite basic skill I've carried over is to be surprised by the shutter. Press down on the shutter with steady pressure and don't anticipate it. You can jerk the camera if you're too forceful or tense up in anticipation. Breathing out when you shoot IS basic marksmanship so James has already got you there. The key is to shoot at the point between the end of the exhale and before you begin inhaling. The moment of complete still

[robspedding]

The irony is that the pre-roll ad for me was for Gitzo!

[steventaylor]

“It was just a demo of the breath” ….enormous love it James ..well done really useful tips. So many things to sort …cheers

[kennygo]

I'm an old guy that learned on manual film cameras in the 70s. Our cameras didn't have grips for the right hand, so it is proper technique to hold the camera and lens together with the left hand. The grips on my new cameras are for carrying while I walk (with wrist strap).