How To Take Photos Without A Tripod?

Camera Stability Without a Tripod

taken simply by putting my camera on the cobblestones of piazza san pietro. steadying the camera on the ground gave an alternate angle making it a little creative and the added bonus of the light reflecting against the shiny stoned square created a little atmosphere.

for this shot i used a bin again…hmm it’s starting to sound like a grotty habit!! times square, nyc is filled with lights and excitement so in order to capture a little of the brightness alongside an new york icon like the yellow cab, i sat my camera on a bin and let the exposure run free.

the gondola docks in front of st marks square in venice are the perfect place to test out this technique. the floating gondolas, rolling waves of the canal and dimly lit lamp posts create a great subject for a long exposure and you’ve got a few options for temporary tripods.

for this shot i used one of the packed up venetian mask stall which at night is basically a folded up table sitting with a great view waiting to be used as a tripod!

westminster bridge, one of my favourite places to stand and watch the world go by. there is so much happening and with such an iconic cityscape before it’s a photographers dream for long night time exposures with the big red buses, black cabs and big ben sparkling down over all of it.

i propped my camera up on the edge of the railing (held on to the strap tightly!) and set the exposure so it was long enough to blur the traffic and passing people partially disappeared.

Stable Support

• if you are using a larger (dslr) camera, then you need to find a stable support, wall, gatepost, the ground, tree trunk, etc. to support the camera, set the self timer to 10 seconds or more, compose the photo, knowing where you intend to stand, press the shutter and run into your position before the camera clicks.
• i have managed to get some pretty good photos of myself using one of those bluetooth remote shutters.
• they are not expensive and you can just click away with no need to keep resetting the self timer.
• never really used a tripod - i just find somewhere stable to put my phone.
• granted, this is probably not the best idea if it's busy or you are taking the picture from afar, as there's the risk of someone stealing your phone :)
• i was too embarrassed to take the actual tripod on my trip but it did come with a remote so i could prop up my phone and take some pics like that.
• i used an iphone to light this man a bit more to allow me to set a slightly faster shutter speed rather than raising the iso too high.
• i placed my camera on the ground for this shot and placed my wallet underneath the lens to raise it up a little.

Self Timer

1. self timer.
2. if someone spots me and offers to take it for me, i’ll gladly accept.
3. but 99 times out of 100, my self timer ones are better.
4. because i’m happy to spend an hour taking them over and over (and i’m not embarrassed if anyone’s watching) - but i’d never feel comfortable asking a stranger to retake even once.
5. i like to get creative with balancing my phone and using the timer or recording a video and using a still from it.
6. i used a tripod selfie stick when i was in paris and it has a remote! you can also use a timer but i got the best pics there.
7. well, first of all, i make sure that i have a really good camera. i also make sure that i have a really good lens. and then, i make sure that i have a really good tripod.
8. but, to be honest, i don’t really use a tripod that much. i usually just set the timer on my camera, and then i just kind of stand there and pose. and then, when the timer goes off, i just take the picture.

Shutter Speed

the determining factor for when you need to use a tripod comes down to shutter speed.

the slower your shutter speed is, the more likely you need the tripod. but the shutter speed that determines when a tripod is required depends on the lens you are using.

every lens is different.

wider-angle lenses can get away with slower shutter speeds. but when it’s longer, you’re going to need to use a faster speed.

as a general rule, the minimum shutter speed that i recommend is one that’s twice as fast as the focal length on your lens.

that means if you’re shooting with a 35mm lens, you need a shutter speed faster than 1/70th of a second to get tack sharp photos handheld. if it’s a 400mm lens, then you need a 1/800 of a second. any slower, and it’s time to use a tripod.

to capture the slow shutter shots without a tripod i usually flick the camera to aperture mode and then simply adjust the iso and f-stop to suit.

having a low iso and a setting of f/22 will allow a lot of light in and will create blur of any moving subject in the frame.

aperture is quite tricky because it also depends on what other settings you’re using.

when i’ve mentioned f/22 here i’m pairing it with a very low iso at night which results in a slower shutter, leaving it open for longer and allowing more light movement into the image.

Handheld Shots

• let’s be real, tripods can be clunky, heavy, and take forever to set up.
• tripods are also not convenient when i need to track moving subjects or be quick with changing compositions.
• and if you’re shooting events for clients, friends, or family, a tripod will feel a hindrance.
• then, of course for street photography where you need to be discreet, a tripod is the defacto sign to go the other way because somebody is literally taking your photo right now.
• not good if you want to capture authenticity.
• a burst of shots taken handheld. 3 of this set were sharp enough to use.
• if you are using a smartphone, hold it at arms length and face it towards you, compose the picture and take it.
• if you are using a small compact camera do the same. it may be easier to set the self timer to a couple of seconds. it will be even easier if it has an articulated screen.

Taking Photos With Others

this doesn't answer your question, because i still ask people, but here are my tips to try and get the best luck from it. i tend to ask people in roughly this order:

• if they give off a friendly vibe and don't seem rushed. often times i'll be able to hold my phone up and explain the framing of the shot i'm looking for. and afterwards, 9 times of of 10 they'll tell me to take a look and let them know if it's good. it's been tough for me, but i've gotten more comfortable asking if they'll retake it.
• someone with a nice camera around their neck. i figure hopefully they know something about photography
• someone who is taking a bunch of pictures themselves. hopefully that means they have a good eye for it
• someone younger because hopefully they'll be more comfortable using a phone to take pictures
• worst case scenario if these tips all fail me, i'll try again with someone else

i will also sometimes just politely say “please don’t zoom, i’m going to crop it later”. one quick simple instruction won’t hurt.

if i see a couple taking pictures of each other, i’ll usually offer to take one of them together then ask them to take a photo of me. so far so good. also, if you’re on a tour, you can always ask someone on the tour (or the guide) to take a photo for you, they won’t mind at all.

hopefully obvious, but for one thing, tell strangers “take five or six!” do the same for selfies.