While I always remind myself that nothing beats a tripod… sometimes I find myself out and about without one. Sure, I’m a big fan of the Platypod Pro, but I don’t always have it with me. In this case I just look for a flat surface.
You see even the slightest movement can create camera shake… but I have an easy solution.
- Make sure your camera has a flat surface. I usually do this by attaching an Arca Swiss style plate to the bottom.
- Find a flat surface. It might be a garbage can, a railing, or a bench.
- Set the camera down on said surface. If its remotely unstable, then apply a gentle force pressing down.
That’s it. You’re now free to shoot with smaller apertures and longer exposures. Why you ask? Well the benefits are immense.
- Use a smaller aperture to accentuate star burst effects with lights
- Use a lower ISO to cut down on noise.
- Use a slower shutter to capture motion blur or streaks.
In the image at the below, I used all three techniques A simple way to get a great image.