6 Ways You Can Make Your Hand-Held Shots Better
It's not always practical to use a tripod while shooting documentary subjects. In run-and-gun situations it's important to be nimble, meaning that you will spend a lot of time shooting hand-held. Here are some things you can do to limit unwanted camera shake from your footage:
Use a lens with OIS (Opitcal Image Stabilization). This feature can be turned on or off via a switch on the side of the lens and it works remarkable well to counteract camera shake. There are two things to keep in mind with OIS lenses: First, they're more expensive than their non-OIS counterparts. 2) Second, they aren't as fast, meaning that you won't be able to open the aperture as much as other lenses in low-light situations.
Don't use the zoom. Standing at a distance from your subject and then zooming in only amplifies camera shake. To fix this, use a wide focal length and physically move closer to your subject.
Maintain as many contact points as possible. Two hands on the camera are better than one and will give you better results. Adding a camera strap around your neck and a viewfinder to the camera body will add two more points of contact between you and the camera. The more you can add, the steadier your shot will be.
Maintain a wide stance. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart and allow your knees to bend. This will give you the solid foundation and the flexibility you need to reduce camera shake.
Keep the camera close to your body. I like to keep my elbows tucked in to my sides while shooting hand held. This really helps me keep the camera steady.
Lean up against a solid object. Finding a tree, column, or wall to stand against while shooting hand-held is a great way to maintain a steady shot. Just don't get too comfortable. Remember to move around and get the coverage you need.