No more Tripods!

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This week I'm in Patagonia (Torres del Paine) and I'm talking about how to handhold a camera with the best results. As somebody who hates tripods this is something I've got a good deal of practice with. A big thanks to the Rio Serrano hotel for their hospitality on our trip. Check them out if you're in the area: rioserrano.com/en/
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[@REMY.C.]

James, the only photographer capable of selling you a video about sharpness while being out of focus. Brilliant 😂

[@cacarlto]

Can you please do more content on color and color correction? Your balance and tone is always fantastic and it's something I strive for (and struggle with).

[@elijahnissi]

Ah. New vid. Time to unwind

[@cohoonatube]

Precisely!

[@jason.coward]

I love that your images are completely different from any I've ever seen from Patagonia. Your unique vision always shines through, and I really appreciate that about you. Cheers, James!

[@SkiwithMike]

Image of horses through the window and the fur lined stools at 0:21 is your best image for a very long time

[@Joseph-iu6ip]

The moment the exhale stops and before the inhale starts is the perfect moment.

[@flyfishfotofan]

Yes. In precision shooting (example, sniper with rifle) one takes a shot during the natural respiratory pause: slowly breathe in, breathe out, then pause. That short pause is the natural respiratory pause and is the most stable moment of the breathing cycle.

[@ian_lewono]

For some reason I've always done it the other way around, shoot between after the inhale stops and before the exhale. I should try the other way though

[@qtrfoil]

But it is NOT the moment just before the next inhale begins. The breath is held just after the exhale begins, well-short of the next intake. After the shutter is released then the exhale continues. Also, at 4:11 the arms are braced with the points of the elbows on the knee - wobbly points of contact. Those points are much better than nothing, but can be improved upon. By leaning forward further (hard with that coat) and with the elbows pushed forward and beyond the knees then even more vibration will be absorbed by the "meat" of the triceps at the back of the arm. It also appears the shooter might be flexing his groin muscles to keep his legs centered. A position that doesn't need any muscles to be tensed will be even better, so I might be kicking my heels out a bit. At 5:15 it'as tough to see with the coat on, but that doesn't appear to be a great position. The left arm does not appear tucked in (though the coat again makes it hard to see) and is not under the camera. Instead it looks like most of the weight is held by gripping with the right hand. Ideally you want your left elbow tucked in to the body, about to the belly button, and as close as vertical as possible. The weight of the camera and lens should be centered on the webbing between thumb and finger and on the palm of the hand, and down through the forearm to the belly, with as little need as possible to grasp the camera. The right arm is also relaxed against the body. Then the right hand is ideally used only to trip the shutter; again, not to grab the camera. When the camera is held vertically then the shutter release is on the bottom, again so that both arms can be relaxed against the body and instead of the right elbow flying in the wind. Above all, any time muscles are flexed to hold the camera in position then the shooter is introducing shake, especially as the photographer gets more tired. - Source: Very long-time working photographer and VERY well-trained rifleman. Your mileage - and body shape - may vary.

[@Joseph-iu6ip]

@@qtrfoil TLDNR

[@davidmantripp5312]

Here's a tip on handheld photography I recently learnt, sadly after the fact: watch out when using ultra wide angle lenses under image stabilisation - due to the increased differential rotation between the centre of the frame, where the stabiliser essentially acts (compared with normal/telephoto), IS is much less effective at the edges than you might expect. So in those conditions be very wary about extra low shutter speeds, "8 stops of IS" or not.

[@alanwilson7792]

Another tip for cutting out shutter-finger-induced-camera-shake with low shutter speeds is to put the camera in multi-shot mode and fire off a sequence of pics. The first one and the last one in the sequence may be off but you stand a fairly good chance of getting a clean one in there somewhere. Aircraft photogs use this technique a lot while panning. I have a habit now of taking a bunch of pics when I'm in tourist mode, as you can often blend out people from a busy crowd scene if you have a bunch of pictures to work with.

[@richardzelinka9411]

I began hand holding my camera a completely different way whebn my hands became a tad shaky due to age. I put my left arm across my body at throat level and place my left hand on my right shoulder. I then rest the camera on my left arm near the bent elbow. My bent left arm supported by the hand on my right shoulder creates a surprisinglyirly stable platform for the camera and greatly reduces camera shake. It won't help much in windy conditions but if shaky hands are an issue, give it a try.

[@mikepanton]

love the colors in your photos!

[@donaldgould1293]

Thanks James, interesting and enjoyable as always. I was fascinated with your comment that you were seeking out 'the human stuff'. In Patagonia I would be going in absolutely the opposite direction. I love the way we all go about our photography in completely different ways. Thanks again hope you enjoyed the trip.

[@robertvonthaden]

got a good laugh imagining you teaching a workout class for photographers where everyones holding a camera and you're like "Really dig deep! get that wide stance!...10 more seconds...BREATHE" love your videos boss!

[@kiwikea2002]

Thank you very much - excellent collection of tips for the field. Mind a short comment? I find that rolling your finger gently over the release button - instead of "jabbing" it down - prevents a deal of camera shake. Together with the breathing technique, it also makes for a "fluid" process. Btw - Patagonia? Awesome.

[@kenschaub4119]

Thanks!

[@lindakavanagh3729]

Thank you for the reminders.

[@snoddled]

Hi James, I just got your photobooks this week, good stuff, keep up the good work!

[@tim.poirier]

Great tips, really enjoyed the images at the beginning of the video!

[@nicolasguillenc]

Absolutely amazing

[@davidmccarthy6061]

Thanks for the tips!

[@cohoonatube]

I rarely comment James, but watch every one! Followed you from Four/Thirds on... we were on the same journey that landed in FF... and Sony... sadly. I ditched the Z6ii for the A7iv due to glass and AF, looking forward to the Z7iii. I digress, I simply wanted to say, thanks for being you, you are why I watch regardless of the particular content or gear. Love to hear your thoughts and the process behind them whether technical, technique, or otherwise. It always creates useful reflection.

[@ultimatechrisso6592]

I usually use my 3rd leg to shoot handheld. So far served me well to withstand strongest conditions.

[@omarventurasorto]

Salvadoran here 🙋‍♂️ currently living in Texas. It was fun to hear your Spanish lol You probably get this a lot but you’ve single handedly re-ignited my love for photography again. Had a successful street photography session here in Austin this weekend. Thank you!

[@liamburke1436]

love your images! Also! Nice watch :)

[@ZombieRofl]

Sometimes I hold my breath for a few seconds. This works for me.

[@brianmckeever5280]

Definitely some beautiful views that are very different from most of those we see from that part of the World! I love the horses from the inside of the hotel looking out.

[@tommatthews3545]

What a beautiful location!

[@albert25hoo]

Hello James, nice video, helping me further. For just like you I love working handheld, but at the cost of many unsharp photo's. I will exercise your tips, especially the auto-iso setting, which I never understood so well. I further like your style of photographing and editing, also in this video, though my style is very different. I also emember to bring in practice the essence of your style in your quote in an earlier video: not a photograph OF something, but ABOUT. Helps to tell a story. The best, Bert.

[@OriginalTLab3000]

What's the English word for "Fadenstativ"? It's basically a makeshift tripod made from a loop of paracord attached to your camera. Step on the cord with both feet to make a triangle. Give it some tension to get the camera more steady. You can win a stop or two, this way.

[@keithguppy]

The mountins in the background, I need to travel more!, great tips.

[@ericaceous1652]

Egad James, you keep going to all my dream places. Incredible landscapes. If I catch you in Nepal in the near future I'll be suing for bucket list infringement 😄

[@PhilMakesThings]

What beautiful pictures! Such good tips. Bonus bossanova soundtrack.

[@Rumplestiltskin7]

I appreciate the subtle sense of humor

[@guillermocadizp]

LOVED that you went with the out of focus part and didn't use a "future James here…", the focus is not the speaker, but the story (also… Torres del Paine ❤)

[@mpacholik]

Another stability tip I got from my brother: if you’re using the rear screen when shooting, hold your camera so the neck strap becomes taut and forms a sort of triangle of the strap and your arms. Helps keep still (and helpful for me since my Fuji X10 doesn’t have an accurate viewfinder).

[@outofthecommonphotography5503]

Great tips. Especially about the lens hood. I never thought about that. Oddly, when it comes to weight, I set myself up as if I'm a sniper. I'm no hunter (neve will be interested) I center everything with my left leg in the direction I'm aiming. I tuck my elbows in and actually slow down my breathing. Sometimes even hold my breath. If I have to lay down I lay in what's called a prone position.

[@qrk06]

its nice to see u also exhaling while pressing the shutter for better stability, thought i was weird for doing that 😅😂

[@nicolasguillenc]

I didn’t know that place was so beautiful, now I want to go so bad

[@MiguelMorenoGP]

I think it is from watching your videos, but I got a tripod a while ago, after shooting for a while without one, and I also largely prefer to shoot handheld, especially since getting a stabilized camera. All of these tips, that you also had on a video from a few years back are really good, and I think about them all the time!

[@yulbdv]

“more dust”😂😂😂 beautiful pics👏👏👏

[@kevinmcgreer9635]

If Nigel is pivoting on his channel, I hope you two will still find time to shoot together for your channel and with Mads, too! Your effortless dry humor (8:00) is top notch. Photos too, but I’m also here for the shenanigans.

[@Nawdasher]

Great tips man! Non photography related.. what kind of shoes do you have on? They look very comfortable and I’m in the market for a new pair

[@CC3GROUNDZERO]

I recently learned the awful-sounding term "camera owner" for total beginners. Ever since hearing that, I've stopped thinking of myself as a "hobbyist photographer". I believe I'm actually a long shot from justifiably getting to call myself a photographer in any sense, even a hobbyist photographer. For now I'm a camera owner, and that's fine. I'd love a video about that early part of the photographic journey, from camera owner to beginner photographer. I'm reading forum comments where some honest people, even some who later went on to become professionals, say that the phase of being a camera owner took them the better part of a decade. I'd very much like to hear from James Popsys what that early part of his professional journey was like.

[@jenslingspaint3523]

I would love a video on how you have your custom buttons set up. I find it super fascinating the difference between landscape photogs, sports photogs, and wildlife photogs.

[@MiguelMorenoGP]

he did that 3 or 4 videos back

[@Vyden]

Those mountains are sick =o

[@MarcoBlanke]

Soccer goals in the middle of nowhere ❤

[@fredericbeudot822]

I really enjoy your videos but sometimes I struggle with your pictures - this is the first time where I actually "got" how you see things. I watched all the other videos from your group's trip to Patagonia and they all took stunning landscape photos... they all look the same and they look the same as many very gifted landscape photographers took at that location. For good or bad (and in this case I think very good) your shots look very different. You saw something else and I wanted to say thanks for helping me see it too. I have to say though, the Jane-Fonda-teaching-yoga stance was hilarious; I thought it was April 1st. I had to double check. Looking forward to downward dog as a human tripod next week. Cheers!

[@lphilpot01]

I also try to support the lens as far away from the camera body as possible, of course being careful not to affect nor inhibit the focusing nor zoom rings as appropriate. As long as I'm not overreaching a stable hand-span distance, the extra leverage often makes a positive difference.

[@alezura]

The place is Parque Torres del Paine .. the mountain in the picture is Cuernos del Paine. I'm sure in the next videos and picture we see las torres del Paine.

[@gerardneedham]

Dam that horse shot was fire mate Remember the glutes, most photographers have a pelvic tilt, having a hard ass at slower shutter speeds

[@artiedoc]

Next weeks video : James presents Yoga Poses for Photographers 😂 As usual, a wonderful video and fun watch with useful insights!!Best …

[@kidmohair8151]

the top of a breath is also a good point to "push de button". try both for the same pic and see which one works best at the moment. the standing on the stairs thing was an immediate, "sit down" even a couple of steps up to maintain composition...annnnnnd, if there's something around to do it, there's nothing wrong with a good lean.

[@lyniles3881]

With respect to breathing technique, sometimes it can be effective to breathe in normally then breathe out halfway and hold it before pressing the shutter button. Try all the methods in this video and comments and experiment to find which suits you best. As usual, an amusing, interesting and informative video, James. Thank you.

[@Telfzr]

Weird question but where did you get your trousers? They look great for exploring!

[@johndaily263]

One reason I really enjoy my TLR: waist-level finder + neck strap = more stable hand-holding.

[@rtoborek]

Curious about the leg planting at a diagonal. There may be a mental advantage to that, but physically you still have two points of support on the ground to there is still the potential "axle" of tilt, just sideways, instead of front to back - that might be a personal preference? Now when you sit down and you plant your butt on the ground, you become a tripod ;-) and you significantly lower your center of mass. Breathing technique is good, and consider pressing your shutter a moment after you pause on an exhale, somewhere 2/3 down. Some people prefer the moment at the end of an effortless exhalation. You can avoid tremors, when you do it just right for your body. And I think IBIS might be able to compensate the rest. Don't bother timing your shots between the heartbeats or anything. That's be quite extreme. Great video, as always, James. Cheers!

[@jeroenrotty]

Nice spots where you shared your tips, really lovely scenes!! Are you always in M mode or do you go A or S mode often?

[@MsPernickety]

I often use the 2 second timer when hand held.

[@eyesonly4451]

With my RZ67 on a Gitzo carbon fiber monopod, I can get at least 3 extra stops over purely handheld, when sitting and braced against the monopod.

[@DiegoNorena_]

Where did you get the camera strap from. I love it

[@simonpayne7994]

One piece of advice often heard is to do a slow burst - of maybe 4 or 5 shots. Then, quite often, if the first one was not pin sharp one of the others can be. Especially, if you have caused camera movement yourself by pressing the shutter.

[@REMY.C.]

"I had a lot of fun shooting the horses". Patagonia flash news, no more horses here.

[@AndrazAntonic]

My 2 cents - don't take single photos but a burst of 2 or 3. With the first image, the finger/wrist movement induces the camera shake, but not so (or less) for/with the next shots in the burst.

[@amosjl]

Do love your manner James, so entertaining and genuine 😊 Nice tips too….always have though that decent photographers would make decent snipers too 😂 I’ll forgive your move away from M4/3….almost 😜

[@travelwithsanjeewa7978]

Common sense, but very useful tips! 👍

[@kevins8575]

Windy and rainy is the worst! I do use a lens hood because I think that droplets are more likely to cause problems than movement for which I can compensate with ISO. Tough call. I bet you were the only one in that group to take a photo of the roadsign. Or the backhoe.

[@michaelg758]

Do you shoot auto? I was confused by the last section :)

[@tjsinva]

Ah, road signs, as Mads promised. Carry on. 👍🥂

[@Sgt_Snacks]

What shoes are your green shoes? I like em!

[@bryant928]

when are you going to put out a new photobook?

[@ciaran.laverty]

Hi James, great video! Have you any tips on how to pick my first hybrid camera? Struggling between FF/APSC and even between Sony/Fuji

[@rosspowell1665]

If you look through James’s back catalogue of videos you’ll see he went from full frame to micro four thirds and had that system for a long time. I believe some of his best work was done with the lumix g9. My point is I go with a camera that excites you and feels good in the hand, if you can go to a shop and try them don’t shop via online specs. Also I own a g9 and love the idea of a Fuji!!!

[@ciaran.laverty]

Thanks! Yeah I love the idea of picking up an older Sony FF as there is so much room to grow in the Sony eco system, but there is just something about Fujifilm that draws me to it. Maybe end up with a Sony and look to add a fuji later down the line for fun. Im not sure, I will go to a store and try some out

[@2nt218]

What strap are you using on your camera?

[@aldiosmio]

James teaching martial arts 101: a stable stance is a strong stance.

[@russandloz]

Those mountains in the background are insane, looks like something out of LOTR. Can we have. video of just them too

[@thedremexin8281]

“I had a lot of fun shooting the horses” James 2024

[@AnthonyJohnson1]

James giving good tips about taking the lens hood off during windy weather. Cut to Nigel taking photos with a lens hood on. Conclusion: Nigel needs to watch this video 😅

[@AljanScholtens]

Are those Vivos on your feet?? 🥰

[@jerslens]

What backpack are you using??

[@emmatabor]

At least the horses made a change from sheep... 😂

[@chrismassa5891]

Love your man made footprint in our world.

[@ditto1958]

I got better at releasing camera shutters in an unexpected way. I took up target shooting and got good at not jerking my trigger. An unexpected result was I also stopped jerking my shutter release.

[@alanbudge]

Good tips and great photographs. Music was a bit iffy though. Thought I was watching in an elevator. 😊

[@mehran_g4933]

Hello. Why do you do astrophotography? I wanted to learn from your experiences. Thank you.

[@GT-hk8dy]

What about IBIS? Do you think that's important for ensuring sharper images?

[@lambo13]

What shoes are those?

[@hummersd]

Random question -- pants brand and style? Are they warm? (assuming so or you probably wouldn't be wearing them)

[@ilanhoward]

Did that guy with a telephoto lens spot an interesting composition that made you sorry you were with a normal lens?

[@ChristineWilsonPhotography]

Hand held all the way, ibs in body and lens do help . Shooting the human stuff dates your photo which is what you want if your interested in that sort of stuff . I love it too and have been doing that for years now, especially of the shots where nature is reclaiming it ground and taking over the structure also indicates time passed.

[@luiscencio]

Buenos días

[@GoldLithium]

7:33 bird! when you don't get sheep, you get the horses

[@pettere8429]

Probably because you rounded over the apex when trying to remove scratchmarks.

[@minus1db]

Gave up the tripod about a year ago, game changer, freedom. Death to the tripod 😂

[@jeannetitor]

❤

[@pietro-viecelli]

me watching this video: "if you want more stability, why not sit down?" ... "tip #4: sit down" 😂

[@Njwanta]

“Shooting the horses” has a different meaning at a glue factory

[@bernym4047]

Perhaps you have a good reason for omitting it but... What about resting against a solid object like a lamp post, a tree, or even the roof of a car etc? 😀

[@Dominic.Bradley]

How many title changes do you typically do per video lol

[@davidfromborneo259]

Wow! You shoot just like a sniper, squeeze the trigger when exhaling!🤣🤣

[@inigotaylor9401]

but tripods are not just for stability, there a tool to refine composition.

[@tomrandall6539]

Were those barefoot style boots you were wearing?!

[@sagetheowlfatfeathery2083]

Use a camera with IBIS and a fast shutter speed. Amirite?