...the most creative way you've stayed still. I tried doing some night shots the other night and - even with my tripod - I just couldn't stay still. I ended up lying on the floor just to get a shot and still not good enough. Just wanted to know what else others have tried so I don't feel like the only fool. Anything else I should own in my goodie bag? Any specific workouts to strengthen myself up? Any special shoes to buy? Etc.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by marygrace ...the most creative way you've stayed still. I tried doing some night shots the other night and - even with my tripod - I just couldn't stay still. I ended up lying on the floor just to get a shot and still not good enough. Just wanted to know what else others have tried so I don't feel like the only fool. Anything else I should own in my goodie bag? Any specific workouts to strengthen myself up? Any special shoes to buy? Etc. Thanks.

Not sure if I understand correctly, but night shots should be done with a tripod. A stout tripod made of metal or equivalent. When it is breezy I will also attach a 10 pound weight to the central column to further improve stability. Also don't extend the central column, just use the legs of the tripod to reach the height you need for the camera. With that setup, I have never had a problem with stability or any kind of camera shake.

Guess I was the only one ever found on the stairs of the White Tower in London, people stepping over and next to me, because I wanted that shot of the Raven so bad... You are not alone in stupid poses...

Originally Posted by photocat Guess I was the only one ever found on the stairs of the White Tower in London, people stepping over and next to me, because I wanted that shot of the Raven so bad... You are not alone in stupid poses...

Standing in a mucky swamp with my tripod AND my crutches AND a cast on my leg..needless to say.. the shot was lousy...

I once wanted to photograph a church in Edinburgh, I really was in the gutter that time a friend of mine took a picture then, I still got to get the digital version of it
Thanks for bringing back the memory!
As for keeping still.. bracing myself against something works, and Andys famous strap method of course ;) use the camera strap to hold the camera away from you (at fullest arm-length) and shoot! It takes some practice but allows for some really slow shutter!
Cheers

i was prone on grand central terminal's floor to get this shot

Originally Posted by andy i was prone on grand central terminal's floor to get this shot

Prone is good!!! Kind of hard on your khaki's though. I was flat on my back for this one at the airfield.


That is precisely why we need a good DSLR with an auxilliary LCD screen that pivots and can be used as an Electronic View Finder - This would combine the best of both worlds - I love my SLRs, but waist level view finders are vastly better for candids for me. They just don't seem as threatening to the subjects as putting that big black box up in front of my face.
A tripod is the best device - it slows the photographer down substantially and forces him/her to really examine the image, all the way out to the edges. Also helps make for sharper images by preventing camera shake too.

Originally Posted by marygrace ...the most creative way you've stayed still. I tried doing some night shots the other night and - even with my tripod - I just couldn't stay still. I ended up lying on the floor just to get a shot and still not good enough. Just wanted to know what else others have tried so I don't feel like the only fool. Anything else I should own in my goodie bag? Any specific workouts to strengthen myself up? Any special shoes to buy? Etc. Thanks.

I used to find that I would wobble the camera by depressing the shutter. So instead I use a remote shutter, or if you don't have one, set your camera to shoot on 10s delay. That way it has stopped wobbling from pressing the button by the time it starts to open the shutter.

Great (and funny) ideas. I need to try out some of those. Anymore?

If nothing else works, I put the camera in machine gun mode, try to hold steady, and fire a burst. Usually one in the bunch is steady enough to use.