I know, you (like most of us) think we’re beyond being told how to hold an SLR camera when taking a picture. You grab it by the grip, you cradle the lens, you hold still – and you snap the shot. Nothing could be easier. In my time around photographers (and around non-photographers who happened to be holding a camera) I’ve seen a wide array of variations on the theme. Some are just minor manipulations of a popular and sound method for taking photographs, and some are just downright strange (though not always wrong).Joe McNally is one of my favorite photographers of all time, and he has a slightly different twist to gripping the camera, which is especially useful when taking pictures using a slow shutter speed – allowing you to regain one or possible two stops when shooting.
Even the most modern camera bodies and fastest lenses will experience a lack of light at some point. Perhaps you just want a slow shutter to help create a sense of movement or flow in your shot. Whatever the reason – this is a handy tip. Unfortunately, since Joe is left-eyed, the trick doesn’t work quite as well for right-eyed folks (like me) – but like Joe says, there are elements that even we can take from this.
