Here are some ways you can steady your digital camera without a tripod. With a bit of ingenuity, you can still get a great nature or landscape shot even when you forget your tripod.
Imagine it’s dusk. The billowing clouds are tinted in 20 hues ranging from purple to sky blue to pink. You have all the ingredients for a great shot except your tripod, which is in your closet gathering dust. You can:
Place the camera near the edge of a table.
If you can see the tabletop in the viewfinder or LCD monitor, move the camera closer to the edge.
Hold the camera against a wall.
Use this technique when you rotate the camera 90 degrees (Portrait mode).
Lean against a wall and spread your legs slightly.
This is known as “the human tripod.” Press the shutter gently after you exhale.
Carry a small beanbag in your camera bag.
Place your camera on the beanbag and move it to achieve the desired composition. You can purchase beanbags at your local camera store.
Carry a baggie filled with uncooked rice in your camera bag.
(Cooked rice is messy and will spoil.) Place your camera on the bag and move it until you achieve the desired composition.
Use your camera self-timer.
This gives the camera a chance to stabilize from any vibration that occurs when you press the shutter button. Using the self-timer works great when you have the camera on a stable surface. It will also work if you handhold the camera and exhale when you press the shutter button and remain as steady as possible.
These techniques are also great when you’re on vacation and don’t have the room to carry a tripod in your baggage.