How to get good Slow Shutter Shots and Switching off Image Stabilization when using a Tripod

How to get good Slow Shutter Shots and Switching off Image Stabilization when using a Tripod by Pritham D'Souza

From Club Mahindra Goa

I clicked this pic when i was holidaying in Goa at Club Mahindra Beach Resort and this was the best time to experiment with slow shutter.

notice how the water is giving a silky smooth effect which only adds to the uniqueness of the photo.

i achieved this using the following steps

1. ISO kept at 100 to get the sharpest and highest quality image resolution

2. Aperture was set at f 11 coz i wanted the entire scene to be in focus

3. Shutter speed was 30 secs. if i had a fast shutter with such a narrow aperture, my image would have been totally dark. thats where slow shutter really helped absorb all the available light.

3. No Flash

4. Manual focus

The Tip: i kept the camera on a flat surface, in this case, on the ground level and stood guarding the camera so no one came in front of the lens as it was capturing the low light.

i didnt have a tripod and tried using a chair, but thats the disadvantage of shooting without a tripod. the camera will be at one angle only. where as using a tripod, u can get really creative shots, and focus on what u really want to highlight.

Now a lot of people want to know why one has to switch off "Image Stabilization" or "IS" on the lens when using a tripod.

the simple answer is, "IS" will detect any shake or vibrations and will immediately rectify the problem. but keeping the camera on a flat surface or tripod, there is no "unwanted camera shake" but with the "IS" on, u might end up getting a blurry image .

for the geeks, here is what really happens

The IS mechanism operates by correcting shake. When there is no shake, or when the level of shake is below the threshold of the system’s detection capability, use of the IS feature may actually *add* unwanted blur to the photograph, therefore you should shut it off in this situation. Remember that the IS lens group is normally locked into place. When the IS function is active, the IS lens group is unlocked so it can be moved by the electromagnetic coil surrounding the elements. When there’s not enough motion for the IS system to detect, the result can sometimes be a sort of electronic ‘feedback loop,’ somewhat analogous to the ringing noise of an audio feedback loop we’re all familiar with. As a result, the IS lens group might move while the lens is on a tripod, unless the IS function is switched off and the IS lens group is locked into place.”

and now if u still didnt understand a word of what was said above, u could try some test shots. first use a tripod, keep the IS on, and focus on subject and click pic. the next shot, just disable the IS and click the same pic... u will see for yourselves...

the cool thing about most canon lens is, they have a technology called "tripod detection" , a correction that was introduced in their lens back in 2000, so u dont have to switch off the "IS" .

But just do it in any case.....or go jump in a dry well