How do you hold yours?

[Nevyn]

I'm aware that correct handholding technique is pretty crucial to getting good pictures, especially for panning and for (relatively) slow shutter speed photography. I'm fairly sure that a lot of people don't pay attention to it. I'm damn sure that I'm not very good at it.

So, my question is, how do you hold your camera when panning and when you need maximum stability?
Example - Do you tuck your elbows in against your body or let them flap a bit? Do you rest the base of the camera on your left hand or use that hand to hold the lens at the camera mount / tripod mount (or elsewhere)?

Thanx

[dminton]

Hold the side of the body with your right hand like always, take your left arm and grab your right shoulder with it so that the left arm wraps across your chest. Now rest the lens on your left elbow and shoot. Breathe slowly. Have fun!

[engstrom]

1. Grab camera body by the hand grip on the right side of camera with right hand
2. Take left hand and hold bottom of camera and lens (for short lens) or just the lens (for longer focal lengths)
3. Place left elbow against left ribcage
4. Exhale
5. Pan and shoot
6. Start breathing again

[CaptainTom]

right hand on shutter release.
left hand cradling lens at camera mount.
right elbow tucked tight to right side.
left elbow buried into mid section.
depending on direction of pan. L-R left foot ahead shoulder line. right foot behind shoulder line.
Body should be positioned so you are shooting straight ahead when the subject hits your focus spot.

I always pan better left to right for some reason ????

[Gordon]

I try to think of it like a golf swing - you don't hit at a golf ball, you swing through it, same way a good, smooth pan starts well before you press the shutter and keeps going after the shutter has closed again.

Similar sort of stance stuff though, elbows tucked in, one foot in front of the other, rotate from the waist.

[Hogleg 44]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

right hand on shutter release.
left hand cradling lens at camera mount.
right elbow tucked tight to right side.
left elbow buried into mid section.

Just like the Good Captain said...!
Except, feet firmly planted, spead slightly, and twist from the hips.

[AjP]

get IS version ... LOL j/k agree with Tom and Dminton

[ndsimm]

you put your right hand in, you take your right hand out, you put your right hand in, and you shake it all about......

sorry, I couldn't help myself

[engstrom]

Originally Posted by ndsimm

you put your right hand in, you take your right hand out, you put your right hand in, and you shake it all about......

sorry, I couldn't help myself

You do the PhotoPanny and you turn yourself about
That's what it's all about!

[Nevyn]

Thanks all - just what I was looking for.
Now to get used to it!

[sorebones]

I read somewhere that you want your feet pointing in the direction that the shot is going to end up. You keep your feet planted and pivot to the beginning of the pan, then when you begin to shoot you are unwinding to a natural position instead of getting twisted up.
I haven't experimented with this to say yay or nay - just something I read.