One of the first features I began experimenting with was increasing and decreasing exposure time and using longer shutter speeds.  My intention was to photograph scenery I would not have been able to capture using my old Canon point and shoot digital camera, such as waterfalls, night landscapes, birds, and my beautiful baby girl who isn’t terribly keen on sitting still these days!  I quickly discovered that my hands, which for everyday purposes are quite stable, shake ever so slightly to the detriment of my photographic aspirations.

Digging around in the storage room I managed to find our old tripod.  Mounting my DSLR to the top of the tripod, I again set out to experiment with shutter speeds and exposure time.  After adjusting my camera settings and setting up a subject, I pushed the button on my camera and awaited the results. Alas, another blurry photo (good thing I was working with a digital camera, and not film…)!  I set my new toy aside and, convinced I would never be able to competently photograph anything every again, did not touch the camera for several days until my husband asked to borrow it.  Seeing that I had the camera packed away in its box, he asked me what had gone wrong, and I proceeded to complain that it was a no-good camera and I was a no-good photographer.  My dear husband reviewed my photos, laughed, and explained that all I needed was a remote shutter release.

A remote shutter release, or a cord release, allows the camera operator to remotely snap photos without having to touch the camera.  No more ruined or blurry photos caused by the slightest movement from pressing the button on your camera!  Remote shutter releases also allow you to mount your camera and snap photos from an angle or area you are not able to reach by hand, such as tree branches, or of wildlife that would otherwise be scared off by the site of your moving hand.

Remote shutter releases are available for nearly all digital SLR cameras and even some point and shoot cameras as well.  They are primarily used when you need longer shutter speeds, to increase exposure time or to increase sharpness in your pictures.  Whereas simply using the timer feature of your camera restricts you to photographing subjects that will remain still for the duration of your timer’s delay (usually a minimum of 10 seconds), the remote shutter release allows you to activate the camera instantly.  The remote shutter release can be used from anywhere within the cable’s reach of your camera, unlike your camera’s remote control which typically can only be used if you are positioned in front of the camera.   If you want to get really creative, remote shutter release extension cables are available which allow you to remotely trigger your camera from an even greater distance.

Armed with this new camera accessory, I have been able to take remarkable photos of all sorts of landscapes and subjects that were previously turning out dark, blurry or down right unrecognizable.  Being able to remotely trigger the camera even allows me to take fantastic shots of my baby girl while dancing around making her smile.  Now, to wrap my head around lens filters…..!

A simple and well known technique is to use a tripod, but even with a tripod you have the shake at the last possible second when your finger presses the trigger to take the photo.  No matter how dainty or lightly you try to press, you WILL shake the camera and it may be enough to wreck your shot.  So what do you do?

Luckily for you, the professional photographers figured out how to deal with this a while ago – using a shutter release cable (or remote shutter release).  Essentially the remote release is a cable (or wireless using infrared if you desire) that gives you control of the shutter without shake or hassle, and can be used from a distance of several feet – perfect for those family portraits where you can never quite seem to get properly in place during the 10 second rush from the back of the camera to the middle of the family.

Originally the realm of pros, remote shutter releases are available for Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus and just about every camera you can imagine.

Have any tips for using shutter releases? Does the d80 or 40d have a special trick to it you’ve figured out?  Post below!