Turning my car engine off is a big plus. I was getting camera shake terrible last year taking eagle photos in winter and I always left the engine running and used my car as a blind. Now I crank up the heat til I get to where I'm going and turn the car off and the window open and usually I can make it almost an hour in 20 degree weather til I want the heat back on again. I used to keep it on and the car running but had too many blurry photos with my Sigma 50-500. I also bought a bogen gimbal mount to use with my monopod or use my beanbag the pod with the gimbal or bogen grip 3265.

Sean Rose wrote:
> Hey all, there was a thread in the 300d forum on lens shake and I
> posted the following tips I use to help steady the camera when
> shooting long telephoto. Still, it's made me think.. maybe someone
> else has some great tips too! So here are mine, please share yours!
>
> There are a number of things that affect camera shake. As you have
> pointed out 300mm is one. The 1.6x crop factor is another - it
> amplifies your shake by using less of the 35mm frame - enlarged to
> the same final output size. Not using a fast enough shutter speed
> is another.
>
> Still, one of the most often overlooked is YOU the photographer.
> You have to concentrate on what your body is doing. Try not to
> breathe. Inhale or exhale and hold it - then click the shutter. Is
> your right arm (left for lefties!) dangling out in the air as it
> holds the camera? Or are you pulling it in tight against your torso
> for support? If it wont mess up your framing too much, I find that
> kneeling, squatting and sitting can make your body much less prone
> to shake compared to standing up. Shooting several frames with a
> click of the shutter makes up for the movement as your hand
> squeezes the shutter button (and thus the camera). If you are
> shooting flowers.. drop your neckstrap and stand on it.. pull the
> camera up and voila - a rudimentary monopod/tripod.
>
> Hope that gives you some ideas!
>
> --
> -Sean
>
> Gallery: http://www.seanrose.com
>
> http://www.seanrose.com/images/sean.jpg

--
Kindest Regards,
JennZ
http://www.littleflurry.com
http://www.pbase.com/littleflurry
http://littleflurry.smugmug.com
http://www.pbase.com/image/30177472/small.jpg
Marty the Hero But Sadly Missed
http://www.pbase.com/littleflurry/marty