I use the self-timer built into my camera to take all my photos of buildings. With my camera firmly attached to my tripod I compose, focus, check the exposure and then take three bracketed photos using the 10 second self-timer built into my camera. This ensures that my camera is still and that there is no camera movement.
The 11 reasons why my camera self-timer is great for taking photos of buildings are these
- It helps me to get tack sharp photos
- It means that I do not need to worry about the shutter speed
- It is free
- It is built into my camera
- I don’t have to remember to pack it in my bag
- I do not have to keep batteries for it
- I do not have to maintain it
- It is always there
- I don’t have to faff around connecting it
- I don’t need an app for it
- I can include myself in a picture
Yes, I take every photo with my camera sat on my tripod using the camera self-timer to take the photos.
Who am I?
Glad you asked. I am Rick McEvoy. I photograph buildings. I am an architectural, construction and real estate photographer based in the UK. I help photographers to make money from taking photos of buildings. I write about this stuff on my blog which you can find on my website.
I am also the creator and all things at the splendid Photography Explained Podcast.
I am professionally qualified in construction and photography, and have spent most of my life practising photography, and over 30 years working professionally in the construction industry.
So I know this stuff ok?
Here are those 11- reasons why
1 It helps me to get tack sharp photos
I take every photo I can with camera securely mounted on a tripod. 10 seconds after I gently press the shutter release button my camera takes the photos (I take 3 bracketed photos). In that 10 seconds the camera has had plenty of time to become completely still, any movement caused by me has long gone.
So my camera is as still as it can be, which is essential for tack sharp photos.
And it should be your aim, as it is mine, to get tack sharp photos every time. Any movement of the camera can lead to less sharp photos.
2 It means that I do not need to worry about the shutter speed
I photograph buildings. They don’t tend to move. So shutter speed is not an issue. The only issue with the shutter speed would be using a fast enough shutter speed to minimise camera shake. But as I take all my photos with my camera on a tripod this is not an issue.
No. I tend to use the same aperture for every photo, and with my camera on a tripod, photographing a stationary thing, shutter speed is not a thing I need to concern myself with.
3 It is free
Well it is already paid for when you buy a camera. Nothing is free. But you know what I mean? You don’t have to pay any more for it.
4 It is built into my camera
One less thing to worry about. Which is good. I don’t have to remember a remote release, and find a way of carrying it so I can easily get to it without it getting in the way.
5 I don’t have to remember to pack it in my bag
I can’t forget it as it is built into my camera. And I can’t lose it because it is built into my camera. I used to have a remote release for my camera that was so small it was sometimes hard to locate. Which was actually a right pain.
I always know where my self-timer is, as it is in my camera.
6 I do not have to keep batteries for it
No batteries. No nothing. I like this. Small accessories tend to use those funny named batteries, CR2032 I think they are called – whoever came up with this?
No batteries required.
7 I do not have to maintain it
Nope, it just sits there and works when I ask it to. Simple. Nothing to clean, to make sure is working, nothing to do here…..
8 It is always there
Yep, always there, in my camera. Not lurking in the dark corners of the bottom of my camera bag, or sat at home in my office while I am out on a shoot!
9 I don’t have to faff around connecting it
The Wi-Fi connectivity of the Canon 6D is not the best I have to say. I used to use my iPhone as a remote release using the Canon Connect app and a Wi-Fi connection – it was a right pain to be honest.
On a shoot I don’t have to worry about the connection dropping, or the app freezing/ crashing.
10 I don’t need an app for it
Simplification. Eliminate the need for a separate app.
11 I can include myself in a picture
Which is the key feature that Canon promote in the Canon 6D manual.
And do you know what – I have actually done this. I was doing a shoot at a leisure centre, but there was no one there, which didn’t’ look great, so I included myself in a photo. Here it is.
I wanted to get into this and include myself in every photo, making it my thing, but fortunately changed my mind before I went down that road!
How cool is that?
How to use the self-timer
Here is how you use the self-timer, copied from the Canon6D manual
Summary
What is not to love? Free, always connected, maintenance free, battery free, always works. This is why I love the self-timer on my Canon 6D. And on other cameras too.
Related viewing
There is a You Tube video for this blog post which you can watch here on my You Tube channel
OK – how can I find out more about this stuff?
Simple.
Get in touch with me – email me – sales@rickmcevoyphotography.co.uk
Check out my website Rick McEvoy Photography
Check out my splendid Photography Explained Podcast
Get in touch, ask me a question that I can answer on my blog or podcast, or just say hi – it would be great to hear from you.
Thanks for visiting my small but perfectly formed website, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers from me Rick
