How do you avoid camera shake and noise when shooting with long exposures on film?

-Use a Sturdy Tripod: Ensure your tripod is robust with a strong base and adjustable legs to securely hold your camera. -Add Weight: Increase stability by attaching a sandbag or backpack to the tripod. -Minimize Vibrations: Avoid bumps and wind by setting up in a stable location and using the tripod's weight for added stability.

It's also important to pick the right location. Setting up near a road can be risky, especially if large lorries pass every so often. If you are not sure how much vibration is affecting your camera, use an accelerometer app on your smartphone to measure it by placing it on the tripod or camera before exposure.

Place a 20 to 30 pound sandbag on the ground centered inside the 3 tripod legs and attach a bungee cord from sandbag to tripod center stem. Ideally bungee cord should "wrap" around the tripod center mast so there are 2 balancing forces attached to the sand bag. Definitely test this process before going on your shoot. Finding the ideal length of bungee cord can save time later on. Bungee cord practice session can be more complicated than it would seem if different locations require the tripod legs be raised or lowered for optimal image framing. Might be worth having 3 bungees and assign each 1 for a different tripod height. Make sure all tripod legs lock into the desired height and locks do not give way from the weight of the sandbag.

This does depend on how long the exposure is. Vibration from pressing the shutter can be an issue on an exposure lasting a few seconds, but it will have a negligible effect on an exposure lasting minutes

-Use a Remote Shutter Release: Trigger the shutter without touching the camera to prevent camera shake. -Utilize the Self-Timer: Set a delay on the shutter to avoid movement from pressing the button. -Minimize Manual Contact: Avoid touching the camera during exposure to reduce potential blur.

-Use Low ISO Film: Choose the lowest ISO setting suitable for your exposure to reduce grain. -Adjust Exposure Time: Opt for longer exposures with lower ISO to minimize noise, but be mindful of reciprocity failure. -Consider Reciprocity Failure: Be aware that lower ISOs may require longer exposure times, which can impact your results.

When using Negative Film Stock, a more sensitive film stock can reduce grain and compensate for a slightly higher ISO Film if the film is slightly over-exposed. Instead of using a 50 ISO/ASA film, A 100 or even 200 ISO/ASA negative film can allow for a sharper image because of a slightly higher f-stop setting while still activating more of the silver in the film which should reduce the grain structure. Example, instead of shooting 50 ASA at 5 seconds, f-stop wide open, One could shoot 200 ASA at 3 seconds, f-stop shut down 1 to 2 f-stops for adding sharpness.

When shooting with film holders, Camera shake is noticeably difficult. Loading the holders must be done carefully to prevent static electrical problems along with Camera movement. I do not agree with placing the dark cloth on the camera or moving the lens cap on and off. The problem with the dark cloth is the weight can compress the bellows while the touching of the lens cap can cause movement and shaking. I suggest using flags over the bellows and lens plane to block unwanted light. They can be handheld or supported by c stands with sand bags.

When shooting time-exposure on film, one magazine or film cartridge can last several days, so it is important to take notes regarding what F-stop was used and the amount of time per exposure. For those who are curious but really want to start out on the cheap, consider Super-8mm time-exposure cameras since one 50 foot cartridge with process and transfer might give you a week or two of practice experience and maybe cost no more than 100 to 200 dollars from labs that offer film purchase, developing, and transfer combo deals. A couple weeks of time-exposure practice works out to 10 to 20 bucks a night, not a bad deal if one can afford the time to learn about time-exposure.