Happy Photography Phriday from Heather (hedderlee)! Don’t you just love the anticipation of checking your digital shots seconds after you’ve taken them? I can hardly wait to click play so I can ooh and ahh over the beautiful moments I’ve captured. But what? Why is this one blurred? And that one? Ack, my great moments are fuzzy! This agony is preventable, I’m finding out; let me share with you some highlights of what I’ve learned to reduce camera shake based on an online article by photographer Wesley Tanaka.

Camera shake? What’s that?
This blurriness takes place when the camera moves while the shutter is open. Camera shake is common when the environment has less than perfect lighting conditions and the aperture is wide and shutter speed slow to compensate for inadequate light. Let’s face it: lighting conditions are often less than perfect, so this can happen a lot more than we’d like. And the hands shake no matter how much you try to keep them still.

You don’t have to have high-end equipment to steady your shot. Combat the shakes by holding the camera correctly, adjusting your breathing, and mimicking a tripod. These suggestions are easy and require no extra cash! Hurray!

Hold the camera correctly
Instead of using the LCD preview screen to compose your pictures, take advantage of the viewfinder, pressing the camera against your face to brace it.

And always use two hands for more stabilization, with the right hand on the grip and the left hand cradling the lens (if it’s long enough).

Then, bring your elbows close to your body.

Breathing makes a difference too!
Once you’re properly holding your camera, pointing at your subject:

Release your breath

A lot of camera shake takes place when people press the shutter button too hard. The camera does not have to move downward with the shutter button.

Mimic a tripod
The professionals all agree: the best way to combat camera shake is to use a tripod. And the heavier the tripod, the better. But who has the strength or patience to lug a gigantic tripod around? Especially when a Kodak moment of your sweet toddler is happening before your eyes and you barely have time to whip out the camera. So, try these tips:

There are other things you can do to increase your chances for a blur-free shot, but the aforementioned are basics that will improve any photo. Check out Digi Cam Guides for more information.

Enjoy your blur-free photos!