| If ever you have seen a picture that is blurred, it is | | | | is always used. Digital cameras mounted on tripods |
| most probably because the camera was shaken while | | | | always tend to eliminate camera shakes and give |
| the picture was taken. With traditional photographic film | | | | sharp results. A great feature in most high-end digital |
| cameras, it was evident only after the negatives and | | | | cameras available nowadays is image stabilization (IS). |
| positives were made. However, with digital camera, | | | | IS is an anti-shake and vibration reduction technology |
| the captured image can be seen immediately on the | | | | and is common in digital cameras with long telephoto |
| LCD screen, and if the image has shaken, then it can | | | | zooms of 10X and 12X. With IS, sharp images can be |
| be discarded for a new shot. Digital camera shakes | | | | obtained even if the camera shakes a little, a slow |
| are common with new users. This is primarily because, | | | | shutter speed is used, shooting is done in low light |
| new users have not fully understood that the | | | | conditions, or a tripod is not used. IS was originally |
| shutter-release button must not be pressed twice, but | | | | developed for video cameras. It is now available in |
| pressed two steps down. The first step locks the | | | | interchangeable lens, consumer and professional digital |
| focus and exposure while the second step takes the | | | | cameras, which use optical image stabilization. Sports |
| photo. This pressing of the button has to be smooth, | | | | and wildlife photographers use a tripod and IS |
| otherwise the digital camera shakes and a blurred | | | | technology together to get the maximum sharpness of |
| picture is the result. The shutter speed also plays an | | | | their photographs; however, many other photographers |
| important role in blurring the picture. The shutter speed | | | | turn the IS feature off while using a tripod. Digital |
| is the amount of time the shutter remains open to | | | | camera shakes can be eliminated or minimized by the |
| allow light to reach the digital camera sensor. It is | | | | utilization of the above techniques. However, the |
| measured in seconds or fractions of a second. An | | | | fundamentals of taking a good shot prove to be most |
| image is exposed by the combination of the lens | | | | effective in avoiding camera shakes, in the absence of |
| aperture and the shutter speed. A slow shutter speed | | | | tripods, or IS technology. The basics of good |
| needs a small aperture (large F-stop number) to avoid | | | | photography should be followed. You should hold the |
| over exposure. With a slow shutter speed below 1 | | | | digital camera with both your hands. You should keep |
| 60th of a second, over exposure is adequately | | | | the legs apart with the knees slightly bent forward. |
| controlled, but the digital camera is likely to vibrate | | | | Your elbows should be braced with your body and |
| more, giving a shaky picture. A tripod is extremely | | | | your body braced with some support, if possible. You |
| useful to eliminate digital camera shakes. It is generally | | | | should generally frame and compose the picture with |
| used by sports photographers who use long telephoto | | | | the viewfinder and not the LCD screen. You should |
| lens, as it helps in close-ups, landscape and panning | | | | not jab but lightly press the shutter release button two |
| shots, for timed exposures, for shooting at slow | | | | steps down, and during that time, it would be beneficial |
| shutter speeds, and for taking photographs in low or | | | | to hold your breath to prevent any movement of the |
| dim light conditions. Shooting a fast moving subject, like | | | | chest and hands. With this basic technique of good |
| athletes, or wildlife, tests the photographer`s skill and | | | | photography, you can be sure that your digital camera |
| the equipment. In such cases, camera shakes are | | | | will not shake and no picture will be blurred. |
| most likely to happen, and thus a monopod or a tripod | | | | |