This tip was printed from the MalekTips Computer and Technology Help and Tips website at http://malektips.com.

Digital Photography - When You Don't Have a Tripod

Here are some tips for taking clean, crisp, photographs with your digital camera when you don't have a tripod handy:

1) Set the camera exposure time as quick as possible. This will require some experimentation, because short exposure times during night or poorly lighted situations usually result in bad pictures with washed out colors. Try to find a balance between an exposure time long enough to get a pleasing photograph versus an exposure time short enough to eliminate 'camera shake'.

2) Use flash. In many situations flash can really save a picture. Flash works best if you are relatively close to a subject so the light can reflect; taking flash photographs of skylines or distant subjects may not perform as well.

3) If you are using autofocus mode, your digital camera may have a shutter button that requires you to press halfway down to focus, then fully down to take the picture. If you are experiencing camera shake, get the camera to focus on the subject by pressing the button down half-way, then press the button down fully and keep your finger pressed on the button until the camera has taken the picture.

4) Change the ISO film sensitivity to allow your digital camera to take pictures with shorter exposure times. This can result in grainier images, so you'll need to experiment. Refer to your camera manual for details.

5) Use your digital camera's portrait mode to reduce camera shake. Set your camera to take a picture 2 or 10 seconds after holding and releasing the shutter button, and you'll eliminate camera shake that would have normally resulted. Just remember to keep the camera as still as possible while waiting for the picture to be taken.