| There are several ways to take sharp pictures, a | | | | And some of the other controls that might be |
| tripod - which is not always very convenient, a | | | | used during photography will also be there, "under |
| table top tripod used as a chest-pod, which is | | | | your thumb." |
| certainly an improvement, or just holding the | | | | Carefully compose your photo in the viewfinder, |
| camera better to insure a steady, unshaking | | | | zooming to just the right composition, then just |
| platform for your photography. Of course, some | | | | as carefully, squeeze the shutter release - don't |
| cameras today have an anti-shake feature that | | | | jerk it. This will get you the sharp photos that will |
| helps, but this usually only works in lower lighting | | | | make the large blowups that you want to hang |
| situations. For normal daylight shots, this technique | | | | on the wall. |
| will get you the sharp photographs that you want. | | | | The strangest part is taking vertical photos. From |
| How do you hold your camera to get the | | | | the basic position, most people raise their right |
| sharpest photos? | | | | arm high to switch the camera to vertical. With |
| It starts with the left hand. Hold your left hand | | | | your left arm waving around in the air, you lose a |
| with the palm up and fingers pointing away from | | | | great deal of the support that you gain from the |
| you. Then lay the camera in your palm. When | | | | left hand. Instead, for vertical shots, LOWER your |
| your elbow is pressed against your side, your left | | | | right arm so that BOTH arms are now under the |
| hand, your forearm, and your elbow form a solid | | | | camera ... even more support. You will probably |
| stable base for your photographs. Your fingers will | | | | find it convenient to release the shutter with your |
| curl naturally around the lens to create an | | | | thumb instead of your index finger, but the |
| unshakeable platform. And if your camera has a | | | | principle is the same... carefully squeeze the |
| manual zoom, your fingers will be right there to | | | | shutter release, don't jerk it. |
| adjust the zoom to just the composition that you | | | | This technique will get you the sharpest photos |
| want. | | | | you can get without resorting to a tripod. But |
| Next, firmly wrap the fingers of your right hand | | | | don't take the tripod out of your gadget bag. |
| around the camera body with your index finger | | | | There are always times when you do can use it, |
| ready on the shutter release. From this position | | | | and you will get sharper photos when you do. |
| also, your thumb will fall conveniently on the zoom | | | | You can read an illustrated version of this article |
| control if your camera has a motorized zoom. | | | | here. |