By Mike Lee

Photo taken without a tripod can be blurry.

Photo taken with a tripod is clearer.

EVEN experienced photographers can end up with blurry pictures resulting from camera shake and low-light conditions.

Sometimes the unintended blurry photo may seem artistic and actually make the picture better in terms of portraying the mood.

But when you never wanted a blurry photo in the first place, alas, even photo-editing software can't do much to salvage the details and sharpness lost in ghosting movements.

What can you do to minimise such shots from occurring? Here are some basic techniques.

Use faster shutter speeds

You are in a dimly lit lounge taking a picture of your friend. She turns around and holds her pose for you but the photo still ends up looking as if a tremor just took place.

Your shutter speed probably wasn't fast enough. You can bump up the camera's ISO setting so that you can use higher shutter speeds.

Sometimes, the camera may be over-compensating for the dim conditions and you get a picture that looks brighter than the actual conditions along with the shakes. In such cases, set the exposure compensation setting to minus one or two stops.

Personally, I try to keep my shutter speed above 1/15 seconds to keep my camera still. The longer the focal lengths or zoom, the more the shot is prone to shake, so adjust accordingly. A general rule is to use a shutter speed of at least 1/x second, where x is the focal length used.

Use the stabilisation function

A stabilisation or anti-shake function minimises blur due to camera shake by counter acting any unintended camera movements. The result is the ability to use slow shutter speeds and still retain sharpness. So, for instance, I might be able to use a handheld camera with a 1/8 or even 1/4 second shutter speed comfortably with the anti-shake function turned on.

Use support

You don't necessarily have to carry a full-sized tripod with you. In a pinch, even a pocket-sized mini tripod can help keep your camera stable. Lightweight and no longer than the length of your palm, it can be folded and carried around in a pocket.

Besides using the camera and its tripod on a horizontal surface such as a desk, you can prop it against a wall, beam or any stationary surface on which the tripod and mounted camera can be held still.

Do check if your camera has a tripod mount. The slimmest ultra-compacts might be too thin to have one.

Use flash

Any movement by your subject can be translated into blur on your photo, despite keeping your camera still. The faster the movement, the faster the shutter speed required to stop the blur. But sometimes the ambient light is not enough for fast shutter speeds, even with ISO bumped up.

Flash can be used to stop action in such cases. While auto-mode flash is the most effective, it also tends to overpower the ambient lighting conditions and create unflattering portraits. Use fill-flash, which preserves the ambient mood while stopping the action. You can turn up or down the flash-compensation level on your camera (if the function is available) should stronger or weaker flash effects be desired.

This article was first published in The Straits Times, Digital Life on 24 June 2008.