Holding technique:

With the advent of digital cameras with rear LCD screens, it's become customary to hold most digital cameras at arms-length, composing and viewing through the LCD. However, this provides the least amount of support for the camera (especially if used one-handed), compared to more traditional grips such as holding up the camera to one's face and shooting through a viewfinder.

Second image vs. first image:

When taking a photo, pressing down on the shutter release requires a deliberate force to push down on the button, oftentimes pushing the camera downwards at the same time. This shakes the camera, and oftentimes the first image is affected by this. If a second image is taken in a row after that, however, this second image should not experience any of the shake effects of pressing the shutter button.

Delayed shutter vs. immediate shutter:
Along the same vein of pressing the shutter release causing the camera to shake, another way to get around this is to have a delayed shutter. Many cameras have a 10-second or 2-second time, where you can press the button, but the camera won't actually take the picture until several seconds later, avoiding the shake from pressing the shutter button.

Multiple shots: One of the overriding themes of this course (which we actually haven't touched on yet) is statistical probability. Just because your first shot was blurry doesn't mean it's impossible to get the shot. Try taking a series of shots. Chances are, your next shot may easily be even blurrier than your first one.

That's okay, take another, and this time it may be less blurry (or not). Like many things, the amount of blur for any given image will have some statistical fluctuation, and with enough samples (taking enough pictures), statistically you should end up with a usable image with acceptable blur, even if it takes 100 tries to get there.

Wider focal length vs. longer focal length: Focal length (also angle of view) will need a little explaining later on, but simply think of this as a small "zoom" vs. a very big "zoom" (for those of you who actually know the terminology, we are comparing short to long focal lengths).

Bigger zooms tend to amplify the amount of shake - imagine holding out a really big meterstick at arms length, and then imagine holding a short pencil - with each movement of your arm, you might shift the position of the pencil, but the really long meterstick shifts a whole lot more.

Assignment Summary:

Test out different techniques for getting less blurry pictures
Choose at least one of the tests below. For comparisons, take a number of photos using one technique, and a number of photos using the other, and compare how many are acceptably unblurry.
Holding technique: arms outstretched vs. viewfinder pressed up to face
Two photos in a row: first photo vs. second photo
Delayed shutter time vs. immediate shutter
Multiple shots: shoot many, many photos - how many does it take to get an unblurry shot?
Focal length: Use wide focal length vs. long focal length (zoom all the way out vs. zoom all the way in)
Use very slow shutter speeds, 1 second or greater (adjust aperture or ISO accordingly to maintain proper exposure)
Do NOT use flash