You've spent time focusing on your subject, you have the right angle, the best of lighting and the subject is placed on a strong focal point. All is ready and you snap the picture. An exceptional shot and one to brag about. Now in displaying it on your computer monitor, you utter the dreaded words "Oh, No!" Your picture is blurry. Quite possibly this is the result of camera shake.
You must remember the scene that your camera sees must not be altered in any way. In simple words - the camera cannot move. Because of this I suggest utilizing a tripod. Getting sharply detailed photos can be a difficult goal. In fact there's no other way around it in my estimation. You simply cannot hold a camera as steady as the tripod will. There are several kinds of tripods but my personal advice is to obtain the highest quality one you can afford. One of my Grand-dad's favorite sayings was "you get what you pay for". Well, those words ring true. In my own experience I discovered that the more pricey tripods are sturdier and stronger than the lower priced ones available today.
Now just imagine you are on a shoot, and you left the tripod behind. Don't panic. One alternative is, using the top of a fence post or any steady flat surface that is available. Keep this in mind too, if you are on a shoot where a tripod simply is not feasible, try using a bean bag. Placed on a a car hood or a convenient ledge it makes a perfect cushion. Fashion an indent with your hand in the middle of the bean bag. This will cushion your camera, helping to steady it, and will improve your odds of getting improved focus on the subject you are photographing.
Getting back to the problem of camera shake. We all want to get that perfect photograph. Even though you're excited, keep your hands as steady as possible on the camera and gently squeeze the shutter. Do not click it with force. Don't give it a push and quickly let go as if it were on fire, because the camera will shake and you guessed it. You've lost the shot!
Few things are more bothersome to me than realizing that a one-of-a-kind picture has turned out out of focus. This can also happen if your subject moves just as you are taking the photograph. Nature photos of birds, bees, or insects are excellent examples where you need patience galore to capture those tiny creatures on camera. In simple words, if you find that a part of the photo, mainly your subject, is blurred , while other parts are focused, then you'll know the subject moved while you were snapping the shot. The good news is that digital cameras are being made more high tech nowadays, and most include what's called stabilization control that cuts down on blurry photos.
Personally I take a lot of close up photos. If you also take close up shots, you might want to set your camera on it's macro mode. Consult your camera's handbook. This will allow you to take crisp, clear photos with your camera only scant inches away from that flower, bee or insect. Using the macro setting is like looking at the flower or insect under a magnifying glass. The nearer you get to the subject the more dramatic it will be. Finally there is one other tip that I will share with you. While taking those macro shots, be sure there is sufficient natural light and don't place yourself in such a way as to cause a shadow on your subject. Press the button halfway to focus, then press the rest of the way to capture the shot. Have fun clicking !