Camera shake is one of the most common causes of blurry, hand held photographs and are often caused by using lower shutter speeds or longer focal lengths without any means of stabilisation.

The problem has been addressed somewhat with the introduction of image stabilisation technology that effectively counteracts any small amount of camera movement, but this solution places an extra drain on your cameras battery and usually comes at a premium.

If you don’t have image stabilisation built into your lenses or camera body then the cheapest and most effective way to minimise camera shake is by using some sort of fixed support such as a tripod or monopod.

Now, carrying a tripod or monopod around with you on location might not be permitted or practical. Here’s a cheap and pocketable alternative to using a monopod.