Always bring your tripod.

How to make better photographs - lesson 1
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Use a tripod.

Always bring your tripod with you. Set it up firmly and brace it against the slope of the hill or the wind, whichever may apply. Extend the upper portions of the legs first, then the lower. Do not extend the center column unless you absolutely need to. Securely attach your camera to the tripod (use a tripod collar on the lens, if one is available).

Then, find a different subject and shoot hand-held, because it is too much trouble to set the tripod up yet again.

NOTE: photograph by Bert Hudepohl (my father).