Any tips for handheld macro shots

Thanks Charlotte!

Hi David.

Everyone seems to have forgotton one very useful element - 'sheer good luck' ! (Plus a bit of grim determination, that is )

Have a look at Scarlet Elf Cup in my portfolio to see this in action.
This was taken under extremely difficult circumstances on a wildlife shoot.
The fungus was on some wet wood in a small stream in a shady location so the light wasn't very good and neither was the 'footing'. What is more I only had my DA55-300 in use so to get a close-up shot I needed the full 300mm which in turn meant I had to be over 1.5m away (minimum focus). I didn't have a tripod but it would have been impossible to use on the soft slippery ground. It just meant standing very still and holding my breath to shoot. Next, the extreme luck - with the K-r on P it chose ISO 1250 and 320th shutter speed and (I think)f/7 so this combination compensated for the bad light and my shaking.
My golden rule - if in doubt just shoot !

Good luck
Peter