Iggy..thank you and I am happy to tell you the settings and hopefully you can help me get a sharper lily. With my husband's Nikon D300 (which I is a little overwhelming for me) the settings were ISO 400 ( I had been shooting in the shade so had changed the ISO), F8, 1/1000, 200mm (18-200 zoom lens). I did not use a tripod as I was in the middle of staining our deck but could not resist running inside for the camera when I saw the lily.....soooo is this just a case of shaky hands? I am grateful for any suggestions.