May 01 2008
How To Get Sharper Photos Every Time.
Before you start with this tutorial, make sure you have read our If you just got your new camera tutorial.
Once you have become familiar with the basic workings of your camera it is time to learn the basics of good photography. There are many things that can make a photograph great. One of those things is taking a nice, sharp photo.
In order to make a sharply focused picture you have to make sure that the camera doesn’t move while you are taking the picture. There are several ways to stabilize your camera. Arguably the best way to make sure the camera doesn’t move is to place it on a very sturdy tripod and then use the self timer to take your shot. That way, you (and your trigger finger) are no where near the camera when the photo is being shot. However, I know that carrying a tripod and being able to set it up is not always possible, but it definitely is the best way to help insure a sharp shot. If you can’t use a tripod or don’t own a tripod you can always look for something stable to set the camera on. ie… a table, the roof of your car, a railing or even just the ground. NOTE: please use good judgemet when placing your camera on something. If you break your camera I can’t very well teach you much about photography!
Depending on the situation you are in or the subject you are shooting, the only thing you can do is to shoot handheld. Holding and using the camera properly are two additional ways to maximize sharpness in your photos. The proper way to hold your camera is to use both hands, pull your elbows into your body and then gently rest the viewfinder against your face. Now I know you’re saying, “But I don’t use my viewfinder, I just use that big, beautiful LCD on the back of my camera.” And I am going to tell you that when you hold the camera out in front of you with your arms extended you are asking for camera shake which shows up as blur in your final image. The last technique for today is learning to squeeze the shutter button instead of just PUSHING it. If you push the shutter button too hard or too fast you will literally move the camera. To prove this, zoom all the way in and then push the shutter button just a little harder and faster than you think you have to. Then look at the image and notice how it jumps when you do this. Now try the proper technique. Take your finger and kind of roll it onto the button, squeeze it half way down to let the camera focus, then squeeze the button all the way. If done correctly, there should be almost no movement when you use this technique.
Those are the best tips that I can give you for getting a sharper photograph.
If you have a nice sharp image to start with, any post processing that you do will look that much better and if you are lucky good enough to capture that once-in-a-lifetime moment, you’re golden.
Published by: Gene Fetty http://www.freephototutorials.com ©2008
