You’ve spent your cold, hard cash on a great camera; yet capturing a crisp, sharp image still escapes you. What’s the catch? A professional photographer will tell you that the secret to sharp photos requires hours of practice and the proper technique.
Here are ten tips for taking sharp photos:
1. Do what professionals do: Use a tripod or monopod, especially when the light gets low.
2. When using the tripod with the camera shutter speed at a slow setting, use a remote release or the self-timer—that way you don’t have to touch the camera at all.
But what about those times when you really can’t do that?
3. Then become a tripod by keeping your arms and elbows close to your sides to steady the camera. Lean on a wall if one is handy.
4. As you shoot, press the shutter—don’t poke it.
5. Make sure that the camera has confirmed that the auto focus has locked on your subject (otherwise the camera might actually take the picture after you think you took the picture).
6. Set the ISO to a higher number, such as 800 or 1000. You may get increased noise (which looks like grain), but the camera will fire at a higher shutter speed, and that promotes sharpness.
7. If your camera has selectable auto-exposure modes, shift to Shutter Priority mode and set a faster shutter speed.
8. When it gets too dark, use a flash. Flash exposure freezes camera shake and subject movement because the burst of light from a flash is so very fast.
9. Watch for the peak of action and carefully time your shot—this is especially useful when shooting sports. If someone is jumping, for example, catch the person at the instant when he or she has leaped the highest and is about to settle back down to earth.
10. Consider a new camera with image stabilization. This can be built into the lens or camera to compensate for camera movement during exposure that will make subjects blurry. It’s the ultimate remedy for a case of the jitters.
Kristine Knight is a professional nature photographer who specializes in Southwestern landscapes. As an Arizona native, she’s been honing her art since childhood and in her free time teaches photography workshops.
