Photo Blog: Tips to Get Sharper Images

Many of us often wonder why our photos are soft and blurry, and how we can get sharp, or in-focus, photos.

Here are a few things you can do. But first, remember when taking a photo that the inner parts of the camera itself are moving -- the shutter and the mirror. So what’s going on outside the camera should not be moving. Listed below are a combination of tips to help you get sharper photos.

• Use a good quality tripod to keep the camera steady. Emphasis on quality, which costs more but is worth it. It’s more work to use and carry a tripod, but you will enjoy your photos much, much more. Costs range from $100 - $800. A few good brands to consider: Manfrotto by Bogen, Slik, Gitzo and Giottos.

• Next up: a quality ballhead. This the part below the tripod that the camera attaches to. Again quality matters. The ballhead allows you to position your camera at just about any angle while holding it firmly in that position without slipping after setting up your shot. Costs range from $110 - $475. Brands: Manfrotto by Bogen, Really Right Stuff, Acratech, Benbo.

• Now that you are using a good tripod and ballhead, the next thing you can do is either use a cable release or the self-timer if you want to save a few dollars by not buying the remote. The key here is you are not touching the camera. With a remote, you push a button off of the camera to trigger the shutter. With the self-timer you press the shutter several seconds before the actual photo. I use 5, 10 or 20 seconds. By then, the camera shouldn’t be moving at all.

• Vibration reduction and image stabilization: Vibration compensation, or whatever term your gear uses, are designed to limit movement. This feature is built into today’s more popular lenses. If using a tripod, turn this feature off as it will be seeking movement and will likely not find any, causing less than sharp photos. But if shooting handheld, then turn that baby on.

• Locking the Mirror: If your camera has this feature, it’s good to use when taking one photo at a time. Here’s what it does. When you press the shutter button, it lifts the mirror and holds it. Then, as you continue pressing the shutter, it records the photo instead of falling back down.

With these tips, you can improve the sharpness of your photos and your overall ability. There is more to share with you, but not enough space here.

If you would like to learn more about camera specifics, taking portraits, landscape/nature shots, sports photographer and more, then join me on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Ruggieri Senior Center. Register thru the Union City Leisure Services Dept. Hope to see you there.