subject: Avoiding Blurriness In Your Pictures [print this page] You've spent time focusing on your subject, you have the correct angle, the best of lighting and your subject is positioned on a strong focal point. It's a go, and you click the camera. A beautiful shot and one to be proud of. But in displaying it on your computer monitor, you murmur the dreaded words "Oh, No!" Your photo is out of focus. More than likely this is the result of camera shake.
You must remember the scene that your camera sees must not be altered in any way. Put more simply - the camera cannot move. Due to this I suggest making use of a tripod. Getting sharply detailed photos can be a hard thing to accomplish. In fact there's no other way around it in my estimation. You just can't hold a camera as steady as the tripod will. There are many brands of tripods but my best advice is to purchase the best quality one you can afford. One of my Grand-dad's favorite sayings was "you get what you pay for". Well, those words ring true. In my experience I discovered that the more pricey tripods are sturdier and stronger than the cheaper ones on the market.
Now let's just imagine you are out on a shoot, and you left the tripod behind. Don't panic. Try for example, using the top of a fence post or any sturdy flat surface that is close to hand. Remember this as well, if you are in the field where a tripod simply is not feasible, you can use a bean bag. Placed on a car hood or a convenient ledge it makes a perfect cushion. Fashion an indent with your fist in the middle of the bean bag. This will cushion your camera, holding it steady, and will add to your odds of getting steady focus on the subject of your photo.
OK let's get back to the issue of camera shake. We all desire to get that near to perfect picture. Though the adrenalin is building, keep your hands really steady on the camera and carefully press the button. Don't click it with sudden force. Don't give it a shove and quickly let go as if it were on fire, because the camera will shake and you guessed it. You just ruined the shot!
Few things are more annoying to me than realizing that a one-of-a-kind picture has turned out blurred. This can also happen if your subject moves just as you are snapping the picture. Nature photos of birds, bees, or insects are great examples where you require lots of patience to capture those tiny creatures on camera. In other words, if you see that a part of the photo, primarily your subject, is blurry , while other parts are quite sharp, then you'll know the subject moved while you were snapping the shot. The good news is that digital cameras are becoming more high tech these days, and most include what's called stabilization control that cuts down on blurry photos.
I myself take a lot of close up photos. If you are also taking close up shots, you might want to set your camera on it's macro mode. Check your camera's handbook. This will enable you to take crisp, clear photos with your camera only scant inches away from that flower, bee or insect. Using the macro setting is like looking at the flower or insect beneath a magnifying glass. The nearer you get to the subject the more revealing it will be. Finally there is one additional tip that I will share with you. When taking those macro shots, make sure there is enough natural light and don't position yourself in such a way as to cast a shadow on your subject. Press the button halfway to focus, then press the rest of the way to capture your shot. Have fun clicking !
