How To Take Sharp Images In 8 Easy Steps

Sharp images are the goal of every photographer professional or hobbyist. One of the biggest misconceptions in photography is that you need to own expensive gear to achieve sharp photos. In fact, most images lacking sharpness are not the fault of the camera or lens but rather the photographer. So what are some of the main reasons an image lacks sharpness?

• Camera Shake – Moving the camera while pressing the shutter often results in a blurry image. Shutter speed and how steady you hold the camera can help to overcome this. 
• Subject Movement – When photographing wildlife dealing with a moving subject is inevitable. This too can create blur, a result of your shutter speed being too slow.  
• Missed Focus – Poor focus is a surefire way to end up with a photo that isn’t sharp. This could be from placing your focus point on something that isn’t the subject, choosing an aperture that results in a depth of field that is too narrow, or even pressing the shutter before your camera has a chance to obtain focus on the subject. 

As you can see in the examples above, upgrading your camera and lens to the latest most expensive model isn’t going to solve these problems. Now that we know the blame is on us and not our equipment how do we go about obtaining sharp images?

1. Hold Your Camera Steady

Blurry photos are often the result of camera shake or slight movement as the shutter is pressed. One obvious way to overcome this is to use a tripod but in many cases (including my style of moving around almost constantly) using one is not practical. Instead, paying attention to your technique and how you hold the camera will overcome this. Hold your camera while supporting your lens from underneath with your elbows touching your body and bending your knees slightly. Place one foot in front of the other and make sure both feet are planted firmly on the ground. If possible use a tree or other solid object to help stabilize the camera. 

2. Choose A Fast Shutter Speed 

A good rule of thumb when handholding your camera is to use the reciprocal rule to reduce camera shake. What this means is that you want your shutter speed to be at least one over your focal length. Since most of my images are shot at 400mm this means I want my shutter speed to be at least 1/400. This only applies to a stationary subject. In the case of birds and other fast-moving wildlife, I like my shutter speed at 1/1000 or faster whenever light permits to freeze the action and give me sharp images. 

3. Consider Using a Monopod 

If you struggle to hold your camera steady and despite using a fast shutter speed you still find your images are blurry you might consider using a monopod. Monopods are great for stabilizing your camera and are much lighter and less cumbersome than a tripod. Furthermore, getting ready for a shot is much quicker and easier with a monopod as there is only one support to place on the ground. This also allows you to move around and track a flitting bird much more efficiently. I recently started using a Surui Monopod for filming videos for my vlog and have found the difference to be night and day when it comes to camera shake. This carbon fiber monopod has a load capacity of 22 lbs and weighs less than a pound making it a treat to carry.  

4. Find And Use Your Lens’s Sweet Spot

All lenses regardless of price point are slightly sharper 2/3 to 1 stop narrower than their maximum aperture. For me, with my new Tamron 100-400mm lens my widest aperture at 400mm is f/6.3. Instead of shooting at f/6.3, if light permits, I shoot at f/8 or f/9 as this lens is noticeably sharper at these apertures. This is referred to as the lens’s sweet spot. Find your lens’s sweet spot and you too will notice sharper photos.   

5. Use Image Stabilization (If Equipped)  

Most lenses feature image stabilization. Depending on the manufacturer this could be referred to as IS (image stabilizer Canon), VR (vibration reduction Nikon), or VC (vibration compensation Tamron). Image stabilization won’t eliminate camera shake but will certainly help to reduce it. If your lens is equipped, make sure you turn this feature on using the switch on the side of the lens.  

6. Clean Your Equipment

Just like looking through a dirty window, an image taken with a dirty lens lacks the same colour, contrast, and sharpness leaving it with a greyish hue. Cleaning your lens regularly will remove dust, smudges, and grime resulting in much cleaner looking images. Similarly, cleaning your camera’s sensor will ensure it too is free from dust and blotches that can appear on your final images. I recently cleaned the sensor on my Canon 7D and was amazed at the difference in my photos. This task was quick and easy and gave my images that clean window look. 

7. Choose One Focus Point And Place It On Your Subject’s Eye

Proper focus is critical to a sharp image. Today’s cameras have so many autofocus points one would think focussing would be a breeze, however, it can be a real challenge. The problem with using all of or a cluster of a camera’s focus points is there is a greater chance of one ending up beside, in front of, or behind your subject such as a tree branch or other object within the frame, thus leaving your subject out of focus. For me, I choose my centre autofocus point and place it right on the subject’s eye. After all, if the eye is sharp the image is sharp. 

8. Concentrate On Your Breathing

As I’ve mentioned in the past, most of my photography is done on my daily walks with my dog. As a result, my heart rate is a bit higher than that of my resting rate. Add in the excitement when a potential image presents itself and my heart rate increases further. Breathing heavy or a fast heart rate can result in camera shake so it’s important to concentrate on your breathing before taking the shot. After composing and focussing your shot, breath in deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Once you have expelled almost your entire breath press the shutter. This will result in less shake and sharper images. This technique is used by military-trained snipers to eliminate shake before they take a shot and has helped improve my final images.    

Blaming our gear for images that are not sharp is something we have all done; however, it is we who are to blame. If your images lack sharpness be sure to try these eight simple steps before rushing out and buying a new camera or lens. Most times, the difference between a sharp image and one that ends up in your PC’s recycle bin is only a matter of a simple adjustment before pressing the shutter. 

Good birding,
Paul      

*If you found this post helpful you might also like 4 Camera Settings All Bird Photographers Should Be Using.*

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