You set up your shot, with its lighting and composition just as you want. But when you see your image, you find it is ruined by blur or debris. The lack of clarity in your picture may be caused by many things, such as a moving camera, incorrect focal range or dirty lens. Though difficult to detect as you shoot, these complications diminish your picture clarity.
Do not settle for little mistakes that defile your shots. Follow these five tips to make your images sharper.
(“It doesn’t get better than this” by @greyugly via tumblr, Fujifilm X-T1)
Get an extra leg (or three) of support.
Monopods and tripods are useful for all photographers, novice and expert alike. Invest in a sturdy tripod or monopod that you are comfortable maneuvering. In low-light situations especially, pull out your tripod. Its three legs are more solid than your two for steadiness when you’re also dealing with slow shutter speeds.
Even the best tripods aren’t perfect, though. Weigh down your tripod as needed and use your body to block any wind that might tip it.
(“Belmore Falls” by Brian Mann (@bmannphoto), Fujifilm X-T1)
Hold your camera with a sturdy posture.
Most blur is caused by mid-shot camera movement, however slight. If you are not using a tripod or monopod, at least use the best posture possible. Keep your camera in both hands and close to your body, with your elbows locked. When possible, support your balance with an external surface, such as a wall or tree.
Use a mirrorless camera or a lock-up setting.
Even when you do your part to maintain steadiness, your camera’s mechanics can foil the shot. Many DSLRs rely on mirrors, which swing as they send visuals from the lens to the viewfinder. Movement from that swing, known as “mirror slap,” can lessen image sharpness.
To avoid mirror slap, work with a mirrorless camera, such as any in the Fujifilm X Series, or select your camera’s lock-up mode, which swings the mirror into place well before you activate the shutter.
Set your aperture and ISO right for the moment.
Most lenses have an aperture that produces the sharpest images. If you set your aperture to either extreme of your lens range, you may have softness because of light diffraction. Whatever your lens, test it at various apertures to gauge its top performance. For a traditional lens, the ideal setting is likely in the middle of its range. For a wide-angle angle lens, it may be a small aperture (or large f number), because the lens is designed to capture a big focal range.
(It is definitely not an eyebrow-raising lens and will not attract a lot of attention, making it that much easier to grab a shot unnoticed.- Sven Schroeter (@bokehmonster)
Maintain a tidy camera lens.
Every so often, pause from shooting and clean your camera lens of dust and debris. Even material too small to detect with your plain eye can diminish a few pixels of your image. Clean the lens thoroughly, because smudges may warp the light in your shots.
With your camera steady and tidy, and with your lens working from its best range, you can take sharper images consistently.
Specializing in portrait, lifestyle and travel photography, Victoria’s goal has always been to create photographs that possess a thoughtful approachability, bringing the viewer into the moment rather than leaving them on the outside. She has worked with global brands including GAP, AMEX, Coach, and Airbnb, capturing people, places, and moments in time that others might overlook. In search of the next story worth telling, Victoria has traveled to and photographed many locations around the United States (including remote regions of Alaska), the mythical countrysides of Scotland (fairies and all), the endless landscapes of Iceland, and elsewhere, all while on assignment.
This fall, she will be hitting the road and the skies again as she travels through New Mexico, Utah, Texas, and then back to California to finally visit Yosemite National Park for the first time. Next summer, she is planning to reconnect with her European roots on a trip to Lithuania — her first trip back since moving to Washington when she was only two — with her father, a man whose model of unquestioning generosity and inspiring drive to work hard have helped her find her own path.
Victoria will of course be traveling with her Fujifilm camera in tow. After purchasing her first X Series camera — the X-T1 — Victoria knew she had found the perfect match. The ease, flexibility and photo quality of the X Series quickly won her over and she recently moved to the X-T2, though her T1 remains close by.
Living in the PNW, Victoria never shies away from bad weather, especially while on the road, and the X Series allows her to brave the elements without worrying about her gear. The cameras are compact for easy travel, the lenses are sharp and fast, and the Wi-Fi capability makes remote uploading and shooting incredibly easy, including the ability to adjust exposure, aperture, ISO and other settings right from her phone.
More than anything, Victoria admires how well Fujifilm listens to its photographers. Through both software and hardware updates, she has found that the X Series continues to improve in ways that truly benefit photographers. The X-T2, with updated 4K video capabilities, impressive Autofocus functions, and a Vertical Power Booster Grip that allows for brilliantly fast continuous shooting, is no exception. It is safe to say that Victoria is excited to see what lies ahead for Fujifilm and she can hardly wait to get her hands on the GFX 50S. The new G Format sensor is definitely going to shake up the world of medium format photography.
