Secrets for Getting Tack Sharp Digital Photos

There are many things that help make a picture spectacular, but the most important is for the picture to be in sharp focus.Without sharp focus, a good subject, color and lighting will still not make a good picture.

 

Photographers have somewhat varying opinions on what constitutes a tack sharp picture, but generally, a tack sharp photograph has good, clean lines.Instead of a soft blending of lines or even downright blurry, the picture has clear definition.

 

There are several things you can do to increase your chances of getting that coveted tack sharp picture.

 

Hand-Held Digital Photography Tips

 

If you’re hand-holding your camera, brace your arms against your sides to help steady the camera.  If your camera has anti-shake technology such as Vibration Reduction (VR) or Image Stabilization (IS) lens that can be switched on and off, this is the time to have it turned on.

 

You can also lean against a wall or tree or whatever sturdy object that’s handy, and help keep yourself and your camera steady.Another idea is to lean or lay your camera on some handy sturdy object to help steady the camera.

 

Steadying your camera by hooking the strap under your elbow and wrapping the rest around your forearm will also help stabilize the camera and hold it steady in your hand.

 

Getting those tack sharp photos while hand-holding your camera can be difficult, so to increase your chances of getting that perfect shot, use the burst or continuous shooting mode on your camera to take several shots at once.You have a better chance of one being in sharp focus when taking a series of pictures.

 

Tripods For Better Focus

 

There’s no getting around the fact that it’s easier to get a tack sharp photo using a tripod.  You just can’t hold the camera as steady as a tripod will.Like lens and other things in life, with a tripod you likely get what you pay for.  A cheap tripod will help, but won’t hold your camera rock steady like a more expensive tripod will.To get the best results, buy the best tripod you can reasonably afford.

 

The more expensive tripods don’t come with the head attached.It must be bought separately, but that gives you the opportunity to choose what you like best.To keep your camera from sliding, a good quality ballhead is a must for your tripod, and will help you get that sharp photo.

 

If you’re somewhere that carrying a tripod just won’t work, beanbags make a nice cushion for cameras in these settings.A beanbag can help in positioning the camera to get the right angle on the subject, then hold the camera steady so you get a sharp shot.

 

To improve your chances of a tack sharp photo even more, use a cable release instead of pressing the shutter.Movement from pressing the shutter may not seem like much, but it can be enough to keep you from getting a tack sharp photo.

 

If you don’t have a cable release, the self timer will also work.This means when you press the shutter, the camera has time to stabilize before it actually takes a picture.

 

More Advanced Digital Photography Secrets For Sharp Shots

 

If you have a digital SLR camera, there are even more ways to make sure your camera stays steady while taking pictures.

 

The first is to use mirror lock-up.This limits the movement inside the camera by locking the mirror in the up position until after the picture is taken.To take a picture, the shutter release button must be pressed twice on the remote or cable release (you aren't going to all this trouble and pressing the shutter release on the camera are you?).  The first press lifts the mirror and the second press actually takes the picture.

 

The second method is to turn off the Vibration Reduction or Image Stabilization.  That may sound counter productive, but when you’ve stabilized your camera with a tripod and other methods, the vibration reduction keeps looking for shakes/movements.  If there isn’t any movement, the vibration reduction actually causes some shaking while looking.A good rule of thumb is to use automated vibration controls when hand-holding a camera, but turn them off when using a tripod.

 

One last way to increase the sharpness of your pictures is to have good glass.It makes a big difference which lens you use.Good glass in a quality lens doesn't come cheap, but like so many things, you get what you pay for.It's an investment in fantastic photography.

 

Use as many methods as you can to steady your camera, and you’ll have a much better chance of getting those lovely tack sharp photographs.