Focus!

Yesterday I mentioned my ambition to always post razor sharp photos, but I didn't really elaborated the techniques that leads to razor sharpness. So in todays blog post I'll give you some hints and tips.

EXIF: f/4 -  1/200 sec - 60mm - ISO100 -WB/sun - no flash

There are several actions you can take to make sharper photos.

ISO measures the sensitivity of the image sensor. The lower the number the less sesitive your camera is to light and the finer the grain. Higher ISO settings are generally used in darker situations to compensate so you get faster shutter speeds. The cost of high ISO is noisier shots, or high grain.

Now, we don't want noisy shots, do we? Look at the top of your camera, you'll see a button called ISO. Turn on you camera, twist the program wheel to M, click the ISO button and set the ISO to 100. From now on have your ISO set to 100. Don't worry, you can always turn the ISO up whenever you need to, and in Auto mode the camera will always choose ISO for you.

By now I'm starting to think I can write an entire book just about camera settings...

Light is crusial. Having turned the ISO down, you have to make sure the lighting is good. You can use studio lamps, flash or natural day- or sun light. You might also have to turn down the shutter speed. When turning down the shutterspeed the camera is much more sensitive to movement. Most lenses have an in built IS (Canon) VR (Nikon) -to reduce vibrations. In situations you're not able to use a tripod the IS/VR is a great helper.

EXIF: f/5.6 - 1/80 sec - 60mm - ISO100 - WB/shadow -no flash

Triphods are very useful if you want sharp images, and in combination with a set timer or remote control you really have a winning setup for sharpness. This ensures that the camera doesn't move at all. Just make sure the subject is in focus, and move away.

In situations you can't use a triphod, you are much better off if you can lean against something or twist the camera strap around your elbow. 

EXIF: f/14 - 1/160 sec - 60mm - ISO100 - WB/flash
This photo is shot today. I got this wonderful gift from my dear
friend Marion by mail this morning.

Finally; editing! You always have the opportunity to do some after work on your photos before showing them off. All editing programs have a feature called sharpen, but be careful to use it. It's always pretty obvious if you have sharpened your image too much, because all edges will look thick and unnatural. In practice this means that the photograph must be reasonably sharp before you add the final touch. 

Today I have talked about sharpness in general. I will talk more about focal point and dept later on.

Hope some of this has been useful. Enjoy your day!