A couple days ago I setup a website to better share my photos and possibly even sell a few using Smugmug. My site which will host most of my photos from now on is located at http://photography.justinwp.com. I'm going to focus on putting my best landscape and wildlife photos up, but will probably have some others too.

Wildlife Photos | Landscape Photos | Popular Photos

There a few reasons why your photos may be blurry or out of focus and with a couple tips you can make sure your pictures turn out amazing and super sharp.

1. The object in the photo was moving.

Example: If a sprinter can run 100 meters in under 10 seconds and you are using a 1/4 second shutter speed, he or she will have traveled over 2 meters in that time. But at 1/1000 of a second, that sprinter traveled only 1 cm.

Solution: When taking photos of fast moving objects, I set my camera to a specific shutter speed, usually 1/200 or faster, and let it adjust the aperature and iso automatically given the lighting conditions. Another solution is to simply move the camera with the object before and after taking the photo. This will create a sense of motion in your photo as the object will appear in focus while the background will be blurry.

2. The camera is moving or shaking.
Solution: Use a tripod if possible. Better yet, use a tripod with a wired remote. Best, use a tripod with a wired remote and mirror lockup enabled if using a SLR. Not all camera's have this feature but it prevents the mechanical movements within the camera from causing vibration. If you do not have remote for your camera, you can always use the 2 or 10 second delay for the same effect. As in problem number one above, your shutter speed will also affect whether you need a tripod or not. A shutter speed anywhere close to one second long will be blurry unless you have a tripod. Check out this link on how to avoid camera shake.

3. Part of the picture is in focus, but everything else is extremely blurry.

Solution: Adjust the aperature accordingly. A wide open aperature (smaller number) is going to create bokeh which may sometimes be desired. However at extremes, there will be such a shallow depth of field that for example one pedal of flower may be in focus, but the other one is not. Setting a specific aperature and allowing the camera to adjust shutter speed and iso will allow you to take control and style your photo as you desire.

4. The camera is not focused on the correct object.

Solution: There are several possible solutions to this problem but they may not be successful in all scenarios. First you can try the focus lock method by pointing the camera directly on the desired object and then recomposing the picture while holding the trigger button half way. This makes it easier for the camera to find the object. Second, you can change the autofocus mode to have the camera adjust its algorithms for tracking objects in motion. Another possibility is to try and use the manual focus. If your camera has a liveview setting and you are using a tripod, you can zoom in digitally and adjust the focus manually far more accurately than you could with the viewfinder. A smaller aperature (bigger number) will create a larger depth of field and allow more of the frame to be in focus and sharp.

These are the root problems that may make your photos blurry or out of focus. Often you can make adjustments to correct for these problems and if you know to expect them, you will take great photos. Higher end equipment is undoubtedly better at creating sharper images, but there are numerous techniques to try before spending more money.

Does it really matter what camera or lens is used for a picture? Yes!

My new lens, a 24-70 2.8 allows me to take pictures that a kit lens could not produce. I can use my camera in lower light situations and the depth of field allows me to have more artistic control over the photo.

My current camera body is limited by noise as I try to use higher ISO settings to capture movement or take photos in low light. ISO 800 is simply to noisy to be effective in most situations. As a result, the shutter speed is slower and images often are less sharp or worse. Not to mention the obvious image comparisons between an XSI and a 5D Mark II.

I am not saying that a photographer cannot take great pictures with a point and shoot. What I am saying is that high quality equipment allows a photographer to take great pictures in more situations and have some great pictures turn out amazing.

It seems as though I am spending more time and money with photography these days. I am waking up to shoot at dawn or pull the camera out in the moonlight on long work days. When I am not working, I'm heading to St. Marks Wildlife Refuge or Wakulla Springs. I still have a bunch to learn, but I am having a great time with it and getting better. Much better glass has helped too!

My Gear:

I am currently using a Canon XSI with a 24-70 f2.8 for almost all of my pictures. I shoot this on the Gitzo 2440 Carbon Fiber Tripod with a RRS BH40 ballhead and L plate. I cannot stand using my older cheaper lenses anymore and will soon be getting a 70-200 f2.8 to compliment my setup. After that I will probably get some much needed accessories such as an external flash, polarizing filter, telephoto extender and neutral density filter before upgrading my camera body or purchasing a longer lens.

What I am currently trying to improve upon:

1. Setting depth of field
2. Increasing sharpness
3. Processing RAW images

New Photos