Speed and steadiness are the secrets to a sharp photograph.
The principal factors behind a sharp photograph are steadiness and speed. A camera works by collecting the light reflected from the scene in front of it. The longer the camera shutter is open, the greater the chance of movement and blur. Shooting with a fast shutter speed and steady camera is the best option for obtaining clear, sharp images. However, depending on the lighting situation and desired effect, alternative settings may be required in order to achieve sharpness.
Manual
For many photographers, the manual setting is the most commonly used as it gives the photographer the most control. For sharp images when using the manual settings, set the aperture wide (smallest f-stop) and bump the shutter speed up. The faster the shutter speed, the greater chance of sharpness. The aperture must be set wide in order to allow in enough light to counter balance the quick shutter speed. One effect of using a large aperture is shallow depth of field, meaning only the objects in the foreground are sharp while the background is blurred.
Aperture Priority
To achieve a greater depth of field, that is, to have the entire image sharp and in focus, a smaller aperture (greater number) must be used. To favor the aperture over the shutter speed, set the camera dial to "A", aperture priority setting. Using "A" will only give you control over the aperture, once you set the aperture the camera will determine the shutter speed. Using a smaller aperture, however, means that the shutter speed will be slower, and therefore the chance of blur is increased.
ISO and Balance
To counter balance the slow shutter speed when using a small aperture or during low-light situations, two things can be done: increase the film speed, known as ISO, and balance the camera with a tripod. The ISO should be set to 1000 when holding the camera by hand. If a greater speed is necessary, use it, however, the higher the ISO the greater chance of grain. Using a tripod allows for longer exposure (slow shutter speed) with a lesser risk of blur. If you do not have a tripod, use and level surface to steady your arm and body against, such as a wall. The less shake and movement in your body, the sharper the image will be.
Lens
Smaller focal lengths of lenses have less risk of blur than long telephoto lenses do. The greater the zoom, the harder it is to steady the camera by hand without a tripod. For the crispest shots without a tripod, a smaller lens below 270mm is a best for both weight and focal ability.
Automatic
For beginners or those who don't yet have a grasp on camera settings, the Automatic setting can always be used for most situations. With automatic, the settings are out of the photographer's control. All the photographer has to do is frame and shoot. The automatic setting will focus on a single point and adjust the settings to make the image clear and sharp.
Tags: shutter speed, greater chance, camera hand, clear sharp, counter balance, depth field, risk blur
