In the beginning, cavemen drew on walls to record the world around them. As time went on, artists began to paint to remember special people and events. Today, we use photography to capture special moments in time so we can remember them forever. As a professional photographer, I’ve seen many photos that could have been fantastic except for a small technical problem: blur! I’d like to give you a few tips on how to keep your pictures in focus so you can turn them into fantastic photos on canvas. Blurring is just about the only problem the graphic artists at www.PhotoArtPeople.com can’t fix.
Blurring comes from three major causes; the camera is moving, the subject is moving, or the shutter speed is too slow for the lighting conditions. How do you tell the difference? If everything in the shot is blurred, the camera was moving when the shutter was released (ie, the button was pushed). Occasionally, if lighting conditions were dark when the shot was taken and your camera was set to full automatic settings, the shutter speed may have been too slow and caused blur. If only one item in the picture is blurred but everything else is in focus, the blurred object was moving when the shot was taken.
Stopping camera movement is simple. Try buying a simple tripod, which you can probably find at department stores for around $20. Many stores even sell small desktop models, and they’re perfect for steadying your camera when you shoot. If you don’t have a tripod handy, try resting your hands or elbows on any firm surface while you shoot. When you’re on a moving object such as bleachers watching your child’s game, you’ll need to get to solid ground to take good, clean shots.
Children and pets often keep moving when you take the shot, so learning a few tricks to keep them still for the critical moments needed to shoot a picture will help you get a great picture. Tell children you’re going to shoot on the count of three, so if they need to readjust their position, they’ll keep still at the count of three. If you’re shooting pets, try holding onto a treat, calling their name, and shaking the treat at them to keep their attention when you shoot.
Many of the best pictures are spontaneous rather than posed, so if you want to get a candid shot, try turning your digital camera to a Shutter Speed Priority setting, which will allow you to shoot faster shutter times. You’ll find your pictures are less blurry, and the camera will automatically compensate for the smaller amount of light by opening up your aperture. Another useful technique is to use the fill flash function on your camera, especially when shooting into shadows or at dusk. Don’t forget to watch your viewfinder to check for composition and light levels of each shot, and experiment with your settings so you know you’re getting the fantastic, sharp shots you’re looking for.
Once you master these techniques, you’ll have fun choosing between your many beautiful shots for your photo to canvas! Happy shooting!
Brooke P.
