Photography Sharpness Checklist

Photography Tips

Sharp photos are a goal for many photographers but can be a challenge, especially for beginners. In this video, professional nature and wildlife photographer Simon d’Entremont offers a checklist to help diagnose and solve sharpness issues:

A photography sharpness checklist:

• Shooting in the best light – Direct sunlight or an external light source will give the best micro contrast, while dull overcast weather can lead to flat photos with low contrast and potentially noisy images.
• Adequate shutter speed – To freeze the movement of the subject, you need to have enough shutter speed. It also helps to mitigate camera movement when hand-holding the camera.
• Focus – Make sure the subject or area you want to be sharp is in focus. The right autofocus system should be used for static or moving targets.

You may also want to consider heat haze – shooting through heat-radiated bodies like bodies of water or open fields can create waves of heat that cause blurry images. Shooting earlier in the day or in the shade can mitigate this issue.

“To get the best sharpness in your photos, you need to shoot in the best light both in quantity and quality, as sharpness is often perceived as the difference between sharp, bright and dark areas of micro contrast.”

Another important technique is holding the camera steady with both hands and suggests using your left hand to support the lens and your right hand to hold the camera body for stability. He also suggests tucking in your elbows to minimize camera movement.

Using these tips can help you take sharper photos and improve your photography.