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Camera Focus Problem? Pictures always seem to be blurry?

WHY ARE MY PICTURES BLURRY?!

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Several things could be the problem of poor camera focus. Let’s assume your camera is working properly, the most

likely cause could be using too slow a shutter speed for your specific subject, without also using a tripod.

If you are shooting landscapes, sunsets and other relatively “slow” nature photography, the best thing you can do to improve the clarity and focus of your photos is to use a good, sturdy tripod. Especially if you think you’d like to enlarge your photographs – the bigger they get, the more magnified our technical flaws become!

If you aren’t using a tripod, be sure your shutter speed is AT LEAST 1/60th of a second (for non-moving subjects) to minimize your slight body movements, as you press the shutter. These tiny shakes often make it appear that there is something wrong with our camera focus, but really, it is our exposure combination that is the cause. If your ARE photographing moving subjects, make sure your shutter speed is at least 1/125th of a second. But the faster you can set the shutter the better!

If your camera is set on aperture priority, check to see that the aperture you have chosen, allows for a fast shutter speed. Sometimes, even with what we think is a steady hand, we shake just a wee bit while pressing the shutter, and in some circumstances, this shake is enough to cause a noticeable blur, or “out of focus” look to your image. But again, it is usually not your camera focus to blame!

The other problem may be caused by your camera’s autofocus feature. Carefully read your manual so you really understand how this function works. On some cameras, when you press the shutter halfway, you “lock” in the camera focus. If you do this somewhat unconsciously and then readjust your composition, you may be taking your photo with the previous, locked in focusing setting.

If you want definitive answers about how to use your digital camera properly, you’ll want to check out my Digital Photography Basics e-book – it’s full of easy to use information and did I mention it’s almost free!