Photography Basics - How to Avoid Getting Blurry Photos

Every photographer struggles with the occasional blurry photo no matter how good you are at taking pictures. So how do you avoid getting blurry pictures? The best way is knowing the main culprits that cause blurry pictures. So, here are the three main causes of blurry photos so you'll be sure to watch out for them the next time you take pictures.

Focus Issues

The most common cause of blurry pictures is a focusing problem. This can manifest in several ways. The most common is that the photographer failed to accurately focus the camera, either due to a simple error on the shooter's part or the auto-focus choosing the wrong part of the picture.

These issues are easy enough to prevent in most cases; simply double check that what the lens is focusing on is what you want to be the focal point for your photograph. If it isn't, then you should keep adjusting the focus until you get the image the way you want it. Some auto focus cameras have a focus lock that allows you to center your subject in the viewfinder, push the shutter button half way down and then move the camera without losing the focus area.

Motion Blur

Capturing a fast moving object in an image clearly, can be challenging task. Motion blur will be identifiable by having clear focus on the stationary objects in a frame, but a blurry subject.

Luckily enough motion blur is an easy problem to avoid. If you notice that your action photos are turning out a bit blurry, then try adjusting your shutter speed to shorten your picture's exposure time. This should make a difference in solving the problem and allow you to capture fast moving objects without much blur. Remember, faster shutter speeds will require more light and possibly faster film or a different digital setting, so come prepared if you're planning on capturing fast-paced action.

Camera Shake

Having an unsteady camera is another common cause of fuzzy photos. Whether you notice it or not, it's very difficult to stay perfectly motionless so you're always going to struggle with camera shake.

You can prevent camera blur by using a fast shutter speed (which should negate the minor movements) or by bracing your arms on something while holding your camera. If you're going to use a slow shutter speed, then make sure you use a tripod to avoid shaking the camera. And last but not least, you can also use a remote cable release to help eliminate any movement from pushing the shutter button down.

If you take a lot of pictures and they turn out mostly blurry, you first need to figure out what kind of "blurry problem" caused your fuzzy pictures. If the issue is with focus, parts of the image will be clear and others will be blurry. If the problem is with motion, then only the moving objects will be fuzzy. And if your problem is camera shake, then the entire photo will be blurry. Once you have a good idea of what caused your photo blur, go out prepared to compensate for that issue and re-shoot the subject. Your pictures will end up looking a whole lot better.

When heading into every shooting situation, be aware of what light you will have, what you will be taking pictures of, and what tools you'll need to ensure those photographs come out perfect. When it comes to photo blur, a little advance preparation can go a long ways.