Page 44 - Cape-Camera-Sept-Oct-2021

September/October 2021 Cape Camera

Image of a Pied Kingfisher by Ken van Wyk

10 Keys to super sharp photographs

by Angie Morton – Editorial Producer of Light Stalking*
The first thing you need to do is to know your camera features and settings. Invest in a good
lens and tripod, then, practice in manual mode by choosing different focusing areas. The more
you take photos in different settings and modes, the better you will understand how things
work. Follow the points below and you will be able to increase your photography skills and
achieve super sharp photographs!

We rarely print our photographs today because technology has low as possible (i.e. 50, 100 or in some Fujifilm cameras
taken over and instead, we use devices with ultra-high defini- 200). The lower the ISO, the better the image quality.
tion screens to display our images. The more the technology Focusing Modes
evolves, the greater is the demand for producing high-quality
photos. The images need to be super sharp with vibrant colours • Single-Point Focusing Mode: Control where your camera
and superb quality - and that takes time and effort. will be focusing. In some camera systems, you also have
the option of “flexible spot” where you can move the fo-
Manual Mode cus point anywhere you want. By focusing quickly on your
Use Manual Mode: Get full control of your camera. When you subject, you end up taking crisp and detailed images. This
feel more confident on how to get the right exposure and com- mode is ideal for landscape photography or when your
pose a good-looking image, switch your camera to manual subject is not moving.
mode. This mode will give you the ability to have full control of • Continuous Focusing Mode: If you’re photographing action
your camera’s settings and result in sharper photographs. and your subject is moving fast, you should switch to Con-
The Exposure Triangle tinuous AF mode. This way the camera can think faster and
track your subject while it’s moving. Make sure your shutter
• Use the right Aperture: Most lenses have a “sweet spot”. speed is at least 1/250sec.
This spot is a specific focal length and aperture the lens
performs best. If you can’t find this information, use aper- • Manual Focusing Mode: In some occasions, the autofocus
ture values from f/4 to f/11. You can also take sharp images can fail and result in hunting between your subject and the
in lower f-stop numbers when your subject is closer to you background. This is when you need to switch to manual
or when you want to separate it from the background. focusing mode and take control of the focus. By focusing
correctly on your subject, you have more chances to get
• Use the correct Shutter Speed: You never want your pho- sharper photos. This mode is also ideal for night and astro-
tos to be blurry and out of focus. In bright daylight, use a photography.
faster shutter speed of at least 1/125sec. For better results,
if your camera or lens doesn’t support image stabilization, Camera Sensor and Lenses
use a tripod. The fastest the shutter speed, the better the Invest in a good lens: Sharpness and image quality doesn’t
image quality and sharpness you’ll get. come only from the camera’s sensor. You also need to have
• Keep ISO low: ISO is your camera’s sensor sensitivity. High- good optics. The better the quality of the lens, the more you will
er ISO values add more noise in your photos. In situations maximize your image sharpness.
when you have plenty of natural light, keep your ISO as

43 Cape Town Photographic Society