Sharpness And Detail

The devil is in getting the details. This stems from the simple fact that truly sharp photographs only happen when we follow three rules, focus accurately, choose the best aperture and keep the camera motionless. Ignore any of these rules and your prize winning composition will be soft, fuzzy and find its way to the recycle bin. Therein lies the rub, a sharp photograph takes some time and effort, and the biggest effort by far is the use of a tripod.

A good tripod is more important than a good lens, though a lot less sexy. Not only does a solid tripod eliminate or dampen camera movement, but it encourages careful composition, focus and selection of aperture. That's why pros always use a tripod. At dawn, photographers line the shores of Colorado's Maroon Lake like fisherman hoping for the day's big catch. Looking down the row of tripods, I can always tell the pros from the amateurs. Not only are pro tripods sturdy, but they are well worn because they go everywhere, always.

When using a tripod for the sharpest results, remember the three rules. First, check your focus. Is the subject or most important element of your composition in focus? Don't simply trust the camera's auto focus, but look critically through the viewfinder or, if your camera has live view, magnify the image on screen. While it might be accurate, the auto focus system doesn't know what is important to you in your composition. Second, choose an aperture that is near the lens' peak performance. I leave my camera on Aperture Priority Mode most of the time so that I can select the best aperture and let the camera change the shutter speed to provide the correct exposure. Most lenses are at their sharpest when closed down one or two stops from wide open. If you're not sure, setting your aperture to f8 is a good starting point. Also, avoid the extreme apertures, either wide open or completely closed, if at all possible. Third, minimize camera movement by locking up your mirror and using a self timer or remote to trip the shutter. Amazingly, even the mirror slap during exposure can vibrate your camera enough to create very slight blurring.

Consider that if the camera moves just one pixel width during the exposure, blurring detail from one pixel into the next, you've effectively cut your resolution in half. Good technique for sharp images is not only a prerequisite to professional landscape photography, but helps you get the most out of all those megapixels you bought.

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