Photography Basics Pt.6 Taking Sharp Photos

Tog-Talk

Continuing the 10 part series looking at photography basics... today we focus on focus.
More important than Exposure?
Nailing a sharp focus is arguably more important than getting the exposure right. Take a photo either over or under-exposed, and in most cases you can correct it in post. Take a photo out of focus and there really isn't much you can do to.
If you take a photo and the image is soft, if your subject is clearly not sharp, then the chances are that you will have to bin that photo. Software sharpening can only go so far. It can't sharpen an out-of-focus image, but it is very good and making an already sharp photo look even sharper.
This week's episode
There are lots of ways to ensure your photos are sharp and in this week's Tog-Talk I will show you two very simple techniques.
Photography is obviously a visual medium and Tog-Talk isn't. In an audio broadcast, there will always be limitations on what I can effectively teach.
However, you may want to check out The Photography Teacher, my online resource that includes techniques, tips and video tutorials on many aspects of photography.
Ultimately, if you live close enough to our training centre you could attend one of our workshops (or longer courses) in both photography and photo-editing.
Some of the courses and workshops run at our training centre in Fleet, Hampshire

• Introduction To Photography (1-day Workshop)

Run four times a year, this one-day photography workshop will equip you with the knowledge you need to move from simply being a camera-owner… to becoming a real photographer !
Whether you're photographing your kids, snapping your holidays or you're hoping to progress your photography to a more creative level, you'll still need a solid grasp of the basics.

• The Photography Masterclass (one year course)

Students on the Photography Masterclass will immerse themselves in photography for a whole year, working as part of the larger group but also in smaller groups of 2 or 3, supporting and assisting each other.

This is a ten-module photography course with photo-assignments between sessions. Each session lasts three hours and will include time to examine assignment images and take part in practicals (where appropriate).
Or...
Or you could simple have a go at our Photography Assessment Tool, to test your photography knowledge.

• Photography Assessment Tool:

Use this online tool to assess your photography knowledge and get a snapshot of your strengths and weaknesses.

More teaching and video tutorials are available at the Photography Teacher