Ready to snap the photo of the year and… what! The photo turned out to be blurry. The most common reason for blurry photos is due to smartphone cameras’ sensitivity to movement. Today we list some tips and tricks on how to avoid getting blurry photos thanks to shaky movements.
Avoid bad lightning
Many smartphone cameras still struggle in low light - whether that be in an indoor setting or just around dusk. In order to compensate for this poor low light performance - the cameras will often take long exposures. This increases the risk of accidentally shaking your phone since the camera will take a long time shooting the photo.
Make use of steady objects
A good way to reduce shakiness when shooting is to make use of steady items around you. A chair, table, wall or even the floor - they all make a great base to ensure extra stability. You can always lean against the wall, rest your elbows on the table or simply hold your phone with both of your hands. Tripod is another option - if you’re happy to invest in some camera gear.
Tap the camera shutter gently
Despite having a steady grip or even perhaps using a tripod - when pressing the shutter release button your camera will move slightly! Even though it might be just the slightest move, you are safer taping the camera very gently.
Don’t use the digital zoom
Just keep in mind that the built-in zoom will always make your photos blurry. Zooming in digitally will also make it more difficult to take a steady photo. Instead, get closer to the main subject!
Make use of the self-timer
Using the self-timer means less contact with the phone when it is about to shoot. This equals less risk of shaking the camera and therefore less blur. So use the self-timer, set your focus, press the release button and let the camera do the work on its own. If needed - there are tons of self-timer apps out there for both iOS and Android phones.
Use the burst function
The burst function makes your camera shoot multiple photos at once instead of you having to press the shutter multiple times. Therefore, you will have less contact with the camera when it’s action time which means less risk for shaking it.
Avoid taking pictures of fast-moving objects
Smartphone cameras are great but there are limits to its capabilities. Since you cannot control the shutter speed on your camera - it will have a hard time trying to capture an object that is moving very fast.
To sum it up
Keeping these smaller practices in mind at all time might seem overwhelming. However, once you start noticing the change in quality it will bring - you will quickly find yourself looking for the closest steady item to rest your arm on or tap the shutter button extremely gently.
