Taking blurry or out-of-focus pictures can be frustrating. While you can’t undo the blur completely, there are several techniques you can use to reduce blur and make a picture clearer. With the right tools and some practice, you can often salvage blurry photos.
What causes blurry photos?
There are several common causes of blurry photos:
- Camera shake – If you move the camera when taking a photo, it can cause the entire picture to be blurry. Using a tripod or steadying your hands can reduce camera shake.
- Slow shutter speed – If the camera’s shutter speed is too slow, any movement while taking the photo will cause blurring. Using a faster shutter speed is required for action shots or photos in low light.
- Out of focus – If the camera doesn’t properly focus on the subject, the subject will look blurry while the background is sharp. Adjusting the focus settings can help get a crisp focus.
- Motion blur – Any movement of the subject while taking a photo will cause blurring along the direction of motion. Using a fast shutter speed freezes motion.
- Lens issues – Low quality, damaged, or dirty camera lenses can distort the image and cause blurring.
Identifying the cause of the blurriness will help you choose the best solution. Let’s look at some techniques for reducing different types of blur.
Fixing focus and camera shake blur
If the entire photo is uniformly blurry, camera shake or out of focus is likely the issue. Here are some tips:
Use image stabilization features
Many modern cameras and smartphones have built-in optical or digital stabilization features. These detect camera movement and automatically adjust the sensor or lens to reduce shake. Image stabilization allows you to handhold the camera at slower shutter speeds without blurring from camera shake. Make sure image stabilization is enabled in your camera or phone settings.
Use a tripod or monopod
The simplest way to prevent camera shake is to stabilize the camera when shooting. Tripods completely eliminate camera movement, while monopods provide stability for one axis. Use a tripod or set the camera on a stable surface for long exposure shots. For action shots, a monopod allows you to pan and swivel the camera easily.
Improve your handholding technique
When shooting without a tripod, proper handholding technique can reduce camera shake. Hold the camera close to your body with elbows tucked in. Grip with your right hand, support the lens barrel with your left. Gently press the shutter button instead of jabbing it. Practice good stance with feet shoulder-width apart. Lean against a wall or tree to steady yourself. Using any camera strap as a sling can also add stability.
Increase the ISO
In low light conditions that require slow shutter speeds, increasing the ISO setting can help prevent blurry photos. Higher ISO allows you to use faster shutter speeds with the same exposure. However, high ISO can also increase image noise. Find the optimal ISO setting that provides enough speed to minimize blur but doesn’t degrade quality too much.
Use flash to freeze motion
The brief duration of flash can freeze motion, eliminating camera shake and subject blur. This works best for subjects within the effective flash range. Outdoor daytime shots may require attaching an external flash. But take care not to overexpose the image when using flash.
Turn on autofocus
Out of focus shots can simply be due to the camera not achieving proper focus. Using autofocus modes like continuous or single-shot can help the camera automatically focus on the right part of the image, ensuring sharp focus. Make sure to focus on the subject and not just the background.
Manually focus the camera
For precision focus, switch to manual focus mode. Zoom in on the viewfinder or LCD screen to check sharpness. Adjust the focus ring until the subject is in clear focus. Use live view focus assist tools like focus peaking or zoom. For static subjects, autorefocus first then switch to manual.
Increase the f-stop value
Using a smaller aperture opening (higher f-stop number) provides a larger depth of field, keeping more of the image in focus. Adjust aperture in Aperture Priority mode or Manual mode. Use f8 or higher to get a sufficiently wide depth of field for most shots.
Fixing motion blur
A blur trail indicates subject or camera motion during the exposure. Here are techniques to reduce motion blur:
Use a fast shutter speed
The most effective way to freeze motion is to use a fast shutter speed, typically 1/250s or faster. In Shutter Priority mode, manually set a shutter speed fast enough to “freeze” the action based on subject speed. Sports or wildlife photography requires very fast 1/1000s shutter speeds.
Increase the ISO
As with camera shake blur, higher ISO allows you to increase shutter speed without changing aperture. But high ISOs introduce noise – you’ll have to balance motion freezing versus noise. Modern cameras provide clean images up to ISO 1600 or 3200.
Use flash to stop motion
Again, flash can help freeze subject motion as it provides very brief illumination. This is useful for freezing facial expressions, dance moves, sports action, etc. Beware of flash shadows behind moving subjects. Use off-camera flash for more flattering light.
Choose fast focus modes
Slow autofocus can cause motion blur if the subject or camera moves during focusing. Use continuous autofocus to track moving subjects. Pre-focus on a spot where the subject will be. Switch to manual focus after initial focusing to avoid any refocus lag.
Practice panning technique
Panning involves moving the camera horizontally or vertically to track subject movement. When done right, the subject stays sharp while the background blurs due to the camera movement. This takes practice to match the panning speed with the subject. Use a monopod for easier, smoother panning.
Add motion blur intentionally
Creative effects like speed blurs can be generated intentionally by using slow shutter speeds and tripods. Have the subject move during a 1-2 second exposure to create blur trails. Use rear curtain sync flash to freeze motion at the end. Add blur effects in post-production.
Fixing lens-related blur
Blurriness across the image or distorted blur patterns can be caused by lens problems:
Clean the lens properly
Dust, dirt, or oil on the lens elements can degrade image quality. Gently clean the lens surface using a microfiber cloth, specialized wipes, brush, or air blower. Avoid rubbing the surface. Only use cleaning solutions designed specifically for camera lenses.
Inspect lens for damage
Scratches, chips, fungus or haze on optical elements will cause blurring and flaring. Shine a bright light on the lens at different angles to check for damage. Look through the lens at different apertures. Consider professional lens repair if cleaning doesn’t help.
Use lens hoods and filters
Lens hoods and UV filters protect the front lens element from dust, moisture, and physical impacts that cause blur. But use high quality, optically coated filters to avoid degrading image quality. Remove filters when not necessary.
Stop down the aperture
Some lenses, especially wide angles, produce soft images when shot wide open at maximum aperture. Stop down the lens to f/8 or smaller aperture for sharper results across the frame. Just beware of diffraction blur at very small apertures.
Try a different lens
If an interchangeable lens camera has blur issues with only one lens, the lens itself may be the problem. Test other lenses to see if they are properly sharp. Blur due to lens problems will not be fixed in post-processing. Consider lens repair or replacement if needed.
Check lens calibration
For DSLR lenses, imperfect camera-to-lens alignment can cause inconsistent focusing and blurring. Microadjustment of the autofocus calibration may be required to optimize sharpness for a specific camera-lens combination. Use autofocus adjustment tools.
Fixing blur in post-processing
Many photo editing apps include tools to reduce blur, with some limitations:
Use sharpening carefully
Basic sharpening enhances edge contrast to make details pop. But aggressive sharpening also amplifies noise. Apply moderate sharpening of +50 to +150 percent. Use local sharpening and masking for better edge enhancement without amplifying noise in flat areas.
Reduce motion blur with deblur tools
Specialized motion deblur algorithms analyze the blur direction and attempt to reverse the motion smear. This works best for uniform motion blur, not complex blurred areas. Deblurring can also introduce image artifacts. Use the tool sparingly.
Try focus stacking for extended depth of field
Focus stacking combines multiple images focused at different depths to increase depth of field. This can reduce blur from limited focus range. Works best for static scenes shot on a tripod. Requires post-processing software to composite the images.
Upsize and sharpen to increase apparent sharpness
Increasing image size can make blur less noticeable by spreading it across more pixels. But details don’t actually improve. Upsize only slightly, then apply sharpening. Don’t overdo it. Can cause pixelated, artificial results.
Apply high pass filter to sharpen edges
A high pass filter detects and enhances edges to increase perceived sharpness. Used carefully, this brings out edge details without amplifying noise as much as standard sharpening. Requires using layers and blending modes.
Manually fix blur with cloning and healing tools
For small blurred areas, manually replace or heal the blur using the clone stamp and healing brushes. Sample good detail from a sharp area, match lighting and colors. This requires careful technique to look natural.
Preventing blurry photos
Learning to avoid blur in the first place takes some practice:
Learn to hold the camera correctly
A proper handhold with arms braced reduces camera shake. Practice shooting, reviewing your photos, and improving your stance. Over time, good handholding technique becomes natural. Be even more careful at slower shutter speeds.
Actively stabilize the camera
In addition to good handhold form, actively brace your arms and camera against your body. Support yourself against a wall or tree trunk. Maintain triangular poses that add stability. Learn to rest your upper arms against your torso.
Hold your breath for the shot
Our natural breathing and minor swaying causes subtle camera shake. Briefly holding your breath just before pressing the shutter button can minimize motion. But don’t hold so long you feel strained.
Give yourself a higher shutter speed cushion
The 1/focal length shutter speed rule gives the minimum speed to avoid camera shake. But it’s safer to use 2x or 3x the 1/focal length for important shots. If you have to shoot at slow speeds, always use a tripod.
Use back button autofocus
Separate the autofocus function from the shutter button to prevent focus-related motion of the camera. Assign autofocus to a back button. Press to lock focus, then release to take the shot. Eliminates AF-triggered camera movement.
Avoid shooting in windy conditions
Wind can cause camera shake, especially when using long telephoto lenses. If it’s too windy, save the shoot for another day if possible. Otherwise, find natural wind breaks or shield the camera and lens yourself. Enable lens stabilization.
Use shutter delay if necessary
A 2-second shutter delay gives vibrations time to dampen after mirror slap on SLR cameras. Enabling this avoids shake-induced blur at the start of exposures. Use mirror lockup function when possible.
Conclusion
While you can’t undo blur after the fact, there are many techniques to salvage blurry images and reduce blur when shooting:
– Camera stabilization, tripods, monopods, proper handholding technique, and finding steady supports can reduce camera shake.
– Faster shutter speeds, flash, higher ISOs, and good focusing technique help freeze motion and prevent blur.
– Lens maintenance, using lens hoods, stopping down aperture, and focus calibration improve sharpness.
– Post-processing sharpening, blur reduction, focus stacking, and upsampling can help a bit.
– Learning better shooting discipline takes practice but delivers sharper photos.
With some adjustments to your gear, settings, shooting style, and editing workflow, you can significantly improve the sharpness of your images.