1. Use The Lowest ISO That You Can
I explained ISO last fall so I will keep this short and sweet. The lower the ISO, the sharper your photo. This all depends on available light, of course. Basically you want to use the lowest ISO setting that you can get away with so that you get a crisp photo with minimal digital noise.
Digital noise is not techno music, despite what you might think. It basically means that your pixels are all wacked-out and grumpy and not letting you have a crisp photo.
This applies to most of you using point-and-shoots too! I have a Canon Powershot and you can use manual settings. Don’t chicken out. Be brave. You will be happy that you did.
On a bright, sunny day you will want to shoot at an ISO of 100 (or less, if your camera lets you).
You will need to bump it up in lower light, but try to shoot at the lowest ISO you can get away with.
2. Use A Tripod
The tripod is your friend. Taking photos of your kids in the yard is not conducive to using a tripod. OF COURSE. If you are taking family, wedding, or macro photos you will want to use a tripod. Camera shake can be disastrous.
If you do not have a tripod handy try bracing your camera by pulling your strap tight. You can also place it on an fence, chair, etc.
I used my tripod to take photos of the laundry room.
3. Use Your Self Timer
If you are using the lowest ISO possible, just the pressing of the shutter button can cause camera shake. When doing formal portraits or still/macro shots you will likely want to use a shutter release cable. If you cannot justify the expense, and ten seconds will not kill you, use your camera’s self-timer function. You press the shutter button and ten seconds later your camera has stopped shaking so that you can take a crisp photo.
4. Shoot Rapid Fire (Continuous Mode)
Friends often find it humorous when I take photos and they hear the shutter fire off three or more times. It also surprises them if I have them take a photo of me and mine. They press the button and BAM, BAM, BAM! Three photos in a matter of seconds! It kind of freaks them out.
My camera is almost always set to continuous mode. The reason being that out of three or more shots, at least one of them has to be crisp and clear. If there is any camera shake from pressing the shutter button it is on the first frame and then the remaining shots are nice and crisp.
For group shots, the likelihood of everyone having their eyes open is also greater.
5. Play Your Photos Back And Zoom In
On the tiny LCD display of your camera photos almost always look like they are in focus. I have gotten into the habit of zooming in to make sure and what do you know? Sometimes they are NOT in focus. This little habit of mine has saved me many a headache. It also allows me to get crisp shots of my monkeys.
Welcome back to Foto Friday everyone. I hope these tips helped, if even a little bit.
34 Comments
Ooh, I’m so glad you’re back to posting Foto Fridays! I really need to pick up my camera more, and your posts give me a kick to try things out 
I just got a tripod and a new lens and I am so excited to use them. Whee!!
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Comment by Elizabeth on August 21st, 2008 @ 7:59 pmThat last tip? SO important! I need to do it more. I usually don’t bother, and wonder why I’m disappointed when I upload and/or print my pics. Will definitely remember to do it AT the photo shoot.
Yay for Foto Friday returning!
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Comment by Hannah on August 21st, 2008 @ 8:33 pmThanks, yeah for Fridays
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Comment by Jenn on August 21st, 2008 @ 9:01 pmThis sentence:
Digital noise is not techno music, despite what you might think.
made me laugh out loud. Also, the advice about using continuous mode is good! It never occurred to me to use it for most shots, and I might have to try that. Thanks!
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Comment by bethany actually on August 21st, 2008 @ 9:12 pmThanks for the tips! I still haven’t made it past page 100 in my 300 page camera manual.
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Comment by mommyknows on August 21st, 2008 @ 9:50 pmYou’ve once again inspired me…Time to take a look at that book about my camera I bought, and never read! Love the pictures!
Comment by Michele on August 21st, 2008 @ 9:53 pmThanks so much for the info Angella! Thanks to your previous advice I have been using my timer more often than I ever did before. Now I will start using rapid fire mode as well. Thanks to you I’ve also started using the manual settings on my measly little kodak easyshare. I will have to mess with the ISO this weekend while I’m at the beach. Someday I’ll own a DSLR until then I’ll just apply your advice to what I’ve got. Thanks again.
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Comment by K on August 22nd, 2008 @ 5:52 amThanks for this! I’ve been fretting lately about how I can make my pictures turn out better. The blurriness irks me. So this is just lovely. I will go investigate this mysterious ISO on my point-and-shoot.
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Comment by Moose on August 22nd, 2008 @ 7:03 amstumbled this to use when i take my camera off of auto. love it!
Comment by ali on August 22nd, 2008 @ 7:18 amNow that I have my new camera I understand everything you are saying…I’m glad photofridays are back!! Thanks for the information…
by the way, I loved your laundry room idea…I may have to tweak it a bit for mine too! I’ve been wanting to do something fun in there…seemingly we spend so much time in there! 
Your great!
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Comment by Amy on August 22nd, 2008 @ 8:40 amThanks for the tips!
Question for you - what kind of tripod would you recommend? I have one but I am so not a fan of it (read: it makes me kind of nervous). Suggestions?
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Comment by Samantha on August 22nd, 2008 @ 9:35 am thanks for the great tips! i just got a fancy-pants camera with all the trimmings for my birthday and i’m itching to try out all the cool features like the continuous shoot.
Comment by makyo on August 22nd, 2008 @ 9:49 amYay for the return of Foto Friday!!!!
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Comment by Ashley on August 22nd, 2008 @ 10:03 amThese are fantastic tips, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
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Comment by Jennifer, Playgroups are no place for children on August 22nd, 2008 @ 11:17 amI’ve never thought about using continuous mode like that before. Good idea! I don’t have a tripod though… bummer… Thanks for thie tips!
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Comment by Elaine on August 22nd, 2008 @ 12:17 pmI had no idea about ISO until you explained it a while ago. We were at the Vancouver Aquarium yesterday and my daughter was excited that her inside aquarium shots all turned out better because I had her read your tutorial about bumping up the ISo enough but watching out for “the noise”. Good tips
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I get so frustrated when I have to bump up the ISO. I know I’m silly - but it just irritates me… Like I said - silly!
I am so glad you are bringing back Foto Fridays.
I start my photography class on Wednesday!! Whoo-hoo for me!!
-Andrea
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Comment by Andrea on August 22nd, 2008 @ 1:05 pmGreat tips, Angella! I need to start using my tripod more often. We’re heading to Bend this weekend. Should be the perfect opportunity to try some of these techniques you suggested!
I’m sure this will work with my powershot if only I would clean my lens.
Comment by gorillabuns on August 22nd, 2008 @ 2:19 pmOMG, my mom has my camera! I want it back now. I want to throw a tantrum. NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW.
But, umm. Thanks for the tips!
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Comment by Mocha on August 22nd, 2008 @ 3:51 pmVery cool, thanks
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this was useful thanks. Now if I can figure out HOW to change my ISO on my new camera. . .
Comment by Tracee Sioux on August 22nd, 2008 @ 6:59 pmThanks for the tips. I’ve always been confused about ISO.
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Comment by Shamelessly Sassy on August 22nd, 2008 @ 9:13 pmi’m a co-worker of chelsey’s.. i guestblogged a couple weeks ago. enjoyed the post and think i will read through the past foto fridays as i took photography throughout highschool but am dabbling in it again since my sweet ass husband bought me a canon rebel xsi 550 last week. ahhh i love it. and the manual settings. thanks again
Comment by angela on August 22nd, 2008 @ 9:45 pmI did the whole manual setting thing for a little bit and nothing was any better than what I can do with the auto settings, so I feel like why am I bothering? I need to hang out with you for an afternoon as I really am not learning by reading my manual very well. I also need a large chunk of time, that would help. Thanks for your info. I will try again someday cuz I am aware that it is worth it to shoot manually, but I SUCK!
Comment by SarahD on August 22nd, 2008 @ 10:08 pmI’m glad Foto Fridays are back. I could really use the tips!
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Comment by Dana on August 23rd, 2008 @ 6:45 amI just got back from a week at the lake and I shot all photos on auto using my point and shoot.
*shamefully hangs head*
These are great tips though, I never thought of zooming in on the LCD display to see if it was blurry. Brilliant! And the continuous shoot too… also genius.
Thanks! And yay for the return of FotoFriday!
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Comment by Kami on August 23rd, 2008 @ 10:42 amAngella, thank you!
To be honest, I never really read the Foto Fridays because I have a plan old point and shoot camera and really had no idea what you were talking about half the time.
I read this one. I checked on my camera and wondered if this might be why my pictures are so un-crisp and really overexposed looking. My ISO was set to the HIGHEST setting on my camera. So I started playing around and tried out the lowest setting my camera allowed. Wowza! What a difference that made.
Thank you for saving my photos. I’ll be reading Foto Friday from now on.
Wonderful tips!!! Thanks!!
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Comment by Michele on August 24th, 2008 @ 1:45 pmhey Angella:
I saw this today and thought of you and your blog :
http://www.blurb.com/create/book/blogbook
I had never heard of it although you probably have (I am usually about 4-6 months behind, give or take 4-6 months…)
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Comment by kelly on August 24th, 2008 @ 8:30 pmHi Angela. So today I went out with the kids and used some of your tips. I used the low ISO which was easy since it was bright and sunny - 100 I think. And the rapid fire - I used the sport setting and just held down as long or as short as I wanted. I’m in the middle of downloading right now - I can’t wait to check them out. I think I took 165 shots in 45 minutes. Thank goodness for digital!
thanks for your tips, I really appreciate them.
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Comment by monstergirlee on August 26th, 2008 @ 4:50 pm
This is my favorite way to start a weekend!!! Now…if your Foto Friday’s also cleaned my cat boxes and washed the pan that’s been soaking for 3 days, I’d be all set!
Great info, Miz Blitz and beautiful photos.
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Comment by The Over-Thinker on August 21st, 2008 @ 7:00 pm