7 tips to help you achieve sharper photos

You can take plenty of pictures all day, but are you taking quality pictures? A fuzzy picture can look amateur, and you want to achieve professional looking shots as much as possible, even if you are just starting out. Here are 7 tips to help you achieve sharper photos.
As a beginner, getting sharp photos can take practice. There are also a bunch of techniques to help you take sharper photos. Try all of these out or stick to one until you master it, then move on to the next technique.
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1. Tripod
If you don't have one already, invest in a sturdy tripod. These are great at reducing camera shake, helping you take sharper images. Hang a bag of rocks or sand to make your tripod extra sturdy. Don't make your tripod too tall or it may fall over.
2. Sharp aperture
Use the sharpest aperture you can. Of course, make sure the shutter speed and exposure are aligned with the aperture to create the best image possible. An aperture of f/8 should be ideal, which is 2 to 3 stops away from most wide aperture.
3. Low ISO
A high ISO can cause digital noise to show up in your image, reducing the sharpness. Use the lowest ISO setting that you can, such as 100 or 200. Make sure all your other settings are working at this ISO as well, so adjust accordingly.
4. Remote cable release
Pushing down on your camera's shutter release button can cause the camera to shake, producing a fuzzy photo. You want to avoid this at all costs. Using a remote cable can prevent a shaky camera. These work well when your camera is on a tripod. You can also use the self-timer on your camera. Set it on at least 2 seconds to get a sharp photo.
5. Burst mode
Taking photos repeatedly while pressing on the button can cause a shaky shot, especially if your hands and finger are getting tired. Take shots in burst mode to take a bunch of pictures in a small amount of time, without having to push down on the shutter button each time. Have a memory card with you to install the pictures on, since taking pictures in burst mode uses a lot of space.
6. Fast shutter speed
Using a fast shutter speed will slow down or eliminate movement from showing up in your shots. Keep the shutter speed at 1/focal length. Use a shutter speed of 1/200 for a 200mm lens, for example.
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7. Post processing
Changing some things around using a software program such as Photoshop can also increase the sharpness in your photos. Go to filter, then sharpen, and finally, unsharpen mask. Use Amount 100% with a Threshold of 4 and a Radius of 1.5 and change things around from there to increase the contrast between lines in your shots.