📷 Why Are My Photos Blurry? All the Reasons and How to Fix Them
You've taken what you thought was the perfect shot, but when you look at it later, it's blurry. Frustrating, right? 📸 This episode breaks down all seven main reasons your photos might be blurry and gives you practical fixes for each one.
In this episode, you'll learn:
✅ How camera shake ruins photos (and the proper technique to eliminate it)
✅ The reciprocal rule for shutter speed that prevents blur
✅ Why your focus might be off and how to manually control it
✅ How to handle motion blur in your subjects
✅ When shallow depth of field becomes a problem
✅ Why a dirty lens makes everything soft (and how to keep yours clean)
✅ How high ISO affects apparent sharpness (and when to use a tripod)
Whether you're using a camera or your phone, these seven fixes will transform your photography. From the breathing technique that stops camera shake to the simple habit of cleaning your lens after every shoot, you'll get actionable advice you can use immediately.
📸 What You'll Learn:
✅ Tip 1: Camera Shake - You're Moving When You Press the Button
Learn the proper holding technique, breathing method, and when to use a tripod.
✅ Tip 2: Wrong Shutter Speed for Your Focal Length
The reciprocal rule prevents blur. Using a 100mm lens? Minimum 1/100th second.
✅ Tip 3: Your Focus Is Off - You've Focused on the Wrong Thing
Manually select the focus point and always check your shots.
✅ Tip 4: Your Subject Is Moving - Motion Blur
Learn exactly what shutter speeds you need for different subjects.
✅ Tip 5: Shallow Depth of Field - Not Enough Is in Focus
When to close down your aperture to keep everything sharp.
✅ Tip 6: Dirty or Smudged Lens
Clean your gear after every shoot - takes 30 seconds, makes a massive difference!
✅ Tip 7: Low Light and High ISO - Noise Disguising as Blur
Use a tripod to stick to ISO 100 for the highest quality.
📱 For Phone Photographers:
Everything applies to phone cameras too! Hold with both hands, use the volume button to shoot, tap to focus on the right spot, and clean that lens regularly!
🔗 Related Episodes:
Episode 222, The Best of The Photography Explained Podcast: 29 Essential Photography Tips That Actually Matter
Episode 220, The Photographer's Eye: See a Great Photo Before You Take It
Episode 152,
My brand new course Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico, will teach you exactly how to get out at sunrise and come back with photos you love all told in plain English. it includes real footage of me photographing an actual sunrise in Mexico with an entry level camera. Find out more at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.
If you want to start taking stunning sunrise photos, and why wouldn't you, check out my Photography for Beginners: Sunrise in Mexico course at rickmcevoyphotography.com/courses.
Get your question answered
This is what my podcast is all about: answering your photography questions. Just head over to my shiny new website to find out more about me, my podcast and my photography.
Thanks very much for listening
Cheers from me Rick
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