Tips on capturing sharp image.

[kob5]

Hello,

I am new at this, but I’m wondering some tips on how to make the building stand out and look crisp? I find when I edit the sharpness the image looks worse. Having same problem with chairs photo, I assume it is because it is low light? It is taken on a canon rebel t7

I know I need practise but I appreciate any help you can give. Thanks.

 

[Jeff15]

Hello and welcome, start with the basics, are you holding the camera completely still.?

 

[kob5]

Hello and welcome, start with the basics, are you holding the camera completely still.?

I try my best but I have a tripod otw from Amazon!

 

[smoke665]

There is no metadata included in the image file so I'm winging it. When asking for advice it's advisable to include your settings or save them in the metadata.
It's not necessarily the focus, but a combination of things. Your camera, tries to arrive at a proper exposure for middle gray, but snow messes with that. In your image it's overexposed by a half stop, and likely shot at a high ISO. The snow, flat light and settings have all contributed to a lack of contrast in the image, which gives the appearance of lack of focus.

Increasing ISO is a decision that should be made when you want a faster shutter speed. Faster shutter speed can make it easier to eliminate camera shake, but isn't always needed. Sometimes a good exposure at a slower speed can be just as sharp, especially if you're on a tripod. Hand holding at slower shutter speeds takes practice but it can be done. Even with my advancing age, I can successfully hand hold down to 1/30.

When shooting snow it is advisable to switch to manual, set your meter to spot and sample different areas of the scene. Taking the highest setting and subtracting the lowest setting will give you the dynamic range of the scene. If that range is within the capabilities of your camera then your good, change to average metering and shoot. If that range exceeds your camera capability then you'll need to bracket several exposures at different settings and combine (in camera or post).

This is what your image looked like cleaned up in LR.