Here’s a distressing problem that we’ve all encountered in the past: You come across a beautiful scene at the right time of day, the light is gorgeous, you brought the right gear, and can’t wait to view the “epic” shots on your computer. But alas, even though you nailed exposure and composition, all your images are unsharp.

Ouch! There are several reasons your photos may be blurry, ranging from incorrect camera settings, and improper technique, to a crappy lens or the failure to use a tripod when shooting with slow shutter speeds. Whatever the cause, this can be really disturbing, and the problem can occur when shooting both moving and stationary subjects.

If this happens to you with regularity, here’s the bottom line: You have a problem that needs to be fixed right away. The first step is determining the cause of blurry results, and we posted a tutorial earlier explaining how to diagnose the problem— with some solutions being more difficult (and costly) to resolve than others.

The good news is that today’s lesson from the Photo Genius channel discusses a fix that’s simple (and free) if the problem is that you don’t understand the concept of “plane of focus.” This episode runs barely five minutes, and covers all the basics for improving your results.

Paul Farris is an accomplished pro from Brisbane, Australia who has been teaching photo workshops for over 14 years. So pull up a chair and cross your fingers that your only mistake is a failure to understand how plane of focus works. If so, this is your lucking day!

Farris explains why “focal plane” and “plane of focus” aren’t quite the same. His basic tips on the latter are really easy to understand, and just as simple to put into practice. He provides both diagrams and photos to illustrate his advice.

You’ll learn how the plane of focus is determined by camera-to-subject distance—running parallel to the camera’s sensor. As the theory goes, “any subject that falls along this plane will rendered in sharp focus.” Other areas of a scene that are in front of (or behind) the plane of focus could be sharp or burry depending upon the f/stop in use and other considerations that Farris reveals.

Farris’ YouTube channel is full of helpful lessons with simple solutions to nagging problems, so take a look and subscribe.

And don’t miss the tutorial mentioned above, explaining how to diagnose what’s causing your out-of -focus images.

Dynamic Range is a very important concept to understand when evaluating the performance of your camera or purchasing a new one. This specification is also a key aspect when editing your photos, as you’ll see in the tutorial below.

In simple terms Dynamic Range describes the range of brightness or luminosity that a camera can capture in a single image, and some cameras have a broader range than others. Entry-level cameras usually fall short in this area, but you can remedy this problem by shooting multiple photos of the same scene with different exposure settings and merging them during the editing process.

German landscape pro Christian Mohrle describes everything you need to know about this topic in barely 15 minutes so you can shoot and edit the best images possible with whatever camera you use. As he says, “When a camera has a wide Dynamic Range it can capture all of the details in both bright and dark portions of a scene.”

Conversely, cameras with a narrower Dynamic Range don’t lack the necessary bandwidth—often resulting in images with overexposed highlights, crushed shadows, or both. With the explanation he provides you’ll be able to achieve more balanced, natural looking photos.

As you’ll see, limited Dynamic Range is one reason landscape scenes with a wide array of tones appear different through the viewfinder than they do on the computer. Mohrle explains this common anomaly by comparing a camera to your eyes, noting that, “the human eye can compute an insanely wide Dynamic Range.” Even the best cameras available can’t match this acuity of tones.

Once Mohrle gets you up to speed on the basics, he then demonstrates an editing technique for achieving maximum impact, and you can get the job done equally well with either Lightroom or Photoshop. There are a variety of simple methods for accomplishing this task, including adjustments to contrast, highlights, and shadows.

By following Mohrle’s tips you end up with images that are more in line with what you saw with your eye. And you can find more helpful lessons like this by paying a visit to his YouTube channel.

Last week we posted another important explainer, discussing why low ISO settings can ruin your photos. So be sure to check out that one too.

The only thing worse than not using the photo gear you have is not having the photo gear you want to use. But there’s an easy way to turn the tables: sell or trade in the equipment to MPB, the largest global online platform to buy, sell or trade used photo and video gear. Get the ball rolling with a free, instant online quote—without commitment. Every step of the process is easy, safe and fast, and you get your money sent directly to your bank. MPB even picks up the tab when you ship a product to them.

That 100-400mm f/5.6 zoom you thought you needed to stalk your birdfeeder didn’t work out and now sits cramped in a backpack in your closet. We’ve been there—believe it. Or maybe you’ve outgrown your beginner camera and need some serious hardware. These are symptoms that tell you it’s time to trade in or sell your retired photo, video and drone gear to MPB and move on to some new gear.

Don’t Wait for Summer
Winter is full of photo opportunities if you have the right equipment and know where to aim your lens. Here are some idea starters to get you motivated.

Outdoor photography in the dead of winter often involves snow, ice and/or freezing rain. If you drive an early model DSLR or mirrorless and lenses that lack weather-resistant construction, consider trading up to a newer body like an Olympus OM-D model that has water resistance and can be used with less risk of permanent damage. Time to get outside and enjoy the winter wonderland.

If cold and nasty weather deadens your photographic urges, stay indoors and explore the exciting world of macro photography. You’ll want a tripod for best results, and MPB can also help you there. In addition to delivering the best close-up performance, macro lenses generally make ideal portrait lenses. A 50mm f/2.8 full-frame macro equates to an 80mm f/2.8 when used on a Canon or Nikon APS-C DSLR, for example. The 80mm focal length is perfect for headshots and also allows you to get very close to your subject to explore tiny details. And the f/2.8 aperture provides attractive bokeh and helps separate the subject from the background.

Wintertime is also family photo time. Grab casual snaps of the kids in action, shoot carefully choreographed portraits for posterity and capture video of happenings that will be fun to reminisce about 10 years later.

What about your photo bag or backpack? If you’ve outgrown the one you have, sell it or trade it  in for something more suitable.

Level Up Your Game Frugally
To offset the cost of new gear, sell or trade your idle equipment at MPB. Founded by Matt Barker in 2011, MPB has more than 300,000 customers worldwide. MPB trades thousands of cameras and lenses every week. They check, grade and photograph every single item, and back it with a six-month warranty. Unlike most other photo retailers, MPB focuses only on used equipment, providing you with unrivaled access to a vast range of photo and filmmaking products.

And here’s a fact that will blow your mind. On average, customers earn $900 each time they sell to MPB.

If you’re like many avid photographers, there are probably some DSLRs or lenses you really wanted when they first came out but couldn’t afford at full price. MPB may have that model in stock in their huge inventory right now—and at an affordable price. Trading in becomes trading up to the camera you used to only dream about.

MPB: Easy as 1-2-3

1. Instant Quote
MPB’s online appraisals are free and fast. Simply enter the model name and condition of the product you’re selling and indicate whether there’s another item you’d like to buy in exchange. Even if you’re not trading or selling, MPB is a great place to make your next purchase.

2. Free Shipping
MPB pays for shipping when you send your gear in to verify the condition and consummate the deal. You can change your mind right until the last second, too.

3. Receive Payment
You get your money fast when you sell to MPB. You don’t wait for a “check in the mail.” As soon as MPB receives your gear, they check the items, confirm the quote and send the money to your bank account. Payment is quick and secure.

Take a Tour
Visit MPB’s platform and look around. There’s a good chance that you’ll find something you want to buy from MPB’s vast inventory of used photo and video tools during the selling process. If you’re in more of a buying mood than a selling mood, MPB is the place to get a great deal. MPB thoroughly inspects and photographs every item before posting it for sale. When you order from MPB you receive the item that’s pictured in the listing and it’s protected by a six-month warranty.

Open a free MPB account to unlock faster checkout, manage your transactions online and get more relevant content. The MPB website is a wealth of product information, pertinent interviews, podcasts, competitions, gear guides, how-to tips, videos and other content of interest to photo and video storytellers.

Remember: The only thing worse than not using the photo gear you have is not having the photo gear you want to use. Sell or trade in your beginner camera for a more pro model. Sell the lenses you no longer use and trade them for some you will use. Visit MPB today and get the information you need to make an informed decision.

—Shutterbug Staff

Photo By Randy Robbins

Today’s Photo of the Day is “Puma Concolor” by Randy Robbins. Location: Lassen County, California.

“In the fall and winter months, I use trail cameras and camera traps on my property to target local wildlife,” explains Robbins. “This mountain lion has a favorite path of travel about 100 yards behind my house in Lassen County, California.”

Canon T7, three Nikon SB28 speedlights mounted in trees, Camtraptions passive infrared wireless trigger, Camtraptions flash trigger/receivers.

Want to get your images in the running for a Photo of the Day feature? Photo of the Day is chosen from various galleries, including Assignments, Galleries and Contests. Assignments have weekly winners that are featured on the website homepage, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To get your photos in the running, all you have to do is submit them.

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