Sharp Photos and Fast Lenses

Trumpeter Swans
Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge, Montana

 

In an earlier post this week, I wrote about the importance of a fast shutter speed to ensure a sharp photo. To get that fast shutter speed, it helps to use a "fast" lens. A fast lens is one with a large maximum aperture to let in lots of light. If the lens can let in lots of light, then you can use a faster shutter speed than a lens that lets in less light. To capture this image of the pair of swans swimming in a pond, I used a lens with a maximum aperture of f/4. I shot the photo with an aperture of f/5 which still made a shutter speed of 1/1000 second possible. The abundance of sunlight shining on the birds also enabled me to use a fast shutter speed.

Learn more tips for making your sharp images in Getting Sharp Photographs, an online class that begins November 1, 2021. Click here to register.