Lesson 110: Got Blurry Images?

In Smartphone Camera lesson 110, you will learn the step-by-step process to diagnose and correct blurry photographs.

Got Blurry Photos? If your cellphone pictures are consistently blurry, the first step to diagnose the problem is to inspect your image. 

If everything in the image is blurry, follow the below 6 step guide:

  1. Clean your lens: Over time, dirt and fingerprints can accumulate on the lens, leading to blurry images. Try wiping the lens gently with a soft, clean cloth to remove any debris.    
  2. Keep your camera steady when taking the picture 
  3. Add more light: low light adds more noise to your image while slowing the shutter speed.  Slower shutter speeds will blur any movement of the subject or the camera while the image is being generated. 
  4. Restart your phone: If none of the above solutions work, try restarting your phone. Sometimes, this can help reset the camera app and fix any bugs or glitches that may be causing the blurry images.   
  5. Update your software: Make sure that your cellphone software is up to date with the latest version. Outdated software can also affect the quality of your pictures. 
  6. Still blurry: your camera may need to be repaired

If something but not the subject of your image is in focus then:

  1. Tap the screen to focus on the correct subject: Most cellphones have autofocus, which means the camera will automatically adjust the focus to ensure the subject is sharp. If the camera is struggling to focus, try tapping the screen where the subject is to help the camera focus. 
  2.  Add light to the subject:  Smartphones use a number of mechanisms to focus. One of them looks for sharp contrasts between light and dark also known as contrast. The camera analyzes the contrast between adjacent sections in the image to determine the sharpness of the image. The camera then adjusts the focus until the image is at its sharpest point. The more light on your subject, the more contrast and the better the focus.

Pro Tip

Photography is about capturing the light.  Adding more light can often cure a blurry or noisy image.