Sunset Beach near Tampa

[beachcire]

My first post and I am new to photography.

Any suggestions on getting a more crisp image. I use PSE 7 but not too sure how to sharpen up an image.

Nikon D3000
ISO 200
55mm
1/200
F8
+2.0 EV

[navcom]

Sharpness begins before you snap the shutter. Here's my list to get the best image quality possible...

1) Always use a tripod
2) Use a shutter remote control or switch/cable
3) Use the camera's shutter delay option (usually 2 or 5 second delay)
4) Use an aperture between f/8 and f/13 for landscapes whenever possible (best depth of field as well as sharpest images). Only go smaller (larger number) if you really need more DOF. Only go smaller if you have a situation where you really need shallow DOF.
5) Use manual focus or hyperfocal distance focusing.
6) Verify how wind is affecting things. Even a little wind can make anything that's moveable (trees, shrubs, water, etc.) become fuzzy. Sometimes this adds to a composition (i.e. flowing water)...other times not so much (i.e. blurry trees).

For post processing sharpening (just touch up...won't fix a focus problem, etc.), I use the high pass filter in Photoshop.

Hope that helps!