Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I am not sure how Sunny 16 would work in an indoor shot like this. Also, the exposure seems to be fine - so Auto or Program mode isn't going to help.

Totally agree on developing a shooting technique and composition. Subject matter is obvious, but perhaps it could be helped by better posing, but for this type of shot, there isn't much you can do. A change of venue to a larger room or even outdoors could help.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

With the camera set to Auto, set the camera on a tripod or something steady. Use the Autofocus and then the self-timer to trip the shutter. Do the same thing by focusing manually. If the pictures are blurry, it's an equipment problem. If you're truly new to photography, I would recommend shooting in Auto mode for a while. When you use Aperture mode, select a shutter speed that gives you good exposure, as indicated in the viewfinder.

Silverman Loc: Michigan

Hello;
I too am a relative beginner in DSLR Photography (2.5 years now.), I have read many online articles offering suggestions, advice, etc., I have also watched many, many, online Videos explaining different aspects of Photography, but the best advice I might give is "Practice,Practice,Practice" what you learn, "Trial & Error" will be a learning process too. You will not learn everything immediately, it will take time, effort, and Practice.
"Baby-Steps" will be necessary. Basic DSLR Photography principles, like balancing ISO, Aperture, Shutter-speed, known as the "Exposure Triangle". Remember "K.I.S.S." (keep it simple silly), and you will progress in your Photographic education, as I am presently learning, so will you.

jwn Loc: SOUTHEAST GEORGIA USA

shoot some photos in "A" auto and see how they look. use the DPP software supplied from Canon with your camera to and review your photos. if they look good in "A" then begin work on your skills. and above all read the manual !!!!!

DaveC1 Loc: South East US

In addition to the other good recommendations above: According to the Exif data this is only a 1920X1280 pixel image and your camera is a 24MP camera; change the settings in the menu to raise the resolution of the image that the camera stores.

You can also get better depth of field by stopping down that lens to something like f8.

vova

Thanks to all.

Lucasdv123

I have to agree with grandpaw.

Sunnely Loc: Wisconsin

I wholly agree with Silverman. I am also a beginner with DSLR photography (about 3 years). Actually, started with Lumix ZS50, a point&shoot (P&S) camera. I thought it was a piece of cake until I switched to DSLR. Then all sorts of problems started to pop up from focusing to exposure to what-have-you. Then it dawned on me, when everything else fails, read the manual. OK, did that, too. Even got recurring headaches reading the manual's micro prints. Didn't help. That's when I decided to really get serious.

First, I enrolled in basic digital photography class in a local community school. I learned about composition, the holy trinity of ISO, Aperture, and Shutter speed, proper exposure, and focusing, etc. I remember our teacher would give us projects and would shout, "Don't bring back snapshots. I want composition!"

Second, bought me a used manual (with pictures - important for me) on my DSLR camera. Read with your camera with you. Familiarize where they are what they do.

Third, YouTube. It seems like everything you want to know about anything is on YouTube. (Caveat: Do your due diligence. Buyer beware. Investigate before you invest.) I find the following tutorials very helpful: Steve Perry's, Mike Wallace (Adorama), Spyro Henriades (corny but good), and Froknowsphotos (silly but good). I'm sure there are other competent lecturers but can't follow them all.

Fourth - I consider the following as the most important 3 words in digital photography: PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! Learning digital photography is a marathon, not a sprint. No short cuts.

Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I'd guesstimate that about 99 times out of 100, "problems" are user errors and nothing is wrong with the camera gear. So odds are, it's you at fault, while your camera and lenses are fine.

You appear to bring up two different issues... focusing and exposure... that need to be addressed separately. Both are complex and involved subjects that are too much to try to cover well in a forum post.

Your T6s has a very capable, optical viewfinder based, 19-point phase detection AF system. All points are higher performance "cross type". (That system was introduced on the original 7D, and slightly "dumbed down" versions of it were later used in 70D, T6i and T6s.) Learn how it works and how to use it at
https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/explore/the-power-of-canon-autofocus?cm_mmc=FB-_-Camera-_-AF-_-02-28-17
and https://www.learn.usa.canon.com/app/pdfs/quickguides/CDLC_Accurate_EOS_AF_QuickGuide.pdf
Your camera doesn't have all the features covered in those articles. For example, it doesn't have Dual Pixel Autofocus in Live View. It uses a form of contrast detection, which is an older and slower type.

It would probably help you to buy a guide book specific to your camera: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=canon+T6s&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Acanon+T6s
I'm familiar with David Busch's and David Taylor's books and can recommend them. Conversely, I'm really not a fan of the "Dummies" series of books, but other people like them and find them helpful. Some of the other guide books available might be good too... I'm just not familiar with them all (read the reviews).

Guide books like those supplement the manual that came with the camera. (Canon's printed manuals are often abridged... you might find a PDF download from the Canon website has additional pages and more info.)

While the guide books and manuals cover both autofocus and exposure, with the latter you might find Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" even more helpful. https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Fourth-Photographs-Camera/dp/1607748509/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1529937000&sr=1-1&keywords=understanding+exposure Buy it, read it, study it, learn it.

Bob Boner

Get a tripod and use it.

JeffinMass Loc: MA

Sine the camera doesn't do anything while sitting there I would post some here so we can give you some assistance. A blurry picture could be the result of many issue. Slow shutter speeds. Pushing down on the shutter release to hard and quick. Not in focus.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

What I'm seeing is soft on the left and sharp on the right which tells me your aperture is wide open. Shooting inside you need more light than you think to get a shutter speed that's sufficient to get a sharp image and to get that you have to have a wide open f-stop / aperture and that will minimize your depth of field so subjects that are just slightly closer to you (like on the left) will be soft while subject on the proper focal plain will be sharper. Was this with flash? Also a new photographer often doesn't realize that they are moving as they press the shutter button. Practice keeping your hands still when shooting and press shutter button softly. Your hands have to be really steady at 1/60th and below otherwise you need a tripod.
I do think that it's you and not the camera. You just need more time to learn.

JeffinMass Loc: MA

I agree with what you just wrote.

tropics68 Loc: Georgia

If you have a tripod set the camera up on it and put the mode into AUTO and set the delay timer for 10 seconds. If no tripod you can use a sturdy surface like a table instead. The key is to take as many of your actions/movements out of the equation. If your pictures are still too "blurry" for you (the sample you provided is not horrible), then you may have something amiss in your camera or lens.

Getting a book on the exposure triangle (the relationship between shutter speed, aperture, and ISO) is a terrific idea. It is the most important thing to learn and understand.

Good Luck

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

First suggestion: Start at basics. Look at how you hold the camera. It must be absolutely still. How do you push the shutter button? Don't poke it, squeeze down steadily and smoothly. After you are sure that those two techniques are firmly accomplished, then start reviewing modes, settings etc.