Are photographers too hung up on sharpness?
Discussion
I think sharpness is relative. I'd settle for 'in focus'. In the digital domain, sharpening just exaggerates edges and gives an illusion of sharpness.
I generally judge an image technically as well as artistically, and I'm not sure you should get sloppy on one just because the other is good.
I generally judge an image technically as well as artistically, and I'm not sure you should get sloppy on one just because the other is good.
Simpo Two said:
I think sharpness is relative. I'd settle for 'in focus'. In the digital domain, sharpening just exaggerates edges and gives an illusion of sharpness.
I generally judge an image technically as well as artistically, and I'm not sure you should get sloppy on one just because the other is good.
yep its just all too often I now see people complaining something isnt sharp enough (different to focus) but today many equate sharpness to focus.I generally judge an image technically as well as artistically, and I'm not sure you should get sloppy on one just because the other is good.
I think it's generally because in most of the soft shots it's a problem how it was shot or the kit's let them down. Focus as Simpo says but also too aggressive cropping and enlarging, lenses stopped down too much etc etc.
Now lenses are generally much better and everyone has enough pixels it's hard to get a soft shot (with filters etc) unless something is wrong (assuming you're not defocussing for a reason).
Now lenses are generally much better and everyone has enough pixels it's hard to get a soft shot (with filters etc) unless something is wrong (assuming you're not defocussing for a reason).
then I move swiftly on. Simpo Two said:
snip.
I generally judge an image technically as well as artistically, and I'm not sure you should get sloppy on one just because the other is good.
I'm with Simpo on this you need both combined to make a great image. Being a superb technican with no artistic sense means beautfully executed but dull pics and being a superb artist without technique could mean you are not as successful as you would like in conveying that artistic vision.I generally judge an image technically as well as artistically, and I'm not sure you should get sloppy on one just because the other is good.
Lots of photographers are too worried about sharpness, MP of the camera, vibration reduction, which tripod head, which lens etc etc. No doubt a lot of this can be important in helping you to achieve your aims but it should not be of paramount importance. I'm not preaching from a high horse here I'm as guilty as the next person of this but trying to be better.
What we should be concerned about is trying to make the best image we can by working at / mastering the technicalities and then putting our artistic slant on whatever we are trying to photograph.
Anyway enough of the seriousness, hopefully it will remain nice here and then I'm going to try and get out to the opening of the festivities for the 125th anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge tonight
Chris
I think that those people who are hung up on sharpness are mainly viewing images on a monitor
and use that electronic ability to look at huge crops of parts of their photos which then display a lack of quality.
They lose sight of the equivalent paper size to which they have enlarged their image.
and use that electronic ability to look at huge crops of parts of their photos which then display a lack of quality.
They lose sight of the equivalent paper size to which they have enlarged their image.
Elderly said:
I think that those people who are hung up on sharpness are mainly viewing images on a monitor and use that electronic ability to look at huge crops of parts of their photos which then display a lack of quality. They lose sight of the equivalent paper size to which they have enlarged their image.
Agreed. If I have to lighten the shadows on a shot taken at highish ISO, then noise can appear. But then I remember that most photos are printed at 6"x4", if at all, and it simply isn't going to show. I might reduce sharpening if it's bad, but I've never had any comments on noise. 99% of people simply don't see it, they see the subject. (However my clients are generally public, not some hardened picture editor!)
stigmundfreud said:
With digital came the ability to try for super sharp images. I think in modern times it seems everything must be sharp but is it to the real detriment of photography in that a great image is possible scoffed because it isnt "sharp"?
Sharpening is one of the few technical aspects of photography which most people can identify, even non-photographers. A sloppy photographer will most likely make many mistakes; often over compensating in areas in order to make up for sloppiness in others.How many times have we seen a compositionally poor photograph assaulted with the saturation slider in order to squeeze out of it any semblance of 'attractiveness'? For perfect examples look at any one of 99.9% of HDR photos on the net.
Sharpening is the same IMO. When done well it looks amazing, but often it just looks crap with halos all over the place.
i have a problem focusing sometimes, for example one of my favourite shots of this model is this:
sadly the focus has just caught the wallpaper just in front of the model, although i really like the image becuse of the focus issue i'm leaning toward using this instead:
which in my opinion is nowhere near as nice in terms of composition etc. just the focus is in the right place.
sadly the focus has just caught the wallpaper just in front of the model, although i really like the image becuse of the focus issue i'm leaning toward using this instead:
which in my opinion is nowhere near as nice in terms of composition etc. just the focus is in the right place.
Scho said:
i have a problem focusing sometimes, for example one of my favourite shots of this model is this:
sadly the focus has just caught the wallpaper just in front of the model, although i really like the image becuse of the focus issue i'm leaning toward using this instead:
which in my opinion is nowhere near as nice in terms of composition etc. just the focus is in the right place.
Whats her name and telephone number???sadly the focus has just caught the wallpaper just in front of the model, although i really like the image becuse of the focus issue i'm leaning toward using this instead:
which in my opinion is nowhere near as nice in terms of composition etc. just the focus is in the right place.
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