What constitutes sharpness? (Page 2): we have burst shooting for those who have not developed an eye for timing, bracketed exposure for those who can't read the light. Guess now we can...

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

rook2c4 wrote:

I agree.
But developing an impulsive obsession with sharpness can lead to a path of never-ending sharpness test images, usually lacking in creativity, ideas and sometimes even good composition.

we have burst shooting for those who have not developed an eye for timing, bracketed exposure for those who can't read the light.
Guess now we can look forward to bracketed focusing for those who just don't want to be bothered with such mundane tasks.
Or perhaps some form of social media where all the photos ever taken reside and we just steal the ones we like?

Every time we take a photo, whether it is to record an event or tell a story, we have three tasks.
Focus, exposure and composition.
Of theses i feel focus is the most important.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

rook2c4 wrote:

I agree.
But developing an impulsive obsession with sharpness can lead to a path of never-ending sharpness test images, usually lacking in creativity, ideas and sometimes even good composition.

I do agree that too much emphasis on "technical correctness" can quickly stifle creativity. Impressing your peers with your mastery of the mechanical and technical side of photography isn't the be all and end all of the art/craft/skill of photography, it is just a subsidiary part of it. The combination of all of the various criteria go to making an image, that one of those criteria isn't fulfilled to the maximum can be more than compensated for by the other criteria.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Graham Smith wrote:

I do agree that too much emphasis on "technical correctness" can quickly stifle creativity. Impressing your peers with your mastery of the mechanical and technical side of photography isn't the be all and end all of the art/craft/skill of photography, it is just a subsidiary part of it. The combination of all of the various criteria go to making an image, that one of those criteria isn't fulfilled to the maximum can be more than compensated for by the other criteria.

Yea! Graham - you have put it succinctly. When does sharpness either overcome, or compliment, the emotional impact of a photograph?

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

jim hill wrote:

Yea! Graham - you have put it succinctly. When does sharpness either overcome, or compliment, the emotional impact of a photograph?

I'll be brief with my answer Jim. It's indefinable other than when you actually view a picture. Of course the next person will have a different take on that picture. And that is the way it should be.

Nightski

jim hill wrote:

Yea! Graham - you have put it succinctly. When does sharpness either overcome, or compliment, the emotional impact of a photograph?

Graham Smith wrote:

I do agree that too much emphasis on "technical correctness" can quickly stifle creativity. Impressing your peers with your mastery of the mechanical and technical side of photography isn't the be all and end all of the art/craft/skill of photography, it is just a subsidiary part of it. The combination of all of the various criteria go to making an image, that one of those criteria isn't fulfilled to the maximum can be more than compensated for by the other criteria.

I agree completely with both of you in many instances, but I do not think that this fundamental truth should be used as an excuse when the focus needs to be tack sharp. And sometimes the focus needs to be tack sharp. I have an anima image myself where the focus is not all over tack sharp.

http://500px.com/photo/91626729/take-off-by-sandra-nightski?from=user_library

It's about the motion. Not every one will like it. I've broken all the rules, I've cropped off animal parts too, but this is not what I am talking about .. i am talking about an animal portrait. The eyes must be tack sharp. Please provide me an example of an instance where a the eyes in a portrait do not need to be tack sharp ... and have a catchlight ... just sayin'

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

Nightski wrote:

I agree completely with both of you in many instan... (show quote)

Well Nightski - I love that image. You have made the point. Not all animal or people pics need be sharp. Most do - especially portraits - like most of the bird photographs on this site. Seems like a contest as to who has the sharpest. And, I think that's good, IMHO. Keeps photographers on their toes

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Nightski wrote:

I agree completely with both of you in many instan... (show quote)

Going back to Don's cheetah's, my point is that this picture is plenty sharp enough to fulfil it's purpose, that of a picture of an animal in it's environment. We could argue ad infinitum over whether certain pictures are sharp or not sharp. To decide which is sharp or the sharper would require "scientific" analysis, by that I mean all the viewing parameters must be equal. This just will not happen with pictures on the web. There are too many variables, the acuity of the vision of the viewer, the device on which they are viewed, a large hi-spec calibrated monitor, a cheap laptop, a tablet and so forth.

Nightski

Graham Smith wrote:

Going back to Don's cheetah's, my point is that t... (show quote)

I understand, Graham. I will be careful to remember that in the future. I still do think that Don's picture could have been better if he had a catchlight in the eyes and if the colour of the eyes was visible. I really do think that it brings an animal or human being to life. I do not wish to pick on Don anymore though .. I'm sure there is a good reason why he could not be at an angle to catch the light, and maybe when you are on a safari like that you can't make the choice to just wait until the animal moves a bit to the optimal composition.

Nightski

I just posted a shot of a deer I got out in the wild. I thought the eye was sharp. If anyone would like to stop by and give their thoughts on the matter and, or give me any advice for next time, I would be grateful.

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-269000-1.html

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Nightski wrote:

I understand, Graham. I will be careful to remembe... (show quote)

Pictures could always be better :-)
On a safari you cannot leave the vehicle when you are near dangerous animals, you are at the mercy of the driver and his skill in positioning the vehicle. Circumstances don't always (often) allow the driver to position optimally.

Nightski

Graham Smith wrote:

Pictures could always be better :-)
On a safari you cannot leave the vehicle when you are near dangerous animals, you are at the mercy of the driver and his skill in positioning the vehicle. Circumstances don't always (often) allow the driver to position optimally.

That's why Art Wolfe says it's important to get a good driver .. he stays in contact with a driver that he liked and he even talks about the best kind of vehicle to look for when choosing a driver. LOL

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Nightski wrote:

That's why Art Wolfe says it's important to get a good driver .. he stays in contact with a driver that he liked and he even talks about the best kind of vehicle to look for when choosing a driver. LOL

But Art probably hires the truck and driver exclusively for himself, most people have to go on an organised safari along with a group of others that may have different priorities to yours... they want to move on to see the hippo's :D

Allen Hirsch Loc: Oakland, CA

Graham Smith wrote:

But Art probably hires the truck and driver exclusively for himself, most people have to go on an organised safari along with a group of others that may have different priorities to yours... they want to move on to see the hippo's :D

That's a reason to do a photo safari only - at least that way, all in the jeep have (in theory at least) the same objective.

Nightski

Graham Smith wrote:

But Art probably hires the truck and driver exclusively for himself, most people have to go on an organised safari along with a group of others that may have different priorities to yours... they want to move on to see the hippo's :D

Yes he does. But he does workshops and he takes a group of people with him to help him pay for that. He is in control though. But he does say a good driver can make or break your trip.

Nightski

I wonder how much it costs to get your own driver. :shock: