wind: Hi, I am hesitant to ask this question for fear of being torn apart. (some people on this forum can be brutal). Here it goes. Can wind cause noise or focus issues? I took photos...

Andrea Loc: Naples, Florida

Hi, I am hesitant to ask this question for fear of being torn apart. (some people on this forum can be brutal). Here it goes. Can wind cause noise or focus issues? I took photos on the beach with remnants of Tropical Storm Debbey stirring up the wind. My photos were noisy and the focus seemed soft. Thanks everyone.

Andrea Loc: Naples, Florida

That one is not so bad. I will post another one

Andrea Loc: Naples, Florida

I sharpened in PP

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Focus issues can be caused by a number of things. Wind is not high on my list, but if there is enough it could push you around while you are trying to focus causing it to be a little soft. The photos' focus don't look bad even when zoomed in. You do seem to have a bit of vignetting at the corners though. Do you have a non-manufacture lens hood or several filters on? It isn't bad and almost adds a bit of mood to the photo, but it is there.

Andrea Loc: Naples, Florida

I added the vignette in lightroom. do you think i should take if off?

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Andrea wrote:

I added the vignette in lightroom. do you think i should take if off?

Oh no, its fine then if you added it. I worried it was a mistake.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

St3v3M wrote:

Focus issues can be caused by a number of things. Wind is not high on my list, but if there is enough it could push you around while you are trying to focus causing it to be a little soft. The photos' focus don't look bad even when zoomed in. You do seem to have a bit of vignetting at the corners though. Do you have a non-manufacture lens hood or several filters on? It isn't bad and almost adds a bit of mood to the photo, but it is there.

I agree with St3v - wind might make you move a bit but in and of it'self wind would not cause noise

RMM Loc: Suburban New York

I don't think the vignetting does anything for these pictures, except to make them look dreary. And it's hard to judge focus, or anything else, if you don't check the "store the original" box when you upload.

I'm not a fan of vignetting, especially dark vignetting. Maybe for portraits of the Addams family.

Andrea Loc: Naples, Florida

Thanks Uncle Fester

TonyB Loc: Cornwall UK

It looks to me that the main problem is not noise, but soft focus, possibly caused by the wind buffeting the camera. Did you use a tripod? Even if you did wind could cause it to vibrate. What shutter speed did you use, the faster the better in windy conditions.
I think the vignetting makes them look vintage, at first glance I thought they were taken in the thirties, but it gives them a certain charm.

Andrea Loc: Naples, Florida

I did not use a tripod. I used a 24-70 lens. setting for first photo was 1/320 f 6.3 ISO 100
the second was
1/320 f8.0 ISO 100.
Do you recommend a SS faster than 1/320?
I like the vignetting as well. Thanks Tony

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Very nice photos, Andrea! I especially like the first one: the power of an enormous ocean and the fragility of a young child. I would be tempted to crop off the bottom, right under the child's reflection.
Your second one is nice, but has issues with the lighting on the faces...perhaps a fill-flash could have helped.
Am I being picky enough? You were scared that we would be mean.
Great job, Andrea, you have a good photographic eye!

Ugly Jake Loc: Sub-Rural Vermont

Andrea wrote:

I did not use a tripod. I used a 24-70 lens. setting for first photo was 1/320 f 6.3 ISO 100
the second was
1/320 f8.0 ISO 100.
Do you recommend a SS faster than 1/320?
I like the vignetting as well. Thanks Tony

I would have guessed a much higher ISO - from the length of the shadows, it was early / late, but to use 1/320 should be good. The wind can very definitely buffet you, and cause camera shake. The other thing that can give you soft focus, if you autofocus in lesser light, you can get complaints form your camera - mine is a yellow box with an exclamation point. AF uses contrast to decide where to focus - you will note there's not a lot on these subjects. If the situation comes up again, (Light colored subject with light colored background), try manual focus instead. If you check "store original" we can see more detail, and offer a more informed opinion.

chilla1142 Loc: Windaroo, Australia

I like these shots and how you have 'edited' them. Nice.

And as for the wind. Is it possible that the slightly soft focus is the result of sea spray in the air, or even on the lens itself?

Andrea Loc: Naples, Florida

Thanks Danilo. I love advice and I am very open to accepting it. I am on this forum because of all the knowledgeable people. I just don't like when people make rude comments. I don't mind negative comments but rude is unacceptable to me. So, back to the photos. I am going to crop it and see how it looks. The Mom of the children wants to make it into a canvas.
I have a speedlite, next time I am going to put it on! thanks again.