BrettOssman wrote:
...I typically judge a photo at a normal viewing distance, as a whole. I don't zoom in and look at it. However, I know this type of analysis is the norm in the industry. What is the purpose of zooming in so close to analyze a photo, when you can't see the issue(s) without zooming? Is it for printing or blowing up? Thanks :-)
I also think it is an excellent question, and I think it belongs here because it's a critique question. My own take on the answer is, it depends: I tend to think "normal" viewing distance is "comfortable" viewing distance, and it is relative. Viewing distance scales to the size of the original. Looking at prints, say, if you have a 4x6" print in your hand you'll probably look at it quite close, no more than around 18 inches, for the purpose of seeing details. If you take the same picture and enlarge it to, say, 8x12", you're apt to hold it about twice as far away, arm's length to get it all in
comfortable viewing distance, but you can also get closer to see detail. Enlarge it again to billboard size and you'll probably want to be 60 or more feet away. A picture that big will start to break into component pixels if you get too close and you'll see nothing.
I am a "sharp freak," so I like to check my own stuff at 100% to be sure it's in my "acceptably sharp" ballpark (which also varies), but I tend not to worry a lot about "noise" (which I persist in thinking of as "grain" ;) ). That's because I also consider "noise" to be relative (as opposed to noisy relatives :D ). I will accept a noisy picture if it's sharp enough since at "comfortable" viewing distance, which is relative, I'm more likely to notice fuzziness than noise. Very generally I will not show a picture that is not sharp.
I very much enjoy this new forum, but I often do not weigh in on a particular picture because, being a "sharp freak," that is the first thing I look at, and I like to look at the download. If someone submits a bird picture I look at the bird's eye in the downloaded version. If it's not sharp, quite honestly, I'm apt to move on without comment, but that's my predilection. The picture may otherwise be gorgeous, but for me if it's not sharp
:cry: