larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Linda...thanks for steering us back on target and thanks for the reference to the article. I also believe that soft focus can, in some cases, be used to advantage in photographs. In fact, when I was shooting medium format, I had a portrait lens that was designed to be capable of adjustable amounts of soft focus. (I bought it used, but it was quite expensive when new.)

In the referenced article, the condor photo would not have worked if it were not sharp. The landscapes are sharp, but even so, there is a lot of detail that cannot be resolved due to distance making individual rocks, cracks, branches, and so forth not individually visible. They still work. In the case of the individual holding the crocodile, we don't know why the photo was taken. If it was a travel photo intended to document that he had "bravely" held a crocodile, I suppose that it worked with the focus being on him. If he wanted to show a crocodile to his kids or grandkids, then it failed.

Now...back to "docents" for just a second. I was a docent at our arboretum for several years. One of my assignments was touring guests through the mansion which had been the home of the original owners of the property. If I had been a "guide," I'd have just taken folks through the house letting them see the things that they could see and making sure that they didn't bother or break anything. But as a docent, it was my responsibility to have completed training and done my own research so that I could tell folks about the things that they didn't see. About the "whys" and "hows." And about the people behind the mansion. (They were very interesting in unexpected ways.) I wouldn't have cared anything about being a guide. But being a docent was fun and rewarding. There actually is a difference, and there is meaning and significance in the term.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Thank you Linda. "All are my own work" is a mantra for someone who is very comfortable with what the are creating. Until I saw it in your post I had never really thought about it in that light. Because of it's openness my house lacks significant wall space to display very much artwork. Almost every area is hung with my work and I find it to be most comforting. In addition to the personal attachment I like the idea that on any day at any time I can change what is hung in a certain place. I also like the fact that I do not have to suffer with framed art. Frames are designed to distract attention from the artwork they hold so why not just hang empty frames and forget about art? The world is full of great art that is surrounded with stupidity. Keep in mind the real art thieves do not steal the frames, just the artwork inside. "The painting is awful but that frame is soooo lovely". Never heard that before.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

Sharpness is only one aspect of a photo I consider when deciding if I'm going to use it. With my wildlife work, I also look at overall composition, the foreground, background, overall setting, lighting, expression, mood, exposure, depth of field, etc. However, if ANY of those fail - including sharpness - then the image is trash.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

In that case, they will bypass discussions on the term docent and move on the subject they have an interest in.

tommy2 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

You have that right. The museum where I volunteer selects the docent trainees from the pool of guides. The thought that being a guide for a while let’s the person know wether or not they fit into the program.
Then every two years a docent class, equal to a university masters class, weeds out others that don’t want to really dedicate the time. Docents go through mandatory refresher classes throughout the year and special classes on the couple new exibits that fill a gallery or two during the year.
We have a mandatory dozen or so times a year we must guide a tour as well times we wear a “Ask Me” badge and be available to answer questions from a single visitor or two. These times are the most enjoyable.
We are well compensated by a free membership, several dinners and a seasonal party or three - some but not all dinners/parties include spouses.
AND - That is s beautiful soft landscape!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

The OP asked, "How many photographers look beyond sharpness when assessing the merits of a photo for printing (hanging)?" so that's where my brain went; I didn't intend to imply this is strictly a sharp vs. soft-on-purpose discussion.

I included the article for the list that includes Emotion, Light, Composition, Creativity. Steve Perry addressed other aspects a few minutes after you commented. What I got from the OP is something I noticed shortly after joining UHH: a tendency to talk in very narrow terms about technical quality while ignoring the importance of everything else.

Oft-quoted on this site "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept." - Ansel Adams.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Well yeah, who else's work would I hang in my 670 sf apartment 🤗

Your comments echo my thoughts about comfort, but also because photography is such a joyful hobby, I take pleasure in often glancing up from my couch or recliner and gazing at photos that remind me of that special time and place, or of a pp experiment I felt was successful. Like you, I also swap out the pics fairly often.

This is my "critter and bird" wall. The two bird prints on the left were created with textures to be artsy-fartsy

Vietnam Vet

Regis has very sharp images with his 600mm lens https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-571924-1.html

There are times when you want a very sharp image, and times you do not. Most of the time is isn't that important.

jim quist Loc: Missouri

When photographing portraits you don't want extremely sharp images of the face. In film days we used to use soft focus filters for women all the time.

Delderby Loc: Derby UK

Really nice

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Sharpness is one thing to look for in a print, but so are the colors, especially the blacks and highlights, they are almost more important and it usually takes a bit of work to get it just right!

BboH Loc: s of 2/21, Ellicott City, MD

We seem of one mind. I will add that I like sharpness to the degree that the eye sees sharpness which isn't as many images displayed here are. I like do sharpness that picks up on the thought that "Gee - I wish I could see...".

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

My Nikon 200-500 produces as sharp of image as my 200-400 4, and my 300 2.8 prime. Today's zooms like the 14-24 Nikkor and new 16-80 and 16-35, 70-200 2.8 are all super sharp. My 14-24 is as sharp as any of my primes in that zoom range.

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

You are correct Tommy, Photography is an Art form and should be appreciated for what it is.
Don

69vet

And there is a big difference between a mechanic and
technition.