Sharp & In Focus

How important is it for you to have a photograph that is ‘Sharp and In Focus’?

I have been reading some posts made by photographers who do not understand why a photograph should be ‘Sharp and In Focus’.

I believe the subject should be ‘Sharp and In Focus’ and the background/foreground items can be so blurred that you can not make them out.  However, the falloff decrease of sharp to blurred should show a progression.

There are times where a ‘blurred’ photograph is acceptable.  This is when it is clearly understood that the subject is blurred and/or the style is as such.  Yet, it is not to say just because some fool with a camera takes a crappy image that they can call it art because its blurred.  Wrong answer.

You look at the most popular photographs around.  You will notice the subject always has great clarity and is in sharp focus.  The eye needs this focus to locate the subject.  It needs the focus to understand what is being seen.  The Audience wants to be connected to the photograph and if they cannot figure out what it is, or it is so completely blurred/ out of focus they have no clue…. it doesn’t work.

But I will say, if this is your style and you shoot for yourself. Have fun with it.  But do not get down on someone for ‘not-seeing’ what you are trying to express.  Because as a photographer if I have to ‘explain’ the piece, then I did not do my job.

Tags: blur, communication, focus, photography, sharp, value