Most photographers strive to get the sharpest possible picture, although some, including fashion photographer Robert Farber, have built their reputations on soft-focus (and grainy) images.
Several factors go into getting a sharp picture. In this week's column, well take a look at them.
Quality of light
Pictures taken on overcast days, even with the sharpest lens in the world, will look softer than pictures taken with the same lens on sunny days. On sunny days, the quality of light is strong and harsh; it creates shadows that add contrast (and apparent sharpness) to a scene. On overcast days, clouds diffuse the light for a soft and pleasing effect.
Lens quality
The quality of a lens can affect the sharpness of a picture. Usually, you get what you pay for, meaning that the more expensive the lens, the better the quality (although each lens line has its exceptions).
In addition, teleconverters sometimes affect the sharpness of a picture. With some manufacturers, 2x telecoverters are not as sharp as 1.4x teleconverters. Plus, expensive teleconverters often produce sharper pictures (especially around the edges of the frame) than do more affordable converters.
Film grain and digital noise
Grain in film, and noise in a digital image, can affect how sharp a picture looks. The higher the ISO film speed-ISO digital setting, the more grain-noise you'll get in your pictures. So, when you want to take sharp pictures, try to use a slow ISO film-ISO digital setting.
Subject detail
The detail in a subject also affects how sharp a picture looks. If you are photographing a subject with a lot of detail, your picture will appear sharper than a picture of a soft subject. For example, a picture of an old fisherman's face, filled with character lines, would be sharper than a head shot of baby.
The filter factor
Filters can make the difference between a sharp and soft picture, too. Use a good (usually expensive) filter, and it will not affect picture sharpness. Buy a cheap filter, and your pictures might look soft. A dirty filter or a fingermark on a filter can also make a picture look soft.
Shutter speed
The shutter speed at which you shoot can also affect the sharpness of a picture. If you use too slow a shutter speed, you might get camera shake, and the scene will look slightly blurry. If your shutter speed is too slow to
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Dirk van Ulden said:
LittleFoot said:
Good luck. There is no more selfish + ugly community than Burlingame.
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