Ford Lauron
@ford.lauron22 Jun
Is sharp focus necessary for a good street/documentary
Hello, how do you guys feel about having sharp focus? Is it necessary for a good photo? especially in street/documentary? When I started diving into the genre 3 years ago, I always shot with my Sony a7rii and vintage manual-focus lenses, and it can be challenging at times when an opportunity arises suddenly. I guess my dilemma is whether I should try an auto focus lens, and if so, what are some good 50mm lenses out there compatible with Sony?
Hello,
I don’t think sharp focus is an absolute requirement for a good photograph. It’s a requirement for some photographs, but not all - no way.
Timing, composition, gesture, expression, light and storytelling will almost always outweigh technical perfection. Some of the most memorable images ever made are slightly soft, grainy, or imperfect because the photographer prioritised capturing the moment rather than achieving clinical sharpness.
In my own work I strive for ambiguity where to shoot slow, dragged shutter or absurd through texture make a more interesting image sometimes.
You'd be best to outline a contact sheet of shots you want to get (Replicate, repeat or match a similar image). That would tell you if your kit is limiting you at all?
Got it, thank you. My inspirations have always been the 20th-century photographers. Although their gear may have been limited compared to now, their images remain timeless.
I've seen so many examples where the technical imperfection of the photograph didn't affect it's impact. Always liked this one by William Klein. Although I'm pretty sure any assertion that it was done on purpose out of experimentation are exaggerated! https://www.michaelhoppengallery.com/artworks/5129-william-klein-big-face-big-buttons-new-york-1955/
This is a good example. Thank u!
Absolutely an early photo bomb!
We featured John Simmons in one of our magazines and my favourite image of his is this one called Love on the bus, 1967.
Notice how the couple are out of focus? Notice how it doesn’t matter one bit? :)
Wow. Thank u for putting me on.
in my opinion, For street and documentary photography, I don't think critical sharpness is what makes a photograph good. Content, timing, gesture, light, and storytelling matter far more.
Many of the classic street photographers shot images that wouldn't pass today's pixel-peeping standards.
Right. Thank u for your feedback.
Exactly this. Bresson’s photos were all over the place if you look closely. Missed focus. Wild exposures that were notoriously difficult to print. None of it mattered.
It took me an awful long time to come to this conclusion and it took to take a photograph of my cat too close to the lens where out of the 20+ images I took was the one that worked the most was the one that was too close to focus on.
Now most of my absolute favourite photographs would score so low on the technical precision scale by today's standards.
One of my personal favorite shots is out of focus on the main subject, but i think it still works and adds to the character. Also on a vintage lens which i only used this one time.
Depending on what you are shooting manual can be superior in many ways. A lot of reflection shots or shooting through material is much easier and faster with a manual. Tbh i think if you get good and are shooting a wide variety of styles, manual is probably better in most circumstances, but most people don't want to commit to the higher initial skill floor.
I've actually found it to be much easier shooting manual focus. For me it's f/8 and be there, with a wide angle (usually 28mm on full frame). Figure out what your hyperfocal distance is: ~3.something meters at f/8 on 28mm and everything ~2m away from me up to infinity is "acceptably" sharp. Which with a modern lens in my case is incredibly sharp 😅. I only go to autofocus when light gets too low for f/8 and ISO 640. Or open up the aperture, set to hyperfocal and take a few steps back.
What a frame here! Thank u for the insight.
Shoot what you want and in a style that you love.
I prefer in focus shots but I started out shooting car racing and out of focus shots did not get published when I started shooting that subject. The days of manual focus lenses had passed by that point.
I think at the end of the day it about taking an impactful image that resonates with people.