Does Sharpness Matter?

Or is it a bourgeois concept? Let me know what you think.

[@mattdayphoto]

Knocked this out of the park, man. Well done.

[@aristoioannidis7490]

Matt Day on your frequency Matt!

[@dirtywater5336]

I'll refer to something that a wise, old photographer friend of mine once told me. He said it to me when I was expressing why I wished I used a slower speed film that I used for a particular shot, noting that I thought it had too much grain and I wanted a cleaner image. He said "If someone insists on studying the amount of grain in a photograph rather than its content, then I believe they are missing the point" That really resonated with me. From that day forward, I stopped caring so much how sharp an image was. I stooped pixel peeping and making sure everything was tac sharp. I just enjoyed the image for what it was and embraced the grain in the film I shot it with. You're right. When I look at some of my favorite photographs by other photographers, I rarely look at the sharpness or even grain size for that matter. I just appreciate the photo for its composition and the mood it portrays.

[@aurelgergey3534]

That one made my day. People are sooo obsessed with the wrong criteria these days. A real relief, thanks for the vid!

[@Harvieowen]

Does Sharpness Matter? Somewhat, but to me it is FOCUS that matters and...no not "is it in focus" but what is the focus of the photograph? What did the photographer see that made him/her press the shutter? The photograph you used in this video is a fine example of that...so many things going on, so many stories to tell, all in 1 simple "click" of the shutter. Excellent video!

[@johnrobinson5955]

It is not simply in photography that we see this, in my opinion. I have read that today, their are young pianists who can play any piece of concert music in front of them, without a technical mistake. I have heard that today, their are young jazz soloists who can throw any style of technical performance at you, with "perfect" intonation, and yet, one seasoned listener said, "I could not remember any of it." He could not remember any of it, because it was soulless. "Perfect", but empty. Of course, these are general observations of what seems to be trending, nowadays. You take the late Roy Hargrove, clearly an exception in his generation. In the grand scheme of things this "perfection" trend seems inevitable. Greatness will always be rare, in all things. Orson Welles said once, "anyone can make a good film; just look around. But a great film!!!!!"

[@hidekigomi]

Love it. Don’t feel trapped in the middle of FF lovers, pixel peepers, ibis enthusiasts, and flip screen admirers by reading all the review sites. They are not always photographers.

[@briansanderson5084]

A classic example of this is the picture of Paul Simonon smashing his guitar on the cover of the Clash's album London Calling. Pennie Smith did not want them to use the photo because it is far from technically perfect. Q magazine named it the best rock n roll photograph of all time.

[@uglybassist]

This actually plays into part of why I got back into film. I was way too concerned with how many pixels were there, how sharp it was, or how the dynamic range would turn out. And I wasn't taking images for the enjoyment necessarily. Once I started shooting 35mm I stopped caring about so much about how sharp or well resolved an image was or if something was "good enough" to photograph. These days I pick a camera I have fun shooting with, go for a walk, and if something happens to catch my attention , I photograph it.

[@rosszpenz]

Exactly my case too. And in return, I get a lot more likes on my “non-perfect” 35mm photos on IG too so it seems to work for the public too.

[@777millertime777]

Very well said, Erik! Isn't it funny that the very thing that bored most of us out of the digital world (clinical, pristine, uninteresting photos) is the same trap we sometimes fall into in the analog world? Embrace the grain, don't sweat perfection, and focus on what's in front of your lens instead of the elements inside it.

[@ropersix]

Totally agree. Except that it's worth noting that, contrary to 1:47, sometimes people DO like to look at photos that are clearly out of focus. Uta Barth is the best know practitioner I know of, of the out of focus look. And she's pretty successful (in the art realm). Photography is a very diverse and flexible medium, and sharpness is only one small aspect of it all.

[@louiebodenstaff6772]

This is the best advice I have heard about photography ... ever!!!

[@FreezerKing]

Good pictures just have something about them that is kind of intangible and hard to quantify with sharpness charts and dynamic range whathaveyous. Imagine somebody saying a book is great because all the words are spelled correctly and the font is pretty.

[@ErikWahlstromPhoto]

This. Cormac McCarthy makes up words and doesn't use punctuation. He's still my favorite writer.

[@LucasPassmore]

inyojelly I’m reposting this and will credit you. This is amazing.

[@raymondotoole6467]

Well, what am I supposed to obsess about now! Great topic. Cheers.

[@fragmentoresco]

This obsession with sharpness is based on the fact that it is a factor that can be easily show and sold by manufacturers and influencers. The composition and the ability to create content of interest are something you gain with study, work, effort and time, you can not make a new 100 meters world record just wearing expensive sportwear.

[@jacobsack]

Massive eye opener, great KZbin channel and I'm glad I've discovered it

[@TheSuperAldrich]

Does anything really matter anyway?

[@joshrock]

It's strange how often your videos are on topic to what I've been thinking about recently. I have an 1972 set of time life photography books that I often flip through that feature great work, past and present (present to 1972 that is)and one thing I often notice is that almost none of the images would pass the pixel peep critique that today's photos have to endure, yet they are no doubt timeless in their beauty. Thanks for the thoughts Erik.

[@barrycohen311]

Well...duh.... Modern photography has been taken over by computer hobbyists and vidiots. With no knowledge whatsoever of art, even at a kindergarten level, all they can do is compare specs.

[@shadinasti441]

I've never heard this quote before and it is perfect

[@BTCAsia]

Excuses, excuses...polar vortex, 30 below, the dog ate my negatives...c’mon man! Just kidding, great video and spot on IMHO.

[@RealLuckless]

Sharpness only matters to the point that you can clearly see the details that are important to the image. If the details aren't important, then sharpness probably isn't going to improve on them.

[@albertosalas285]

So glad I found your channel. A gear detox I was looking for

[@Stego86]

this is good content. very good content. More art less gear.

[@JefferyAHoward]

I agree 100 percent! More art and less gear is a powerful perspective! We need more of that, and more of the artist! I like your comment.

[@davehyper7835]

Could not agree more!

[@smith85ben]

100% agree

[@johnLee-bb2do]

Good job Eric!

[@kwchalky02]

👍 Yes. Agree. Well put. I think there is a similarity between this and the reason that some people (myself included) still appreciate vinyl records. There is a lot more to enjoying an album than simply the lack of background "noise" and some of the "imperfections" can give character and don't detract from an appreciation of the composition. (Most important of all of course are the large record sleeves filled with glorious album art! 🤣)

[@gregorylecomte90]

Well said ! sharpeness doesn't equal importance of the content.

[@1spitfirepilot]

Excellent. Well said.

[@ruudkuiper5515]

Hi Erik, our minds are on the same level about this topic, thanks for this great video 👍🏻👍🏻

[@raymorgan4337]

Thanks. A breath of fresh air.

[@pracman61]

Well said. Content is everything, the role of equipment is secondary. The main criteria for gear is "is it easy to use, will it get in the way, will it allow me to realize my vision?"

[@paulcastone5664]

I love videos like this, technical but not in the weeds. It drives creativity and inspires, and anything that causes inspiration is worth it's weight in gold. Great job keep up the good work.

[@arthursese6068]

Absolutely. Sensor size, noise, and grain don't matter. Specs don't matter. Composition, light, and seeing the emotion in the shot are what truly matters. The best camera is the one in your hand, and that camera is your phone with depth mapping and an Instagram filter.

[@Harlequin565]

These are my favourite videos. Refreshing to hear an opinion just laid out and not rammed down anyone's throat. I have 2 street photos I'm proud of. Both were taken at slow shutters of moving people so they are really blurred. I'm still proud of them though because they recorded that moment. Do I *wish* they were sharp though? Yeah - I think I do. Well... sharp"er" at least. More commentary videos please. Really like them.

[@JefferyAHoward]

I love this video! I love the photos you showed in this video, the points you made and your use of Henri Cartier Bresson's work to illustrate your point! I love the point you were making and the way you worded and described it! I have been watching your videos for years and always liked them, but this one is special. You hit a home run, and broke the bat on this one Erik! This video is inspiring and powerful and beautiful. Very nice work!

[@AdamKoebel]

this is a really beautiful sentiment, presented cleverly and beautifully. I'll absolutely be subscribing from here forward.

[@joshuarhea1648]

Your right! Wow! Well said!

[@ricdonato4328]

Excellent explanation. At 5:03 you used anxious. Be aware anxious come from Latin, angers. It meant to chock or strangle. Anxious, think anxiety, dread, and the like, are all negative. Eager (a positive word) is the word that should have been used.

[@alanholzmanphoto]

Wonderful video.

[@theflyest203]

My favorite photography video to date! Amazing video man!

[@ministrinity2830]

Subscribed and hit the bell simply for this video. Make more of them to inspire us! Gear is irrelevant!

[@yorkieinnz4648]

Nice...Great narrative, great voice, great subject. Thanks.

[@ErikWahlstromPhoto]

Thanks. I hate hearing my voice, but I appreciate it.

[@ayenoppa4717]

As I have said that you just the best of narrative contents on film so 👍 and yes couldn’t agree more!

[@ericredard3411]

Nice video. Love the ones you make like this.

[@ErikWahlstromPhoto]

Thanks Eric.

[@Bonsees]

love the message! Also great to see you uploading again :D

[@chrisbrown6432]

Well put. I searched for this as it was something I have been thinking of for a while.

[@ManuelGuzmanPhotography]

Great perspective on the issue, Erik. Always enjoy when you put these out! Cheers.

[@erichstocker4173]

Loved it and agree. I also strife for sharpness and perhaps too much. However, like you showed if we want art photography, it has to be about feeling that the viewer gets and the photographer put in the photo. I actually love the 35mm look for some things.

[@scottalanphotography]

Your videos like these are the best on youtube!

[@aengusmacnaughton1375]

Sharpness is in the eye of the beholder. When is "Sharp" sharp enough? When the content is communicated, not the medium.... Thanks Erik! Hey -- just catching up on your videos -- waiting on your 35mm project results with those unique film stocks!

[@zguy95135]

Sharpness matters to photo nerds, for the general public the emotional response is what matters

[@davidapatino]

So very on point Erik!!!! well said!!

[@Bb4r]

I get your drift man, and I agree. Great post. Keep the good stuff coming.

[@aristoioannidis7490]

Outstanding stuff Erik!

[@bcomeault]

Always look forward to your videos!! Glad you lived through the vortex. We are still in it here in Middle Canada. ✌🏻

[@davehyper7835]

This is brilliant! Thanks for sharing superb content!

[@dda.visuals]

It's time to bring back this awesome video and make some noise out there about this topic in 2023!

[@brockburlando702]

I so agree with everything you said! Way to go.

[@DavidPattonPhotography]

Excellent video, well said! I've been thinking about taking on this subject as well but I don't think I could to it any better than this, great job!

[@KristaMichaels]

Loved it! Great video. :)

[@rosszpenz]

Well put. I went to film too for street and art photography too. HP5@1600, lens at f/8-11, perfect for street and a lot of fun. Sharpness, bokeh and perfect exposure is overrated or at least wrongly interpreted nowdays.

[@TheBryan1284]

...so well said.

[@3orangeDots]

There is a life lesson here. Humans sometimes get carried away worrying about being perfect instead of being happy with what we have. Perfection isn’t what we think it is. And imperfection is real. Too woo woo? Ok sorry lol

[@JohnCBurzynski]

Spot on!

[@AJGuel]

Great vid Erik!

[@fffeuchtner]

Well said!

[@tjompen1968]

As always, thoughtful.

[@1717jbs]

Good stuff Erik!

[@CornishMotorcycleDiaries]

Only the other day I was boasting about the sharpness of my Zeiss macro lens (hell yeah, Zeiss!) but I don't think I took a single really sharp image with it that night, well maybe one.

[@dangerpowers123]

Great Channel 👍

[@JoeyShip]

This is why I watch your videos

[@Jondor]

Guess that when you have an issue with a photo not being tack sharp, there's a bigger problem with an apparent lack of something else catching your attention.

[@richardg6109]

Your timing is impeccable, Erik. I recently discovered that I was subconsciously attempting to replicate digital resolution and sharpness. What's the point? Fantastic video, Erik. Looking forward to the 35mm series.

[@JohnSmith-gs4zv]

Can you please do some videos about composition? I really liked this style of video.

[@benmason1980]

Well put

[@richardsimms251]

Great vid

[@BMRTV]

4:14 The photos I took of my son with my Twin Lens Yashica-A when he wouldn't stand still are still some of my favorite images I've ever taken. Man I miss that camera. I think my goal this year will be to see if I can get back to that look/feel with my Fuji X-T1.

[@davidlegault2749]

I can't sleep now because maybe , my lenses aren't sharp. My Zuiko 180 f2.8? My M-system Zuiko 50 1.4 , my Zenza Bronica 40mm, my Zuiko 21 f3.5, my Zuiko 85 f2, my Shneider Klaus 150 mm f5.6, my Fujjinon 90mm f8, Oh, I forgot the flat field macro sruff, Shneider 35 Super Angulon at 35,000🏈 I guess I was wrong to buy all that glass when people and buyers are so concerned about sharpness, something they will. Never perceive in the ART.

[@davidlegault2749]

Sharpness is just a con in the game. Some of my best stuff was done with a Cokin 87 pastel filter. Thereby intentionally doing away with any idea of sharpness! When viewing works at any exhibition, people don't inspect the edges of an11x14 print, nor do they need to know all the technical details involved in the works being exhibited. Just the other day I played with my Nikkor Ai-s micro 55mm (on D5200) at f32 and 6 seconds for a table-top shot of old Olympus gear. Razor sharp, but then again, I don't use lenses to shave my face, or skin a deer. Try a Buck 124 for that. Enough said,,,

[@padesig]

Try Lith print, is amazing, is a darkroom process and results are outstanding. And, is based on paper grains, not film grains. Repeat again: results are amazing.

[@AlexScene]

Pixel peeping and striving for perfection is part of why I haven't been excited for digital cameras for a while. Digital is fantastic, convenient, in many ways better. But it just isn't exciting. Not right now at least. That's why I will never stop shooting what I started with, film.

[@andrewreynolds1217]

Interesting ideas for sure, sharpness can’t convey emotion or mood.

[@thomaseriksson6256]

I dont use modern equipment, my digital cameras is at least 10 years old, but I like to be able to choose so that the lenses dont set the limit but the cameras does that as I have the D700 and the D800E. I'm saving for a 2nd hand D850. I still have Mamiya 7iii, HB 503CW and Fuji GW690iii analouge equipment but sold of my 135 systems. I'm looking for a 2nd hand 65mmF4 lens and a 350mm to my HB.

[@FrankWalsh]

More of this.

[@ErikWahlstromPhoto]

That's the plan.

[@Alodri]

@@ErikWahlstromPhoto How about does composition matter? Does content matter? Intentional happenstance photography? The undecisive moment :P

[@nelsonm.5044]

Before autofocus sharpness was not such an issue, with film sharpness is not as an issue as it is when you look af digital photo. The grain of the film goes hand in hand with the lack of sharpness you can get with manual film camera

[@krapotkin71]

i find that people often confuse sharpness with focus,., and a hypersharp picture tend to look synthetic and fake,, most of the time oversharp images feel dead no matter its subject..

[@stevevlc.testsite4176]

what is the background music?

[@ErikWahlstromPhoto]

I don't remember but it's definitely from the KZbin audio library.

[@stevevlc.testsite4176]

@@ErikWahlstromPhoto i found it (dusty fingers by DJ williams shots fired)

[@peshrawable]

does it sharp? dose it sharp ? does it sharp ? does it sharp ? does it sharp?

[@anders6418]

Nice refreshing video, well done!!!

[@jasono9358]

You're hiding inside because it's -30 fahrenheit, I'm hiding inside because today's forecast is for 100.4 fahrenheit ( Perth, Western Australia)... and no, sharpness isn't that important to me anymore, I think as you progress your skills you get past that "stage" of technical perfection.

[@mexicodirk]

Depending

[@lanchanoinguyen2914]

that photo is shaper than my 8mp smartphone camera.

[@ErikWahlstromPhoto]

It’s almost certainly not.

[@mefourb]

Is sharpness, as Cartier-Bresson said, a bourgeois concept? Maybe. But, to me, so is shooting full-frame without cropping, which -whether or not Cartier-Bresson actually "said",- was certainly one of the dogmas that he certainly promoted. A fascist concept? Not to mention his legendary quote regarding Weston, Adams, et al, whom he claimed to "photograph rock and trees, while the world falls apart" .. as if to say that photojournalism was the only "valid" type of photography which could exist. So, Cartier-Bresson .. feh. His points may well be valid, but to take with a grain of salt. Let us, each, be our own judge. Therein lies "Art".

[@bagazheful]

Am I the only one who thinks hcb boy photo is reasonably sharp? You should have used Robert Capa's work to illustrate. Your family photos are also sharp what's the point?

[@ErikWahlstromPhoto]

They're all "reasonably sharp". My point is that none of them would stand up to the sort of scrutiny much modern digital photography is subjected to. I hope I adequately conveyed that. I feel like we're having two separate conversations. Either way, thank you for watching and commenting.

[@michelangeloc.4265]

Monet was not sharp.

[@ErikWahlstromPhoto]

Facts.

[@nocommentnoname1111]

Well said!