Photography The section to share and discuss photos you took and talk about camera gear.

sharpness vs composition vs noise?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 13, 2024 | 10:26 AM
  #1  
jerseydrew's Avatar
jerseydrew
Thread Starter
Safety Car
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,029
Likes: 568
From: Morris county Dirty Jersey
Default sharpness vs composition vs noise?

which would you give on if you had to? because i have seen great composition images that lack sharpness and they are still okay. i have seen stunningly sharp images that are blah with composition and they are okay. i am somewhat ok with noise because i understand that in low light it will just be there and you have to deal with it if you want the shot at all.
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2024 | 03:40 PM
  #2  
Snowwolfe's Avatar
Snowwolfe
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 8,448
Likes: 906
From: Alaska
Default

Being sharp and in focus does nothing if the photograph is not enjoyable to look at.
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2024 | 10:56 PM
  #3  
Oh 2 Fun's Avatar
Oh 2 Fun
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,867
Likes: 769
From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
Default

So......a couple of examples I have where I can't tell if the soft focus is a problem with the auto-focus or because of the weather and subject. But......regardless, I still am drawn to them.



Reply
Old Feb 14, 2024 | 10:10 AM
  #4  
Nitro-C5's Avatar
Nitro-C5
Moderator
25 Year Member
St. Jude 15 Year Donor
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,118
Likes: 3,757
From: Charlotte NC
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'25
Default

I agree with what others have said. To that point I like to contrast the difference between something that is a "sharpness" issue vs. a "focus" issue. To that point I have many photos that I think are pretty good but not really that sharp due to potentially several reasons (soft lens, atmospheric haze, poor post processing techniques, extremely high ISO then softening too much)...but (for me anyway) if I miss focus I always delete.

Although sharpness is important, IMO the subject matter is significantly more important. A less sharp photo of "something" is better than a crystal clear shot of "nothing"

Below is probably one the best examples I can think of as an example. It not is a sharp image but off the charts significant.


Reply
Old Feb 14, 2024 | 02:05 PM
  #5  
Snowwolfe's Avatar
Snowwolfe
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Veteran: Air Force
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 8,448
Likes: 906
From: Alaska
Default

My photograph of a wolf caught in a snow storm on the first post in the Wildlife sub section is an example of where softness actually helps an image.
Reply
Old Feb 16, 2024 | 07:49 AM
  #6  
StayinStock's Avatar
StayinStock
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,337
Likes: 5,108
From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Default

I think it really depends on what your photographing and what your doing it for. If im shooting for a high end client on an automotive shoot it better be tack sharp where it needs to be. If I'm shooting a landscape for myself its not nearly as important.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To sharpness vs composition vs noise?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:53 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE