does it need to be in focus?

sportysnaps

sportysnaps

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martin
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does it need to be in focus?

we all want photos correctly exposed, focused and timed correctly but does it really need to be always?

whilst staged events can be repeated until you have the perfect image, event, news, sport etc you only have one shot....and if you miss it...

if there was only one photo of of the plane hitting the twin towers, and that photo was out of focus - or under exposed - or shaken or incorrectly white balanced but you could still understand what was happening would the worlds press not use it?

with that in mind - can you understand what has happened in the below out of focus photo (of mine from last week) if so it would be interesting to discuss whether it is a usable photo...




tusk9528.jpg


the full story of the the little girl's injuries are to follow...
 
too far gone to be of much use - it's not hard news is it - just hard on her bum!
 
No, I don't think everything has to be in focus. Photography is extremely subjective and everyone will always have a different opinion to the next person etc.

The picture tells a story regardless of whether the girl is in focus or not - I'd say use it!
 
I think people are to hung up on having the latist peace of kit, be it the new wider/faster lens to get sharper shots or the newist full frame tecnologie.

In that sot you can still see whats happened and its paused (what looks like a painful) moment in time

Pin sharp photography is not always great photography
 
It doesn't have to be in focus but using the shot above as an example, then being in focus can make it better.

We don't need it to be crystal sharp to see the girl is in pain but we can't really see enough of her to identify with her without a back-story (if that makes sense :shrug:)
 
Nope - it doesn't always need to be in focus. Oxfam wanted to buy this pic from me. Its not remotely in focus, although seen small it looks ok.



I can see why they wanted it. And I donated it.
 
I think it works well as a shot (different). What I think is amazing and helps the shot to work is that nothing is in focus over the whole frame. With AF these days it usually finds something to focus on.

[S1]Team Sonikon[/S1]
 
sportysnaps said:
tusk9528.jpg
Click to expand...

I really like this photo. I think it being out of focus really adds something that you usaly do not see in most photos.

I say good shot.
 
Now I like that one, I think the fact that its out of focus makes it stand out more - hopefully it was only her pride that was injured!
 
I don't think everything needs to be in focus, but something should. I'm a great believer in using DoF as part of the composition but it only works if there's something in focus drawing the viewers eye. Perhaps your shot could be better with some "shake" added so it reflects the impact whilst hiding the lack of focus.
 
Ironic you posted this. We had a shoot today and my favorite of the bunch was OOF. (don't normally try shots like that, so I was surprised) I think OOF shots can make or break a photo, just depends on how it's used. I really like the shot you supplied.
 
I'd say yes, unless, in the case of a news story, you have a unique photograph - if 20 other 'togs have the same shot then who wants the fuzzy one?
 
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