Soft Flow
Detail of a small drop on a small stream.
A part of me wishes that some element within the frame was sharp, perhaps giving the eye something to settle on. But I also kinda like the dreamy feel that the water’s blurring effect imposes. I guess that officially makes me a fence-rider on this image.
Straight Creek Rd, Roane County, WV
I understand your feelings re. sharpness (or the lack of) here. Since quite some time I try to convince myself that “sharpness is a burgeois concept” (I guess it was the great Cartier-Bresson who said this), but for me it still matters a lot as a indicator of craftmanship and competence. But then, the most competent pictures can be the most boring ones, so it certainly isn’t a value for itself.
Here the blur works. And that is important.
August 14, 2012 at 2:08 am
Thanks Markus, I appreciate the well-stated thoughts. I find it uncomfortable when I stray from the “sharpness matters” camp. Apparently there is a deeply rooted expectation somewhere in my psyche that tells me that at least something, even if it’s just one small thing, in an image should be sharp. Very much agree with the idea that sharpness is not a value in and of itself though, so I guess I still have some pondering to do on this issue.
August 14, 2012 at 7:02 am