Steve McCurry Sharp

One of the fun and quite frankly, thrilling things that digital imaging has been able to deliver that film never did, is the ability to give you truly razor sharp images. Yeah, we had sharp images in the film days, but not like what we can get now. With the digital cameras ability to grab detail and photoshop's many techniques in sharpening, we have surpassed film by miles. Over the past two Lumen Dei workshops we developed an expression that might be taken disrespectful toward the Guru of travel and world photographers, Steve McCurry. The expression is, "Steve McCurry sharp". It is not meant to be disrespectful. Let me explain and give Mr McCurry his truly just dues. First, Steve McCurry is outstanding and has set the bar for all of us to reach for in our photography. But once you visit an exhibit of his you will notice something odd. Many of his images are slightly soft. Some of the focus is soft, others there is slight movement. You can't say this is bad, when the man defines "excellence". Prior to digital images, one would never had noticed these things. When we shot film we were never we able to get the sharpness we are used to now. But something else is happening. Let me illustrate it here.

This is full frame. Click to enlarge.

Here is a shot that all my readers will know. It is of a little Gujjar girl in Kashmir. One of the fun things about this image is it is so very, very sharp. Here is the EXIF data from the image:

Camera: Canon 5D
Exposure Time: 1/500 sec
F-Number: f/3.5
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
ISO Speed Rating: 400
Exposure Bias: -1 EV
Metering Mode: Pattern
Focal Length: 85.00 mm

I was, if I recall correctly, a good 6 to 10 feet from her. Below you will see that this image is so sharp, that you can see the scene behind me, when I photographed her, reflected in her eyes.

Click to enlarge.

So what is all this about? Why blog on how sharp digital images are? We all know they are sharp. Is it because this makes me better than Steve McCurry? Ha! If only that were true! No, it is because I bet you have started doing something that I have found myself doing. That is tossing away images that are not razor sharp. Any slight softness, slight movement and out it goes. I found I get so obsessed with sharpness that I loose sight of the beauty of an image. I don't see the moment in the image for the slight blur. For an image to work it doesn't have to be this sharp. Maybe even sometime it shouldn't be. Let me show you some images that I almost tossed, but I have now changed my mine and feel they are worth keeping even though they are not all that sharp. I will compare a nice sharp image with a soft or even blurred image taken at the same time, but a different "moment".

Click to enlarge.

Here is a shot of a man clutching his Qu'ran. It is a nice image. Sharp. Yes, there is glare in his glasses. But, even with out the glare there is emotion missing here. It is not a bad image and technically it is perfect.

Click to enlarge.

Here is the same man a few seconds earlier. His head is bowed and he is not looking at the camera. But the look give much more emotion, a since of thoughtfulness, or contemplation. You don't get that in the previous image. The soft focus or movement as it is here, work to make this a stronger image. Let's look at an even more stark example.

Click to enlarge.

Here is a similar shot. A Ladakhi woman sitting looking off to the left of the frame. A nice shot, right? But look at what the much softer shot below communicates.

Click to enlarge.

Here she is holding the beads to her head and there is real emotion here. Yet, this image is soft by all account. Not with movement, just soft focus. Now I admit, I should have been better at nailing the focus, and I think this might have been a better image had it been in focus. But does this make this image unusable? Not in the least! In fact this image is fast becoming one of my favorites.

I want to make sure you understand me. I am not talking about accepting sloppy camera work. But none of us get it right 100% of the time. I have known I am capable at getting razor sharp images like above, so I have not even looked at some of my more emotional images if they are soft. Of if I did, I cursed under my breath at my bad luck and tossed the image out.

All I am saying is we need to not forget what is good art. I cannot continue to throwout soft images just because I know I can get razor sharpness and didn't get it. You cannot say that McCurry's images are any less impressive or beautiful because of the softness of film or camera movement. So, if it is good enough for a Master like McCurry, I think I need to stop and realize technology has, dare I say, blurred my vision. I am missing the art for the mechanics and in danger of trashing some real jewels.

A Response to Selling Out

This is a follow up to Anonymous. I have written it here because I want to make sure it gets a broader readership than it would in the comments. Anonymous feels America is "selling out for profits." I think it is far worse. I believe America has it's head in the sand and is resting on its historic laurels. Like any great photographer or actor or any creative person, you are only as good as your last creation and we have not had any great ideas in a long time. The new ideas, in manufacturing, technology and ways to compete are all coming from places like China, India and other Asian countries. We are losing because we don't compete in the new market. We're living a reality that is 25 to 30 years old. Read The World is Flat, by Thomas Friedman. Here is a short excerpt from the Amazon description. It addresses this very point.

"Globalization 3.0, as he calls it, is driven not by major corporations or giant trade organizations like the World Bank, but by individuals: desktop freelancers and innovative startups all over the world (but especially in India and China) who can compete--and win--not just for low-wage manufacturing and information labor but, increasingly, for the highest-end research and design work as well. (He doesn't forget the "mutant supply chains" like Al-Qaeda that let the small act big in more destructive ways.)" - Amazon Books

I think that makes my point. America is asleep at the wheel when it come to change, whether it be in manufacturing or the ever-growing threat of a right wing Islamic fundamentalism. Note here, I am not saying we need to be fear mongers nor do we need to be building higher walls. But we do need to understand that there is an agenda and we can not combat it with bullets. Reading between the lines, you may have formed the conclusion that I'm a pacifist. Well, I don't think I am, at least not yet. I think America has a right to defend herself, but weapons are not going to squelch an ideology. We are not fighting the Soviet Union any more that we are competing in the world's economy with big business. The times have changed. The World is Flat, and we need to understand it.

World Domination

I don't usually write about something other than photography or travel or things related to them. But, this is somewhat personal as I lived in India for over 13 years. Tata Motor company has introduced a new car that almost anyone can afford. It is the One Laptop for Every Child of the automotive industry. It is called, believe it or not, the "Nano". Move over Apple. It comes in three models, the cheapest of which is only $2,500. This model comes with no AC, no electric windows and no power steering. The design is very cool looking, especially if you think of it as the "every man's" car. It is also interesting to note they are referring to it as "The Peoples Car" That was they exact same name Hitler gave his car the "Volkswagen". How will they market it in Germany?

The Tata Group is huge, I mean monstrous. If you are not living in India, you may have no concept. But those of you that do, know what I mean. They make everything from refrigerators to tea and coffee, from watches to cell services. The last week of 2007, Tata Motors announced that they are going to buy Jaguar and Land Rover. Hmm, maybe they are going to take over the world?

The Sick and Dying

North of Chiang Mai, Thailand there is a little village that gives the refugee Karen people a chance to make a living simply by opening their homes to prying tourist. At first I thought this was really invasive, to have a complete stranger walk through their homes and take a picture of them doing their daily chores. But then as I thought about it and spoke to some of the residents, my opinions changed...to a point. This set up provides these people a safe haven and constant income and helps keep their traditional way of life alive.

There is a downside for me and I think for other globe trotting photographers, it also gives every Jane, Dick or Harry a chance to be a "Travel Photographer" and get that exotic image. Thus, the unique perspective of the hard to get to place is gone forever. The exotic image is considerably less exotic. It makes the journey more like a trip to Epcot rather than a true adventure. I had been feeling this for sometime. But when I saw one of the same faces I had photographed at this village in Thailand in someone's else's Blurb book I realized it was true. Yesterday David duChemin summed it up in his blog entry Travel Photography is Dead. I could not have said it more eloquently.