{"id":63872,"date":"2017-08-26T03:40:46","date_gmt":"2017-08-26T10:40:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=63872"},"modified":"2017-08-26T03:44:18","modified_gmt":"2017-08-26T10:44:18","slug":"why-does-image-quality-matter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/26\/why-does-image-quality-matter\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does Image Quality Matter?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Uji
Uji sunset, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t so obsessed with \u00e2\u20ac\u0153image quality\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and what does it even mean?<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How do you define \u00e2\u20ac\u0153image quality\u00e2\u20ac\u009d?<\/h2>\n
\"Cindy
Cindy picture of ERIC sleeping in Ryokan. Uji, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First of all, what is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153image quality\u00e2\u20ac\u009d?<\/p>\n

I think in a general sense, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153image quality\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is the aesthetic pleasure you get from a picture.<\/p>\n

For example, when I shoot a picture, I want to feel good, excited, joyful, or pleased from my picture.<\/p>\n

Sharpness is overrated<\/h2>\n
\"Coin
Coin Laundry. Uji, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\n \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sharpness is a bourgeoise [snobby and pretentious] concept.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d – Henri Cartier-Bresson<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The wrong thing in photography: photographers judge \u00e2\u20ac\u0153image quality\u00e2\u20ac\u009d by how sharp the images are.<\/p>\n

I personally think sharpness is overrated. Why? You get distracted from the most important thing in a picture… to EVOKE some sort of emotion or feeling in your heart and mind.<\/p>\n

My Photos are too harshly processed<\/h2>\n
\"Uji
Uji urban landscape, 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Image quality means different things to different folks, depending on your aesthetic tastes.<\/p>\n

Some of us (myself included) love REALLY HIGH CONTRAST. Others of us prefer more subdued tones.<\/p>\n

Whatever your aesthetic taste, there is no \u00e2\u20ac\u0153right\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153wrong\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. I prefer bright and acidic arabica espressos from Ethiopia, but you might prefer a dark roast Robusta from Dalat in Vietnam. There is no \u00e2\u20ac\u0153right\u00e2\u20ac\u009d flavor, just know what tastes good to you. Some coffee snobs I know are \u00e2\u20ac\u0153coffee Nazis\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00e2\u20ac\u201d not allowing you to put sugar and cream into your coffee. I personally like my coffee black, but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m not gonna stop anyone else from having their coffee the way they like it.<\/p>\n

What are your aesthetic tastes?<\/h2>\n
\"Uji,
Uji, Kyoto Urban landscape. 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In photography, Aesthetics is highly subjective to you.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m like the Burger King of photography,<\/p>\n

\n You can have it your way.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I have aesthetic preferences in photography. For example, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like a lot of details in the shadows of an image. I prefer heavy grain and contrast. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153clarity\u00e2\u20ac\u009d slider, or the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153HDR\u00e2\u20ac\u009d look. And of course, I will give my students feedback on how they process their images, from my point of view.<\/p>\n

\n But all of my feedback and constructive critiques are just suggestions, not \u00e2\u20ac\u0153rules\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ignore the photo Nazis<\/h2>\n
\"Uji,
Uji, Kyoto Urban landscape. 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You make your own rules in photography. Never let anyone else dictate what is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153good\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bad\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in photography.<\/p>\n

Therefore in practical terms, IGNORE any online photography or camera reviews that put a number to image quality. You cannot compare image quality, just like how you cannot compare human beings.<\/p>\n

\"Cindy
Cindy in bed. Ryokan. Uji, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My suggestion, ignore online reviews for cameras, lenses, tools, etc. Instead, test it out for yourself. Because your personal tastes will always be different from the reviewer.<\/p>\n

Also be VERY SKEPTICAL about these photography and camera nerds who try to quantify and add a number to everything. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t visit online forums where they shoot brick walls, or compare the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153bokeh\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of their lenses. They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re missing the point. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s like obsessing over the ink of Voltaire or Balzac, instead of actually reading their words and poetry.<\/p>\n

\"Cindy
Cindy and flash. Uji, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Or it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s like studying the pots and pans of chef Gordon Ramsey, instead of actually trying his food.<\/p>\n

Or like obsessing about what lens and equipment Henri Cartier-Bresson<\/a>, Eugene Smith<\/a>, Lisette Model<\/a>, Diane Arbus<\/a>, Josef Koudelka<\/a>, or Martin Parr<\/a>, instead of studying their images.<\/p>\n

\"Uji,
Uji, 2017.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Takeaway points.<\/h2>\n
\"Reflection
Reflection of Cindy in Ukata in our Ryokan in Uji, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sorry for the rant, let me distill my ideas:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. There is no \u00e2\u20ac\u0153objective\u00e2\u20ac\u009d numbers you can put on \u00e2\u20ac\u0153image quality\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. It is all subjective. If you want to see the image quality of a camera, just try it out and experiment for yourself. Return it if you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t like it, or just borrow it. <\/li>\n
  2. Make pictures that are aesthetically pleasing to you, in terms of what gear you use, or how you process your photos. <\/li>\n
  3. Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be obsessed over megapixels, sharpness, or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153lens rendition\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or these other stupid buzz words in the photography world. Seek to make personally meaningful pictures which speak to your soul. And make pictures which reveal YOUR SOUL. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    And the best cure for GAS (gear acquisition syndrome)<\/a> is to go out, be more adventurous, and SHOOT MORE!<\/p>\n

    \"Cindy
    Cindy in Yukata. Uji, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Make more art, wander the streets like a kid, and just have fun.<\/p>\n

    BE CREATIVE EVERYDAY!
    \nERIC<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \"Colorful<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    \"Diagonal<\/p>\n

    \"Cindy<\/p>\n

    \"Cindy
    Cindy with finger on forehead. On the patio of our ryokan in Uji, Kyoto 2017<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \n

    CONQUER GAS<\/a><\/h1>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    GAS: (Gear Acquisition Syndrome): wanting to buy new cameras, because you feel like your photos aren’t good enough, because your camera isn’t good enough:<\/p>\n