Page 167 - (DK) Advanced Photography Guide

IM AGE ENH A N CEMEN T 165

CREATIVE USE OF BLUR

Photos do not have to be pin sharp, even when
they are printed. Deliberately shooting a subject
out of focus can be very effective, particularly
if it is a bold shape or brightly colored. The
lack of sharpness adds an element of ambiguity,
making the viewer wonder how to interpret the
image. You could also try using a shallow depth
of field, as this helps to simplify a photo by
placing the main emphasis on the subject,
which should be in sharp focus. ▲ OVERALL BLUR ▲ SELECTIVE BLUR

THE RESULT
▼ BEFORE SHARPENING
Subjects with a lot of fine detail, such as the cathedral and other
buildings in this image, benefit from moderate sharpening. Here,
it has accentuated the detail in the tiles of the cathedral, and the
edges of the surrounding buildings. The degree of sharpening
that you apply to an image will vary, depending on the subject.

▲ AFTER SHARPENING

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