A photo in focus is different from a photo that feels in focus

Sometimes, when looking at a photo, you feel that it is "in focus."

On the other hand, there are photos that look blurry overall for some reason, even though they are clearly in focus when you zoom in on the shooting data.

This is because the focus determined by the camera is not the same as the sense of focus perceived by the human eye.

Being in focus is a matter of distance

Optical focus is relatively easy to understand.

It is the state where the plane at a certain distance from the lens is imaged most finely on the sensor. If the AF correctly captures the subject's eyes and is focused on that position, you can say for now that it is "in focus."

However, the person looking at the photo is not checking the numerical value of the focus position.

They judge that "there is a core here" while looking at the clarity of the contours, the contrast, the direction of light, the separation of colors, and the relationship between the subject and the background all together.

In other words, focus is a matter of distance, while the sense of focus is a matter of the relationship of the entire photo.

Photos that are in focus but do not feel in focus

For example, suppose you take a picture in a scene where the brightness and color of the subject and the background are similar, under the soft light of an overcast sky.

The eyes are accurately in focus, and even the eyelashes are captured. Even so, if the contrast of the entire photo is weak, the contours of the subject easily blend into the background.

If you zoom in, the details are captured.

Yet, at normal display sizes, it feels "a bit sleepy" or "the core is weak."

There are other reasons why a photo might not look sharp even when it is in focus.

• Slight subject blur or camera shake remains

• Blacks are lifted due to backlighting or flare

• Spherical aberration remains at wide open aperture, causing softness in the contours

• The colors and brightness of the subject and background are similar

• There is too much information in the frame, making it difficult to determine where to look

• The main subject is not sufficiently illuminated

Just because the AF focus indicator lights up does not mean that the photo will necessarily have a sense of being in focus.

Photos that look sharp even if they are slightly soft

Conversely, there are photos that look slightly soft when viewed at full size, but feel sharp as a whole.

These are photos where there is an appropriate contrast between light and shadow on the subject's contours, and the light makes the shape stand out three-dimensionally.

The human eye reacts strongly not only to the resolution of details but also to local contrast near contours. If the contrast between light and shadow on the contours is clear, it is easy to feel that it is "sharply captured," even if the details are somewhat soft.

Sometimes photos taken with old lenses look strangely powerful, even though they do not resolve details as well as the latest lenses.

This is also because the core of the subject looks strong depending on how the contrast appears and how the light is captured.

High resolution and a high sense of focus are similar, but they are different qualities.

In portraits, the light in the eyes creates a sense of focus

In portraiture, it is considered fundamental to focus accurately on the eyes.

However, if there is no light in the eyes, no matter how accurately you focus, the impression of the eyes is likely to be weak. Conversely, if a small catchlight is present and there is appropriate contrast between light and shadow on the eyelashes or the edges of the pupils, the photo will convey a strong gaze even if it is slightly soft.

What is important is not just placing the AF frame on the eyes.

It is to see what kind of light is hitting those eyes and how much difference is created between them and their surroundings.

Before focusing, look for light that makes the focus visible.

Just this awareness alone can greatly change the impression of a photo.

Stopping down does not necessarily increase the sense of focus

Many people stop down their aperture in an attempt to create a sense of focus.

It is true that the depth of field becomes deeper and the range that appears to be in focus widens. However, if the background is also captured in too much detail, the difference between the main subject and the supporting elements disappears, which can actually cause the viewer's gaze to wander.

Having the entire photo in focus is different from feeling that the place you want to show is in focus.

Sometimes, blurring the background appropriately and leaving only the outline of the subject makes the core of the photo stronger.

A sense of focus is not about making everything sharp.

It is about deciding where to make the viewer feel the sharpness.

The sense of focus you can add in development, and the sense of focus you cannot

You can emphasize outlines by increasing the sharpness or clarity in development software.

However, if you increase the values too much, unnatural edges appear around the outlines, and even skin and bokeh become harsh. Sharpness is not a function to recover lost focus after the fact.

What can be adjusted in development is how the already captured outlines appear.

It does not mean you can completely recreate the light hitting the subject, the separation from the background, or even motion blur from the time of shooting.

That is precisely why you need to look at light and contrast, not just the AF frame, when shooting.

Look at the whole photo, rather than at 100% scale

In digital photography, one tends to want to check focus at 100% view.

Of course, this is effective for testing equipment or investigating the cause of a failure. However, the final photo is not always viewed at 100% scale.

Whether you can feel the core at the size it is actually viewed—such as on a smartphone screen, a note thumbnail, or a print—is more important.

There are photos that are perfect at 100% scale but where the subject gets buried when shrunk down.

There are also photos that are slightly soft at 100% scale but intensely eye-catching across the entire screen.

The strength of a photo is not determined solely by focusing accuracy.

The camera can set the focus. The photographer creates the sense of focus

Modern cameras recognize eyes and subjects with astonishing accuracy.

However, they do not automatically decide where to cast light, how to organize the background, or which outlines to leave.

What the camera sets is the optical focus.

It is the photographer's role to create a core in the photo that says, 'I want you to look here.'

It is not just about whether it is in focus, but whether you can feel the focus.

Once you start having that perspective, the way you look at photos and the way you search for light when shooting should also change.

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