Street Photography Tip: Blurry Isn't Always Bad!
Thursday 17 April 2025, 16:16 by Michiel Heijmans | 3,165 views | 2 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
Sadly, there is a group of photographers who immediately reject a photo if your subject is out of focus. It makes me angry. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but for me street photography is about capturing the moment.
If the event is unique, but the photo is unfortunately not completely sharp, I will always choose the story over sharpness. And besides, I don't take photos for other photographers.
Let's be honest. The photos we all think are fantastic, those yellowed black-and-white photos by the old masters, aren't all sharp either. And although modern cameras are making it increasingly difficult for us to take a blurry photo, my photos really aren't always sharp either.
Especially when I shoot from the hip (more about that elsewhere in this book), I don't always have control over what is sharp and what isn't. It's about what the photo tells the viewer. So a little bit blurry is fine!
Are ALL your photos blurry? Then try a shutter speed of 1/500th or faster, or a smaller aperture, f/8 for example. That will certainly help you.
About the author
Michiel is professioneel straatfotograaf en geeft workshops en lezingen over straatfotografie. Hij schrijft columns voor Focus Magazine en is erg actief op Instagram. Daar vind je dagelijks inspiratie en tips voor je eigen straatfotografie!
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2 comments
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Donald Willemsen wrote on Thursday 17 April 2025 at 18:41 | replyYou're right Michiel, especially in street photography it doesn't always have to be razor-sharp. I do think that the subject (the event) should be recognizable. So approximately on the edge of sharp/blurred. So there can certainly be some blur in an action shot.
Translated from Dutch.
It doesn't only apply to street photography. Razor-sharpness isn't necessarily required in sports photography either.
Of course, you also have to deal with personal preferences and tastes.
For me, it depends on what the photo shows and what story the photo wants to tell. -
Michiel Heijmans
wrote on Friday 18 April 2025 at 10:32
| reply
Absolutely agree with you, Donald!
Translated from Dutch.
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