Infinite Sharpness

Photographers like Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham aspired to absolute image clarity and sharpness in there images. They used large format view cameras which gave minimal grain interference and small apertures to gain maximum depth of field (areas in focus). This approach allows the audience to view from the smallest detail in the foreground to the print to the most distant point with full clarity and in sharp focus. Weston talked about using this technique to capture the "quintessential essence of the thing itself". His prints were richly detailed.

Homage to Baxter Resonance III The rock, Prometheus, Brighton Beach 1994 Lloyd Godman

In this image from the Homage to Baxter series, there is an overall sharpness from the grains of sand in the foreground to the distant headland and sky. It presents the scene to the audience as an expansive but sharp universe where any detail can be read clearly.

Comment on this resource