Unmasking the Seven Persistent Myths That Still Haunt Photographers Today

Photography is rife with alleged “rules” that can seem daunting, especially for beginners. Nevertheless, some of these “rules” are pure myths. In his latest video, Will of PhotographyExplained addresses seven prevalent myths that numerous photographers still adhere to. Have you encountered any of these?

1. Focusing one-third into the frame assures sharpness

The concept of focusing one-third into your frame is a well-known guideline in landscape photography. This technique often proves effective as it approximates the hyperfocal distance, the closest focus point at which objects at infinity stay sharp. Although it could serve as a good starting point, hyperfocal distance varies based on elements such as aperture and focal length.

For example, altering your aperture from f/22 to f/8 moves the focus point backward. Furthermore, this guideline completely disintegrates for different categories of photography, such as portraits or product images. Therefore, instead of depending on this rule, Will recommends manually verifying your focus.

Will mentions that it’s a widespread misconception that photo editing applications, such as Lightroom or Capture One, yield the same results. In truth, various applications utilize distinct algorithms to process RAW files, including demosaicing, the method of interpreting color data from your camera’s sensor.

These discrepancies can result in varying starting points during the editing process – from subtle to noticeably different. Will’s conclusion? Since the software you choose influences your final image, explore your options to identify one that aligns with your preferences and workflow.

3. UV filters damage image quality

The discussion surrounding UV filters appears to be perpetual. They’re frequently dismissed as detrimental to image quality, but a high-quality one should not harm your images (while it can safeguard your camera lens). Inexpensive UV filters could impact sharpness; however, Will’s testing revealed a different outcome. He discovered that even economical UV filters had a minimal effect on sharpness, debunking this widespread myth. Yet, you might confront problems such as lens flare or slight color casts, especially with lower-end filters, so that’s something to consider.

If you’re photographing in difficult environments—like near water or in dusty conditions—utilizing a UV filter for protection is sensible. Otherwise, don’t overly worry about them.

4. High ISO results in noise

Here’s an unexpected insight: high ISO does not directly induce noise in your images. Instead, noise is a consequence of inadequate light hitting the sensor. ISO merely amplifies the light signal collected by your camera, which may include noise stemming from low-light situations. He elaborates further on this here, should you be interested.

Will underscores that rather than fearing high ISO settings, you should concentrate on ensuring adequate light exposure in your shots, potentially through proper exposure or additional lighting when necessary.

5. You can’t modify white balance on JPEGs

The RAW versus JPEG debate frequently leads to the perception that altering white balance on JPEGs diminishes image quality. While RAW provides greater flexibility, undeniably, Will noticed that adjusting white balance on JPEGs in Photoshop results in little to no discernible quality degradation.

For the majority of casual photographers, there’s no requirement to obsess over this detail. Whether you’re dealing with a JPEG or RAW file, Will suggests that effective editing enables you to achieve outstanding results. Still, I will always advocate for shooting in RAW – since there’s more than just white balance to edit in your photos.

6. Resaving JPEGs degrades image quality

Many photographers fret that repeatedly saving JPEGs diminishes their quality. Although JPEG files utilize lossy compression, Will’s experimentation—resaving an image 100 times—demonstrated that quality loss is minimal when saved at the highest settings. The essential factor is to ensure your final export settings prioritize quality.

Conversely, if you reupload the same image multiple times on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, their compression will affect your photo negatively. Here’s an intriguing experiment illustrating this.

7. Always disable image stabilization on a tripod

Traditional wisdom advises to turn off image stabilization (IS) when utilizing a tripod, as it may cause unnecessary vibrations. However, contemporary lenses and cameras often recognize when they are mounted on a tripod and automatically deactivate IS. Yet, for older equipment, having IS on might result in problems, so keep that in consideration.

By dispelling these myths, Will encourages you to focus less on strict guidelines and more on experimenting and discovering what suits your unique style. Most of these notions originate from long ago, and with current equipment and software, many outdated assumptions no longer apply.

[7 Myths Every Photographer Believes In – DEBUNKED | PhotographyExplained]