Photography is full of so-called “rules” that can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re a newbie. However, some of these “rules” are downright myths. In his recent video, Will of PhotographyExplained seven common myths many photographers still believe. Have you heard any of these?
1. Focusing one-third into the frame guarantees sharpness
The idea of focusing one-third into your frame is a popular guideline in landscape photography. This method often works because it approximates the hyperfocal distance, the closest focus point where objects at infinity remain sharp. And sure, it could be a good place to start. However, hyperfocal distance changes depending on factors like aperture and focal length.
For instance, changing your aperture from f/22 to f/8 shifts the focus point further back. Additionally, this rule completely falls apart for other types of photography, like portraits or product shots. So, instead of relying on this rule, Will suggests manually checking your focus.
Will points out that it’s a common myth that photo editing software, like Lightroom or Capture One, produces identical results. In reality, different apps use unique algorithms to process RAW files, including demosaicing, the process of interpreting color data from your camera’s sensor.
These variations can lead to different starting points when editing – from subtle to more noticeable ones. Will’s takeaway? Since the software you choose does affect your final image, explore your options to find one that aligns with your style and workflow.
3. UV filters ruin image quality
The debate around UV filters seems to be never-ending. They’re often dismissed as harmful to image quality, but a high-quality one shouldn’t do any damage to your shots (while it can prevent damage to your camera lens). Cheaper UV filters could affect sharpness, although Will’s testing tells a different story. He found that even cheap UV filters caused minimal impact on sharpness, debunking this common myth. Still, you can encounter issues like lens flare or slight color casts, especially with lower-quality filters, so that’s something to keep in mind.
If you’re shooting in challenging environments—like near water or in dusty areas—using a UV filter for protection makes sense. Otherwise, don’t stress about them too much.
4. High ISO causes noise
Here’s a surprising revelation: high ISO doesn’t directly cause noise in your photos. Instead, noise results from insufficient light reaching the sensor. ISO simply amplifies the light signal your camera collects, which can include noise from low-light conditions. He talks more about it here, if you’re interested.
Will emphasizes that instead of fearing high ISO settings, you should rather focus on getting enough light into your shots through proper exposure, or even additional lighting when needed.
5. You can’t adjust white balance on JPEGs
The RAW vs. JPEG debate often leads to the myth that white balance adjustments on JPEGs destroy image quality. While RAW offers more flexibility, no doubt about that, Will found that tweaking white balance on JPEGs in Photoshop produces little to no noticeable quality loss.
For most hobbyist photographers, there’s no need to obsess over this detail. Whether you’re working with a JPEG or RAW file, Will suggests that you can achieve great results with proper editing. Still, I’ll always recommend shooting in RAW – as it’s not just white balance you need to edit in your shots.
6. Resaving JPEGs ruins image quality
Many photographers worry that repeatedly saving JPEGs degrades their quality. While JPEG files do use lossy compression, Will’s experiment—resaving an image 100 times—proved that the quality loss is minimal when saving at the highest settings. The key is to ensure that your final export settings prioritize quality.
On the other hand, if you reupload the same image multiple times on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, their compression will ruin your photo. Here’s one interesting experiment doing just that.
7. Always turn off image stabilization on a tripod
Conventional wisdom says to disable image stabilization (IS) when using a tripod, as it could create unnecessary vibrations. However, modern lenses and cameras often detect when they’re tripod-mounted and automatically disable IS. Still, for older gear, leaving IS on might cause issues, so keep that in mind.
By busting these myths, Will encourages you to focus less on rigid rules and more on experimenting and finding what works for your unique style. Most of these beliefs date from way back, and with modern gear and software, many old assumptions no longer hold true.
[7 Myths Every Photographer Believes In – DEBUNKED | PhotographyExplained]