Silly question (kind of)

[aam1234]

Have you walked around your house/place and saw something that catches your eyes and think it's an excellent photo op. But when you try to capture it with a camera you get horrible results. Even with some effort & lighting, it still looks horrible.

Did that happen to you too.

[JohnC]

I think that happens to everyone. Our eyes focus much more narrowly than a camera. We can selectively view things. Right now as you look at your monitor is anything else on your desk as clear/sharp as the monitor? Or do you have to move your eyes and refocus to see things on your desk?

Take a photo of your monitor from where you're sitting and include parts of the desk. Does it look the same? Probably not. Now you see everything at once.

Other considerations, too. The smell. The temperature. Sounds. All things that don't get recorded, but may have had an influence on what caught your attention.

[aam1234]

Good thoughts there, John. Thanks.

Let me give an example. From where I'm typing right now (home office), the color of the wall and the color of the door look the same as the colors of the opposite wall & door. Little corridor in between. Looks classic in a way, with good lights and shadows. But when I photographed the scene it looked horrible. There are many other examples we all have seen (at home or somewhere else).

Will post the photo if I can find it.

[rodeo_photographer]

Originally Posted by JohnC

I think that happens to everyone. Our eyes focus much more narrowly than a camera. We can selectively view things. Right now as you look at your monitor is anything else on your desk as clear/sharp as the monitor? Or do you have to move your eyes and refocus to see things on your desk?

I actually do have to move my eyes to see something else... my monitor is a 23" widescreen!

[badpickev]

Originally Posted by aam1234

Have you walked around your house/place and saw something that catches your eyes and think it's an excellent photo op. But when you try to capture it with a camera you get horrible results. Even with some effort & lighting, it still looks horrible.

Did that happen to you too.

every time i photograph my wife...... i am gonna burn for that one.

[aam1234]

Glad I don't have your wife's email, Kev. Otherwise you will be sent to the photography hell and not be seen again

Seriously. I have the same issue with one of my sis's. No matter what I do I could never take a good pic of her. She even teases me about it, that I don't know how to take photos. Sadly, she might be right

[heartseye]

Really, what happens is that our BRAIN sees the thing, and we have an emotion aroused in us by this. You have to look inside yourself to see exactly what it was you felt.....of remembered, etc. That will help much more that just looking at the whatever it was...cheers...Bob

[Sidebyte]

I only wish that I could buy a camera with the dynamic range of the human eye....even old eyes like mine.

[kgphoto]

Sidebyte has it. It is the contrast range that the camera can't capture that is creating the problem. Go to the thread about understanding exposure and you will probably find your answer there regarding the hallway image.