Encouragement to photographers who are concerned about sharpness
By: Thorsten Overgaard.
Today I offer encouragement to you who may be worried about if your photos are sharp enough. In the same breath, unfortunately, I may discourage you who are trying really hard to nail it in each photo.
(Why don't you come to my London Workshop and we will talk about it. I can usually "cure" any concern about focusing even a f/0.95 lens. In a matter of hours, I promise, you will be able to hit focus, and at the same time, not really worry if you do).
Point today is the famous album cover of THE CLASH: LONDON CALLING which the photographer, Pennie Smith (born 1949) wouldn't let them use – because it wasn't sharp enough.
THE CLASH: LONDON CALLING by Pennie Smith.
However, Ray Lowry who designed the cover, convinced her that that the lack of focus was in this case "made it more authentic and spontaneous."
And there we go, one of the most famous album covers became a reality. Despite lack of focus. Millions of albums sold, and still millions of monthly listenings on online platforms.
I pesonally came across the album cover when I was 14 years old and had the habit of going to the listening bar at the local library. On the display of new releases I saw the cover and (I remember that I) was slightly offended by the agression. I was into rock like Rolling Stones' Sticky Fingers (the library had the original cover where you could open the zipper; a feature that intriqued a teenager like me), and I would attend punk concerts every Tuesday at the local Jazzhouse with a handful of friends from school. I never managed to understand punk. It just didn't make sense why the audience would throw eggs at the musicians and how was that great? In any case, London Calling became a favorite from the first moment I listened to it. Finally punk that made sense! And it's been on my playlist ever since.
The Clash debut album was inspired by Elvis Presley's debut album
Another curious fact, for us who care; the design of The Clash's debut cover of 1979 was a copy of Elvis Presley's debut album inspired by the Elvis Presley album of 1956.
So iconic is the cover that it was published on stamps in 2010 ... and also Banksy offered his version of it:
Banksy's version of London Calling.
More to come
Bon voyage with it all. Sign up for the newsletter to stay in the know. As always, feel free to email me with suggestions, questions and ideas. And hope to see you in a workshop one day soon.
Thorsten Overgaard
September 19, 2023. Latest edit March 24, 2024.
