However, I have listened to plenty of photographers telling me they use unsharpness or soft focus to realize their vision.
I've never heard discussions like this, and I know a lot of photographers, people who believe in their vision and do realize it through books and shows in museums and galleries. Usually, they talk about what they are trying to accomplish with their photography. Then they talk about the problems with gallery owners and publishers. Then they talk about problems finding locations or models. I've never had any of these photographers suggest that their vision has anything to do with unsharpness and soft focus. It's always about the photographs themselves, what they convey. When people tell me my photos are sharp, I assume I did something wrong. Conveying "sharpness" is something anyone can do - an eyechart and a tripod can take care of that.
They use soft focus because nobody wants a sharp bride; their vision is different than my "vision."
Odd example - this is a commercial issue and has nothing to do with vision. It has to do with expectations of wedding photos, which is about as far removed as any sort of concept of vision as I can recall.
If you don't like the word vision, use idea communication or something like that. What makes a series of photographs personal rather than simple record shots or eye charts.
Jeff Spirer
Photos: http://www.spirer.com
One People: http://www.onepeople.com/
Surfaces and Marks: http://www.withoutgrass.com
