It’s interesting to contemplate how to make a good photograph. We’ve all seen how subjective judging can be, so it is obvious that the appeal of a picture will vary with the person viewing it. There are frequent stories of photographs that won first prize after being quickly dismissed in a previous competition. So, how can we improve the likelihood that a picture will be liked? What are the factors that a photographer should consider?
As we know, there are general rules that are supposed to make a good photograph. A Google search will quickly turn up lists like:
- Has a Great Composition
- Captures Emotion
- Tells a Story
- Leaves Something to the Imagination
- Captures an Iconic Moment
- Uses Unique Lighting and Color
However, just as you start working on these elements of a good picture, an experienced photographer will tell you “Don’t be afraid to break ‘the rules’. They’re just a starting point.” So, we’re now back to square one and mumbling about the difficulties of life.
After pondering this topic for a while, I arrived at the conclusion that it’s the question that is wrong. Instead of asking how to make a good picture, the first question should be “How do we know that a photograph is good?” This new question has many possible answers. Here are six of them.
A picture is good if:
- It sells well
- It wins competitions
- It appeals to you, the photographer
- Viewers seem to like it
- It causes emotions in people who look at it
- Combinations of the above.
I formed my opinion about the marketability of a photograph (i.e., how well it sells) comes from listening to photographers who sell their work for a living. I remember one of our SSCC speakers who sold his images at craft fairs. His work was appealing to me. As I listened to him describe his craft, it was clear that it was a combination of art and business. There were several separate aspects of his “job”.
First, as a photographer, he took pictures that he felt were artistic and a bit different from the images you normally see on postcards or jig saw puzzles. Then, after working on his images in Lightroom and Photoshop, he selected the ones he especially liked and shared them with a small group of friends. The friends critiqued and rated the photographs. Their input determined which pictures he would try to sell. Next was the craft show itself. The photographer carefully observed which photos “drew people in” for a closer look and he kept detailed records of which ones sold. Finally, this information was used to decide which pictures to take to the next fair. His sales successes then influenced his selection of which photographs he took in the future.
For me this criterion (which images sell) does not determine if a picture is good. It seems too business oriented and too commercial. So, I’ll scratch that off my list of knowing if a photograph is good.
The next Brief Ramblings will continue looking at the question of what makes a good picture.
Stay tuned….
If you have comments, disagreements or additions to this article, please let me know by sending email to Pete.Morton@yahoo.com. Thank you!