Technically Correct vs. Composition

[SteveFE]

September 6, 2006 at 9:06 pm

Allinthemind wrote:

One of my most viewed shots is technically apalling, it was a quick snap of a moment in time.

That’s a nice artistic, grainy duotone shot, with a good expression by the model, but more importantly, and forgive me for saying this, but rock hard lady nipples = many views. It’s what’s called the Nipplegate Factor on Flickr (see Rebekka’s photostream there for one example of how the odd artistically-shot nipple can skyrocket view counts).

[Ali]

September 7, 2006 at 8:31 pm

Thanks a million all for the reply and apologies for not replying sooner – I was away last night and em forgot my laptop :roll:
I schwayer, it killed me to have to go to bed early :lol:

The thread might go off topic after this statement but i definitely think that some people are just born with that eye for composition. Aside from all of the tricks of composition i think it is something within, a talent maybe and i agree that, although we can always study the technical aspect to it’s limits, we can only study composition to a certain extent before we have to
use our own sense of creativity.

Made an interesting read. Thanks all.

[GilesKS]

September 7, 2006 at 9:12 pm

I think it depends on the subject somewhat. For instance, I don’t think there is much room for poor quality nature photographs unless the subject is really so unusual that technical defects can be forgiven. For the vast majority of photos of plants, insects, birds etc., no matter how good the composition if the exposure is wrong, or it’s too soft, or there are distracting objects in the frame, then forget it. On the other hand, if it’s a photo of your friends then the captured moment is everything, and it doesn’t have to be perfect in every way.

I don’t really see why there should be much of a distinction between composition and other technical aspects. There is a world of difference between a good photo which doesn’t follow supposed ‘rules’, and one which is just downright poor. Practice is important in most human activities, and photography is no exception.