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What makes a good photograph?
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I agree with Zoltan. Photography, as an art form, is subjective. Just like all other art forms, regardless of what technical skills are required for the discipline.
Brickee wrote:
If the photograph is pleasing to you, It is a good photograph.
Sorry Brickee…
But I don’t think that works-
A very quick search brought these up,
and there are countless more.An image can do more than just please,
it has a far greater power.It’s not just an art form either,
it can be far more immediate and manipulative,
and its content can transcend any thoughts of appreciation.Just to illustrate what Zoltan said…
I once read that good photography should be a “visual feast for the mind”.
Admittedly, with the examples above that feast might not be an enjoyable one. But it could be described as a feast nonetheless. Food for thought.
Mick451 wrote:
Jesus, we’re talking about photography in General Chat.
This feels so wrong.It’s worse than that Mick-
We’re talking about the Philosophy of Photography.Where did it all go wrong…
Eh, lots of Photoshop and stuff, filters and expensive
equipment, and a big fan base of your peers, or at least
of those who aspire to produce similar work…An impossible question, and as Joseph inferred, any answer
offered may say more about the respondant than it might
about what makes a good photograph…I’m certain there are plenty of photographs I absolutely
adore that would never find a place in the homes of some
of the friends I’ve made here…Rob wrote:
a big fan base of your peers, or at least
of those who aspire to produce similar work…Can I quote you on that?
jb7 wrote:
Rob wrote:
a big fan base of your peers, or at least
of those who aspire to produce similar work…Can I quote you on that?
Please do… ;)
5faythe wrote:
Now theres a question. Note that it is good photograph, not great or award winning or any other superlative.
Please, good people of PI, answer that question for me in 100 words or less.
Thanks in anticipation.
John.
What about you, John? What do you think makes a good photograph?
Hi to all,
First of all I would like to thank everybody who stopped to look &
especially those of you who took the time to reply.My question was asked out of genuine interest in hearing what PI members
might say. After a scary start I think there have been some very interesting replies.I have been taking photographs, looking at photographs, reading about photographs,
talking about photographs for over 40 years. The fact that I posed that question, I
suppose, is an answer in itself.Like has been hinted at in other posts large volumes could and have been written on this
subject. Maybe the question cannot be answered.Some years ago I tried to write an essay on what makes a good photograph & to be honest
I could’nt end it. That was my thinking in trying to limit answers to 100 words.I’ve used well over 100 words trying to explain why I asked the question.
Now I feel it is only fair to attempt to answer the question posed by Sinead.
As a photographer: When I take a photograph I have a reason for taking it & a final image in my head.
I really can’t remember if this was always the case.
If the final image is what I set out to achieve I will feel that I have a good photograph.As viewer: When I view an image my preferences & prejudices come into play and I decide whether the
photograph is good based on these. Elements like good composition, exposure, lighting, subject and all the
other technical aspects of photography come into play. Often one or more of these elements can be awry &
for some reason I will still think “thats a good photograph”So do I think it’s possible to give a universally accepted definition of what makes a good photograph in
100 or any amount of words. Probably not.Thanks again.
John.
PeteW wrote:
I always find an F-16 fighter pasted in from airliners.net does it for me
:lol:
One mans meat is another mans veggie burger I guess, a good photograph
for me is one that “makes me smile” “makes me cry” “makes me go wow”
and “makes me look” dont really care if the techs are “right” or not its how
it makes me feel.Yea thats a good point Jenny as are most of the above.
I think when the question was asked initially the first thing I thought about was the
technical side, you know ‘well this has to be right abd that has to be right.’
Its not about the technical side of the photograph most times, Joseph
posted some examples above.its the image presented and the message it gets across, or the feeling it instills in the viewer.
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