This should be a very discussion based post. Although the answer might seem simple at first, I really want you to think hard about what it takes to make a good photographer or to make a good photo. Then, I want you to tell me what makes them great.
I’m very curious to see what higher ed (and non-higher ed) people think about this. Please share this with people or start a conversation amongst the people in your office.
Here are some samples to get you thinking.
Is this a good photo?
What about this one?
How about this one?
Finally, this one? One person calls this one a “favorite” on Flickr.
Are the photos themselves good, or are there only aspects of each one that are good? Do the technical elements (composition, bokeh, focus, exposure, color, etc.) make them good or great (or bad)? Or are these photos just snapshots?
Final question which will take some stretching of your imagination; would you use photos like these (some with different subject matter of course – obviously the father/daughter photo wouldn’t be that appealing, but what about two soccer players embracing each other after a goal) when marketing to high school students? How do you think they would rate these photos?
I think the second photo is a great one. It shows action and motion, and even some emotion as well. And the best part is the way the kid was shot in the lower left corner of the frame, like he is running into the picture. I love it.
If you go to the FujiMugs Challenge at Digital Camera Review
http://fujimugs.com/challenge/
And look at the voting results you will see that a number of members who voted did note rate the winner in their top ten photos. I offer this in support of my view that in general what constitutes a good photograph is very much personal preference. However having said that there are images be they paintings or photographs which are universally regarded as great – what are the ingredients of those images that make them great? If I knew the answer to that I would be known as a great photographer.
good photos rely on either content or technique; great photos are based on on the union of content and technique. the first one here has good technique, but the content isn’t particularly engaging (at least to me). the rest rely purely on content. if you know the people or cat involved that can make them good, but none of them will go down in the history books as great. the second one may have been composed that way intentionally to leave a lot of space open for text, i don’t know. if that’s the case it could be well suited for its intended purpose, but on its own the composition is really awkward.
note: i really don’t want this to sound as harsh as it might, and i am very glad to see someone in this springfield area having this discussion.
I promise I will respond to each of you, but not right now. I want to hear what others say before I put in my own insight.
@jason Nice to meet you. Glad to see another local area photographer!
the first photo is good. i like it. shows good emotion, the focus is clear in the right spots (don’t care if a backpack is in focus). it’s one of those photos that is good, but nothing really different. i would call it a brochure pic
it’s weird because i don’t like the 2nd one at all and others do. it looks abnormal to me. his emotion is not fun to look at either. and the framing (unless it is for a brochure and text is going on top) is not my style of liking.
the 3rd one the lighting is poor, but other then that it is a decent photo for a family photo album.
i don’t like the 4th one either though. cutting the cat off takes me away from the picture IMO. lighting is a little weird too.
The first photo is in focus and good quality, but not really exciting.
The second photo is great in my opinion, because you have captured movement, emotion, and although it’s an awkward kind of angle and the young man is sort of cut off, I like that.
I don’t like the angle of the third photo, although the subject (the little girl) is very cute.
It is obvious that you had the flash on in the fourth picture, because it is a little over exposed in some parts. The kitten is adorable and maybe if it was cropped a bit more it would look better.
So what are your comments? I am interested to hear what you had to say about the above photos. thanx
hello im 9 and i was wondering is it good being a photographer? do i get good money for it?
do i have fun?
hi,
i am the photographer for my school’s newspaper. I think that all the pictures are good exept for the fourth one. I think what makes a good photogrpaher is that they have to know about angles, and how things will look at a diffrent angle. Also they have to act at the right time, ex(sunsets), and obvously to make sure their pictures look well.
hi there but for me i like the 4th picture this is because i like the colour n it matched all together the background n kitten.
when i look at it make me smile n i cant stop looking at it.
just so beatiful n something i wanna use for my phone wall papper….