PART 1
The answer to this age old question really varies for everyone, because people have different tastes and certain images have emotional meaning to some individuals and not others. There are certain aspects however that tend to universally be accepted as criteria that make up a good picture. When a photo or painting really connects with you, chances are the artist or photographer has thought carefully about the following aspects. The difference between an image and a snap shot is that one is carefully planned out, while the other is taken quickly in the moment, with not a lot of thought. Sometimes the latter can come out amazingly well, but most of the time, really beautiful pictures were preplanned.
- Balanced and engaging composition
The subject is clear and is balanced. The elements of the image are arranged as such that it brings the eye to the focal point and the main subject of the image. This might be through the classic rules of thirds or other principles like using lines or natural frames to highlight the subject. In the example below you can clearly see the focal point is Penny, and the doorway acts as a framework to really make her pop.
2. Effective use of light
Lighting is a critical characteristic of a great photograph. Effective lighting enhances the texture, depth, and mood of an image. Whether using natural light or artificial sources, the quality, direction, and color of light should enhance the overall scene.
Below is a picture of this beautiful Weimaraner with the sunrise coming through the trees in the back ground. Its creating a lovely warm light, which is nicely filtered to help prevent harsh shadows and highlights
3. Sharp Focus and Appropriate Depth of Field
Sharp focus helps to draw attention to the subject, while an appropriate depth of field creates a sense of depth and dimension. In a great photograph, the main subject is usually crisply focused, and the background, either blurred or in focus should complement rather than distract from the main subject. Sometimes the best photographs are defined by what is left out as opposed to what has been left in.
4. Emotional resonance or story telling
A powerful photograph evokes emotion and tells a story. It captures a moment that sparks a connection between the viewer and the image. This is really evident when photographing animals. A lot of people get stressed about getting images of their pets because they think they won’t sit still or look at the camera. The fact is, that a lot of the best images of dogs is when they are not looking directly at us, and are not doing any kind of obedience.
5. Effective post processing.
Editing can really make or break an image and the sky is the limit with regards to what you can achieve. This can really be controversial for some, with many people regarding editing as a cop out for not doing a perfect shot in the first place. In my opinion, editing is part of the fun of photography, and I enjoy breaking the rules and learning new ways to manipulate images. At the end of the day, it’s all about creating a memorable piece of art that you will want to cherish forever. The fact is that all images need some manipulation because a camera is nowhere near as complex as your eye, so always requires a little help to make it look better regardless of whether you want it to look natural or not.
This image below is a composite. It’s a blend of two pictures. It was impossible to get both dogs to run next to each other like this, so I did individual portraits of each dog in the same background. Then I copied and pasted one dog into the other image to make it look like they were both running together at the same time.
Tune in for part 2 with more tips on choosing or planning your next great image.
