What makes a good photo?
I think a good photo is one that has a meaning to it. However there are still several more techniques. For example, if you were to capture a picture of a plant or flower, you may just focus on it and de-focus or blur out the things in the background, this is so that us as a reader can get drawn straight in to the meaning of the photo. I also think a photo that has some color in it is quite interesting to look at, but not too much or the texture of it will be ruined and it'll seem too eye-catching. Lastly, a good photo is one that catches your attention the first time you view it.
A good photograph expresses the photographer's intention by just focusing on the meaning to it. The picture shouldn't be hard to understand and the other things in the background shouldn't distract the picture and the meaning. A photograph expresses what the photographer wishes to say by making it simple and look interesting. It should make the person viewing the photo attached to it and make them wonder what the photo is about. For example this photo on the left, reminds me of World War 2, it looks like when the evacues were evacuating to another place and we can see that the place is really busy and chaotic. This shows us the atmosphere in the train station and how emotional it must've been. Moreover it can show us clearly what the photographer was wishing to say as the focused it just on all the people and they're in the centre, it is not confusing what the things in the image is; it is very successful.
A good photograph can communicate something that words cannot. Like the saying 'a good photo cannot be expressed by words'. It all depends on how the photography is taken- the angle of the picture, the texture and the composition of the photo. The composition is one of the most important way of expressing a photograph. This is because if the composition of the photo is organised in a unique way then it'll be more difficult to express it in words. Sometimes if the photo is really good, or looks quite attracting, people cannot find the right words to describe it. For example the photo that i have chosen on the left -the lion, i found it quite hard to describe. As there is only a few objects to focus on in the picture- the lion, grass, and the sky. Moreover, the effects of the photo is quite unique as it's quite simple and looks really effective.
A good photograph can engage and capture the viewer's attention by the way they took the photo. For me, it's the angle they took the photo that makes it appealing to look at. For example, this photograph that i have chosen is very delicate because we can see some water and because the picture is taken at a low angle. It makes us wonder why this type of picture was taken and what the meaning to it is. Another way is if the picture is bold, it allows the viewer to directly look at the picture and we can carefully analyse it well.
A good photo can definitely make a person feel sympathy, sad or happy. The photographer can do this by thinking carefully about the message they are trying to get through. It is quite hard to make the feeling get to the reader. For example of the photo i have chosen looks like a family that has been destroyed and it looks like they are fleeing or finding somewhere where they can find food and shelter. A photo can surely make you feel sympathy and feel for the people in it. We can see that they are currently having quite a hard time and us the reader think how we could help them, as we're not in there situation it is quite hard to imagine. However, by a photo we can see how others live there lives. This also makes us quite sad even thinking about there situation. A photo is good with making us feel sympathetic to others.
A good photo could be shown alone and shown as a collection. Both ways it would be still very effective. The reason for this is if the image is single then it'll make us think more and just fully concentrate on the composition and the way the photo was taken. Moreover, a single picture can still mean more than a lot. On the other hand if photographs are shown as a collection it will allow us to absorb and take in what the meaning or the story behind the photos are. Also, if they were in the collection we wouldn't have to look at each picture carefully, we could look at a few and then just understand whats going on and the meaning.
A good photograph can surely demand a response from the viewer. Sometimes if a picture is either interesting, mysterious or effective, it'll make us ask questions and comment on the photo. For example, in this photo of the girl, she looks like a normal girl you would normally see. But the way she is posed for the camera is quite different or weird. Some may ask, Is she sad? Is she thinking? It may also make us as: Why is she alone? Has the chair got anything to do with her? It may also make us think in a different perspective. Like her past life and who she even is. Moreover, we would ask whats going on it the photo.
A good photo should be well composed and have good lighting. This is because if the photo is well composed then it will make the photograph more interesting to look at. Also, if the lighting is good in a photograph it could show us a difference in tone, and if a photo is dull it may have a darker tone but if the photo is trying to make someone feel happy the tone may be bright and light. The lighting could also focus on something. For example, the photo of the house in the second photo- the background is very bright but the house is like a silhouette show its like a focus for us and it stands out.