John M. Setzler, Jr.

I suppose this question rattles around in the head of many camera owners each time they browse their most recent set of images. When I return home from any given photo shoot, I always browse my shots and often ask myself one simple question:

Why did I bother to press the shutter release?

In the digital age, it is quite simple to fall into a common rut of using the brute-force method to achieve your goals in photography. Since we have no film and processing costs with digital images, we allow ourselves to simply overshoot any particular scene or subject in hopes of collecting a photograph that we can call great. When was the last time you went out on a photo shoot and achieved a keeper rate of over 10%?

What makes a photo great?

I suppose if we knew the answer to this question, we would never make bad photos, or at least we would never show them to anyone. Defining a great photograph is not a simple task either. All photographers have different tastes and objectives in their work. As a participant in multiple online digital photography communities, I see one objective that appears to trump all others. I want you to praise my work. This is the most difficult task to achieve. Since all photographers and other art aficionados each have their own tastes and biases, impressing a group of them is a daunting task.

When we break down an individual photograph into its primary elements, we can start to see how a photographer or a viewer formulates his impression of the image.

SUBJECT

Every photograph should have a distinct subject. As the subject in any photograph becomes obscured, abstracted, or difficult to define, the audience who will appreciate the image grows smaller. Typical subjects in photographs include a person or people, a flower bloom, a waterfall, or some other distinctly tangible object. Intangible subjects require a viewer who will be able to understand the photographer’s objective. Some simple examples of intangible subjects would include moods and emotions, color, shapes and textures, and a variety of other ideas that are not as simple as a rock or a flower. Intangible subjects can make great photos if your audience is willing to evaluate your idea in detail.

EMOTIONAL CONTENT

A great photograph will usually stir emotions in the viewer. These emotions may be good or bad, but they should help the viewer connect with the subject in some way. Images in photojournalism are often examples of photos that stir emotions. Some of the most compelling photojournalism that I have seen comes from war correspondents who travel the globe with the military. Their images are designed to stir emotion. In many cases, this type of photojournalism stirs a negative emotion or a sense of compassion for the subject, which aren’t normally considered to be good emotions. They don’t make the viewer happy, but the image content still creates a certain attraction of the viewer. Other types of images create positive emotions for a viewer. In either case, the emotional content of an image should connect the viewer with a subject or concept that would otherwise be foreign or uninteresting.

In my opinion, subject and emotional content are the two most significant elements of a great photo. The remaining concepts may or may not create additional positive impact for a viewer. In most cases, a great photo must have strength in one of these to areas. A photo with strength in both will usually be considered great regardless of other aspects of the image.

TECHNICALS

In photography, there are many technical issues involved in making a photograph. The photographer makes a lot of choices when composing a photo and choosing camera settings for a particular environment or objective. Composition usually plays a key role. Where, within the frame, should the subject or main point of interest be placed? Most photographers will begin spouting an infinite knowledge of the “Rule of Thirds” when this topic comes up, but sometimes that rule does not apply, or you may find yourself in a situation where a perfectly centered point of interest is preferred. In some cases, a strong subject and high levels of emotional content can be achieved regardless of your subject’s location within the frame. Subject placement, leading lines, and framing within the frame are all compositional elements that can be used to improve photo quality. Photographers who have studied and applied these concepts over time begin to find themselves automatically finding those compositions as second nature rather than having to think about it with each click of the shutter. Light quality also plays a rather large role in creating impressive photos. A photographer may have everything in place for a great image, but the light level could be too high, low, flat, or contrasty. Focus and depth of field also play significant roles in image quality. In some cases, everything should be in focus, and in others very little or nothing should be in focus. All of these technical issues generally tend to fall into the category of preference. There is no right or wrong way to create a photograph. The problems a photographer faces are finding an audience who appreciates his work. The technical elements of a photo are generally supportive of subject and emotional content. Technicals are not generally the subject of a great photo.

FINDING YOUR AUDIENCE

Photographers who aspire to gain acceptance in the public have a huge challenge before them. Instead of catering to his own preferences, he may be forced to take another route that will be preferred by his audience instead. It’s relatively easy to break photographers down into two categories: Artists and Commercial. The artist isn’t usually as interested in finding a large public audience. His work may be more experimental or catering to his personal tastes. Some artists do find a large public following, which can be a bonus for them. A commercial photographer’s job is to produce what his paying audience wants to see. His own artistic vision may have to take a back seat to what his audience wants.

During my time in photography, I have learned a lot from different audiences. When I’m trying to learn a particular concept of photography, other photographers can be a great sounding board for your technique. Another photographer can give you feedback that may include some alternative ideas that you haven’t considered.

Artists who are not photographers are my favorite audience, even though they are few and far between. They have a wonderful ability to look at my image and give me feedback on my subject and any emotional content with no pre-conceived notion of how the image was achieved. The technicals don’t matter to this audience. When I look at an oil painting, I can only judge the subject and emotional content of the work. I have no knowledge of what went into making it, and the creation process has no impact on me as a viewer.

Non-artists who simply appreciate art make a good audience also. This audience is unique to some degree because they connect with image content on a non-artist level. They have no background in art or art production. Their appreciation of an image comes solely from subject and other content.

The final audience is the most difficult to satisfy, especially for photographers. The interior decorator may have some of the previously mentioned qualities, but their objective is entirely different. Their selections of art never seem to be based on subject or content. They look for works that fit a color or time scheme. Next time you are in a friend’s home or office, take a look around at what might be hanging on the walls. Choose a particular piece and ask your friend why they chose that work to hang on the wall.

HAVE WE ANSWERED THE QUESTION?

So… what makes a photo great? Is it your perception or that of the viewer? Can a photographer be happy with his work even when he can’t find the support of an audience? An artist may be perfectly at peace with his work, regardless of outside influences. A commercial photographer won’t be able to put food on the table without the support of his audience. There is a middle road between the two, which seems to be quite popular also.