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What makes a great photograph?
“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.”
--Ansel Adams
Many beginning photographers find themselves believing that the key to taking
great pictures is owning a top-of-the-line camera and a studio full of expensive
accessories and equipment to go along with it, but there is a lot more to the
art and science of photography than just the hardware - there are also a number
of "intangibles" that come into play.
While an expensive camera certainly can't hurt, it is by no means a sure-fire
ticket to the world of fine-art photography. For example, if the aforementioned
Mr. Adams was alive today, I'm fairly certain that he could take a $6
"disposable" camera and capture images that belong on the walls of the world's
finest galleries. On the other hand, you could place a $5,000 Nikon D3 into the
hands of a "Regular Joe" and the best he might be able to come up with
would be a
few blurry snapshots. Yes, great photographs are usually the result of great
photographic skills, not great photographic equipment.
That being said, there are other factors that have a bearing on how good or how
bad a picture turns out as well:
- Lighting - Under optimal lighting conditions, most anyone can capture a
stunning landscape or professional-quality portrait simply by leaving the camera
set to "Auto" and pressing the shutter release button. As a matter of fact, I
took one of the best photographs I have ever taken after having my very first
camera for less than a week. It was a little 2.1 megapixel Sony point-and-shoot,
and I basically just pointed it at a local grist mill and "shot" an image that
was so stunning that everyone thought I was a pro! It just happened to be around
10:30am and the morning sunlight illuminated the mill to perfection, creating a
magnificent reflection on the mill pond.
- Subject - One of the easiest ways to capture a great image is to have a great
subject to photograph. Think about it - have you ever seen a "bad" picture of
Niagara Falls? I sure haven't. If you're shooting a landmark or natural feature
that is stunning to look at, the odds are pretty good that you'll end up with a
great photo.
- Quantity - One of the best ways to make sure you bring home at least one or
two outstanding images is to capture a bunch of them. For example, if you're
photographing an old barn, take several pictures from different angles using a
variety of camera settings. Odds are, there will be a few "wall-hangers" in the
bunch. And now that digital cameras are so affordable, it's easy and inexpensive
to just snap away without giving the cost a second thought.
- Luck - There is something to be said for just plain being lucky! 90 percent of
the "battle" of taking a great photograph is simply being in the right place at
the right time under the right conditions, like I was when I took my beloved
grist mill photo.
Once you understand the intangible factors that go into creating great
photographs, you can then really begin to benefit from a good photography class
or a more expensive (actually, more capable) camera and a few well-chosen
accessories. And always remember, “There are no rules for good photographs,
there are only good photographs.” Now get out there and take some!
About the author:
Rick Rouse
is a photography enthusiast as well as the owner of TodaysPhoto.org.
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