WayneHiggins.com
Fine Art Photography
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Copyright Wayne Higgins 2002
"The Perfect photo"
A look at the elements of a good photograph and how to achieve
them.
As photographers we all seek to create that
"perfect photo". Whether we try to emulate the works of those we admire
or set off with our own vision, there are a number of elements that make up
a good photograph. While art is a subjective study and everyone has their own
opinion as to what constitutes a good photo, these are things to keep in mind
as you look through your viewfinder. We will not be looking at the fundamentals
of focus or exposure, but take it as a given that the photographer has achieved
sharp focus (if that is the intention) and correct exposure. These are a topic
for another discussion.
I have tried to break down the elements I believe contribute to moving the photo
out of the category of snapshot to something a little more interesting. While
the basic focus of this discussion is aimed toward landscape and nature photography,
the ideas set forth have relevance in other areas as well.
Purpose
What is the purpose of the photograph? Is it meant to be
a record of an event or object or is its purpose that of a piece of fine art?
Or both? Are you merely taking snapshots to remember specific events such as
family outings or would you like the photo to have broader appeal. While the
family snapshot is fine in its place I assume most of us want something more
from our photography.
A good photo should evoke an emotional response from the viewer. The response
need not be the same from every viewer as we all see things relative to our
own background and environment. Commercial photography is typically developed
with the idea of selling a given product or service. In this case the response
should be of a positive nature. Art and journalistic photography can evoke either
positive or negative responses based on the subject and the photographer's point
of view.
