Determining 'Good'

[macandcheese]

Good day everyone!

I was wondering...How do you personally decide if a photo is 'good' or not? I know some people judge them based on technique and technical aspects, and a lot of people just think they are good if it pleases them. How do you decide?

For me it is a more personal thing. If the photo moves me, or means something, or if I can see that it would mean something to someone else (especially the photographer) then it is a good photo. Technical elements do play a small part. I like it when photographers can get really creative with that.

So...tell me what y'all think, and have a blessed day!

 

[Deamiter]

I think that technical aspects are by far the main elements that lead me to judge a photo as good or bad. At the same time, I fully aknowledge that photos can hold sentimental value. I certainly have a very extensive collection of 'bad' photos that mean something to me -- they remind me of something that I want to remember -- something precious.

That said, once the little technical details like exposure and color are taken care of -- meaning that the photo isn't horribly washed out with greenish skin tones -- composition is the most important to me. Specifically, I notice most of all where my eye is drawn in the photograph. Some shapes and lines keep your eye moving around the picture, while some other subjects will hold your eye and keep it there so you hardly notice the background.

Of course, this is where subjectivity comes in. I believe strongly that there are good and bad ways that the eye can be drawn around a picture, but I am also convinced that this good or bad is largely defined by culture and not some overarching definition of beauty. I have continually found that the more I know about the background of a photograph -- especially the photographer and the culture in which it was taken -- the more I actually enjoy the composition of the photograph.

I think it's true with any kind of art. Beauty is universal, but expressions of beauty are largely cultural. Not every photograph is 'good' in ANY culture. I've certainly produced my fair share of horrible photos! However, I've seriously found that especially when art is generally regarded as good by other artists, learning about the culture it was produced in really helps to see the beauty in it.

 

[MadeInOz]

I dunno, I have a kind of esoteric approach to judging the quality of photographs. As a very amateur photographer myself, I don't really have the vocabulary to say "Oh this has nice construction" or whatever, but... I know what I like. Whether it's in focus, whether there's a clear subject or not... I dunno...

I utterly dislike photoshopped photographs though. (well, other than resize/crops) ... I prefer au naturale.

 

[fisherman2]

It may sound silly, but i try to see the picture in my head before i take, i take pictures to please me, don't need to impress anyone else.

 

[JohnR7]

I know some people judge them based on technique and technical aspects, and a lot of people just think they are good if it pleases them. How do you decide?

I work a lot on the photos in adobe, so that is a big consideration. But for the most part I try to please myself.
Also, I always try to improve what I am doing. I like a bright, clear, sharp photo.

 

[traingosorry]

I think that technical aspects are by far the main elements that lead me to judge a photo as good or bad. At the same time, I fully aknowledge that photos can hold sentimental value. I certainly have a very extensive collection of 'bad' photos that mean something to me -- they remind me of something that I want to remember -- something precious.

That said, once the little technical details like exposure and color are taken care of -- meaning that the photo isn't horribly washed out with greenish skin tones -- composition is the most important to me. Specifically, I notice most of all where my eye is drawn in the photograph. Some shapes and lines keep your eye moving around the picture, while some other subjects will hold your eye and keep it there so you hardly notice the background.

heheheh.... you have tried helping me with some of this advice on my deviantpics...haha I appreciate it, but I am hopeless, OR its completely out of my control!!

 

[ElElohe]

This is a question and one not easily answered. Hence it is a good question *wink*

Most of what I learned about photo theory actually came from my History of Photography course in college. This was the most difficult class I took in college (and it wasn't required! the prof spent the first 20 minutes of the first class literally trying to get people to drop!) but one of the most rewarding, as it often goes. We started at the beginning and looked in detail at a lot of the most influential photographers. We dissected their prints.

I think this is a great place to start with this good question.

 

[Billnew]

I look at a picture with the philosphy learned in art school.

Is the picture balanced, Does the highlights keep you flowing.
Do they lean towards one side. Do they take you away from the picture.

Is the picture interesting. Does it show interesting points or perspective.

Is it unique. Or is it another picture of the same picture others have taken.(like
portraits, same poses)
This is how I look at my photos.

 

[Jer]

I determine a picture as being good if it is techinically accurate mostly. There is nothing wrong will millions of pictures in the world that are, so they aren't bad, but there needs to be something special if I find a picture outstanding. I judge this by seeing if I like it. Sure, if there is rules such as the thirds one then it is good, but they aren't vital.

 

[Piano Player]

There are many things that can make a photograph "good" in my opinion.

The most important to me is whether the photograph "communicates" to me. Like a religious icon, a great photograph opens a whole world of story, emotion, or memory. It can be private, like a family memory; it can be publicly shared, like Capra's D-Day photographs. Event photographs like these can have flaws (like some of Capra's), but the meaning behind them overtakes any artistic or technical shortcoming.

Many photographs attempt to communicate a universal feeling or emotion unrelated to a specific or known event. These kind of photographs I tend to view a lot more critically for composition, technical merit, imagination, and clarity. Too many of these photographs contain too much "extra stuff." One of the great advantages a painter has over a photographer is the ability to choose what goes into the image. Photographers have choice too, but too few do what they have to do to do it well. Depth of field, perspective, lens choice, and light are the means for photographers to highlight their subjects, while keeping the non-essential elements from distracting. If I immediately react to the photograph with either emotion or understanding, I know the photographer has succeeded.

 

[macandcheese]

Many photographs attempt to communicate a universal feeling or emotion unrelated to a specific or known event. These kind of photographs I tend to view a lot more critically for composition, technical merit, imagination, and clarity. Too many of these photographs contain too much "extra stuff." One of the great advantages a painter has over a photographer is the ability to choose what goes into the image. Photographers have choice too, but too few do what they have to do to do it well. Depth of field, perspective, lens choice, and light are the means for photographers to highlight their subjects, while keeping the non-essential elements from distracting. If I immediately react to the photograph with either emotion or understanding, I know the photographer has succeeded.

Hear hear!
I agree. Very well put!
Composition is something I often notice first. You can change the mood of a photograph so much just by changing the composition. Right now I am trying to work on playing with light and perspective, as well as compostion, to make better photos. It is hard for me to think of so many things at once: aperture settings, film speed, shutter speed, light, angle, etc. etc. etc. I am learning though, taking it one step at a time!