BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

One thing I'm trying to learn is to see a WOW photograph, before I even shoot it. Not as easy as it may sound, at least in my case.

Thought I'd start a discussion on this topic. There are no right or wrong answers here, IMHO. This is totally subjective.

When you are out shooting, what do you look for to create a WOW photo vs. a snapshot or commonplace photo?

Let's start here and see where this goes.

MtnMan Loc: ID

I want to learn what you find out too!

Nice thought.

Wild Life Loc: Sunny Southern California

Where are all the experts now when you need them?

amehta Loc: Boston

I look for something unusual, or a different way to see the usual.

Hankwt Loc: kingsville ontario

Wow is what i said the first time I laid eyes on the lady that ended up being my wife of 33 years. I think looking for a wow moment may be somewhat impossible. Not totally impossible as is exhibitted by some really fantastic photographers. I think that some of lifes really WOW moments just happen. WOW cant be forced. WOW cant be faked. Look into the eyes of a little child ......... thats WOW. Keep searching- thats what makes WOW fun.

amehta Loc: Boston

With portraits, and other people shots, I think the goal is to capture the energy and emotion of the situation in the person's expression. If someone looks at the picture and thinks, "I know exactly what they were thinking or feeling," the image is successful.

Pixelpixie88 Loc: Northern Minnesota

I tend to think of people photos as "snapshots" and your regular everyday photos. And that would be because I don't do portrait photography..I don't know how. However, I can appreciate a beautiful portrait of a person and there are people in here that can do that.
What wows me is being outside..catching an unexpected moment when you are just in the right place at the right time. For example, driving on a remote trail and all of a sudden there is a moose! Or, being out early and the sun rises on a country road and lights up the trees and snow is glistening. In a nutshell, it's the "unexpected"!

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

Fair enough, but I suspect some folks have ways to increase their chances of finding WOW. Or, if I shoot X this way, I'll get WOW. :-)

silver Loc: Santa Monica Ca.

Being in the right place at the right time, knowing your equipment, knowing how to visualize.

Hankwt Loc: kingsville ontario

very true !!!

amehta Loc: Boston

Would this be a snapshot, or something heading in the direction of a WOW shot? I'm asking seriously, I know I'm biased. :-)

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

I'm a computer guy and am learning all of the technical aspects of my equipment that I can. I'm confident I can and will do that. I'm not a born artist, but I do think you can learn what to look for, keep some basics in mind and take things to the next level. All of the basics like the rule of thirds and using leading lines have probably been beat to death here already. I saw one article where the author looks for curvy leading lines, like a snaking dirt road to lead your eye to the subject. Lately, I've been taking the first pictures that my instincts tell me will be pretty good and then I spend another hour or more just looking around for other angles of the same subject, other subjects in the immediate area, maybe step a foot or two to the right or left of where I was to see if something more interesting happens. Recently, I got my brother a nice p&s for his first decent camera and had him follow me around within 50 yards of his house, I with my DSLR and him with the new camera. We spent 2 hours and got some great macro pictures of flowers, some HDR fall color shots with dramatic clouds, we laid on our backs looking up at trees, etc. It was amazing what we could do without leaving his property. This is a good exercise wherever you go to shoot, whether it's intentional or serendipity takes you and your camera to somewhere cool. Also, I've personally learned a lot from Tony Northrup's How to Create Stunning Digital Photography and recommend the Kindle ebook at Amazon.com, since it has lots of links to his private youtube tutorials. If you get this book, when he updates it, you get the updates for free. It's only about $10, half the price of the wooden book.

BrettOssman Loc: near Tampa, Florida

Not a snapshot for sure.

Now did you just try a lot of different shots, and lucked into this one. That would be me. :lol: Or did you use some sort of plan or technique to look the subject over?

dooragdragon Loc: Alma , Arkansas

One does not create wow, if one is lucky enough you manage to capture wow,the right place, right time, right equipment.
A wow photo might be you are out shooting lighting and lo and behold the moment you press the shutter the lighting strikes a tree , barn or something metal and you have captured that moment forever , thats a wow photo example, something unexpected happening while you are shooting photo's not a staged photo, another example would be watching a drag or nascar race taking photos and bam all of a sudden theres a crash or explosion right before your eyes as you press the shutter.
Those are wow photo's in my opinion, something that happens unexpected not staged.
What's that old saying ? oh yea being in the right place at the right time.
Pete

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

One person's WOW is another persons ho humm. If the shot moves the soul or stirs emotion then in my opinion it's a WOW shot. Again what stirs one may put another to sleep. If the scene or subject moves you then try and capture it and if it moves another then you've captured a WOW moment. Just because a shot doesn't WOW everyone who views it doesn't mean it's not a WOW shot. So look for those things that move you or stirs your soul.