Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

An short article I came across and a little basic but it makes some important points for those who like their work to be interesting and hold the attention of the viewer.

http://www.picturecorrect.com/tips/what-makes-some-photographs-better-than-others/

Feel free to add your own ideas of what makes an image interesting. Interesting can cover a multitude of sins so if we consider it here as the sort of thing one would hang on ones wall at home to look at daily we may end up all speaking the same language.

djtravels Loc: Georgia boy now

For me, in a lot of cases, I try to look for simplicity. Define what you want to convey and leave the rest of the garbage out. Don't know if I expressed myself very well here, but I tried. djt

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

That is a good basic summary of desirable elements to make a memorable photo. I think IQ is also an important consideration. Sometimes sharp focus and great clarity can grab and hold my attention when the photo might otherwise be so so. There are situations where the photographers intent might change the nature of IQ in a positive way such as selective focus, soft focus, mist, etc. depending on the nature of the shot.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

More significant is what makes the interest memorable! And in fact MIT has done some research, and using Artificial Intelligence they can predict how likely people are to remember having seen a image.

This is not universal. It doesn't work well with certain types of images. Their concept of memorable is specific and may not be the same as we might find useful on any given day.

But you can submit an image and have it analyzed and rated!

Demo

To learn more about what it does, see Details

Frank2013 Loc: San Antonio, TX. & Milwaukee, WI.

From some one unsure whether this is a forum where nothing caint be learnt......thanks for the link Mr. Spad.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

I think it would be most interesting - and educational - to post pics that show what each of us does have hanging on our walls

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

These basic pointers do fit into what makes an image interesting in most reference materials, and can be traced back to visual perception theories. I notice geometrics more than anything else in most photos, but some images that defy classification/dissection
still have strong appeal to me. Some photographers can make anything interesting. Jim Hill made a fascinating series photographing trash dumpsters, while I can't make an interesting image of an iconic landscape made famous in paintings by Andrew Wyeth.

And there are lots of photos I find excellent but would not want on my walls. I wouldn't want a street image hung on my wall , even one by Cartier-Bresson. I wouldn't want any of the wonderful journalistic photos, or a portrait of someone I don't know. I admire them but don't wanta look at em on the wall. Give me nice landscapes or nature photos or abstracts for the walls.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

I'd encourage everyone to give it a try with your favorite photos! I tried it when it first came out, with my own and some iconic photos from the public domain, and got amusing results all the way around. I've only won one juried competition, and that photo scored very low on the computer rating. However, a careless snap of a red boat in bad light with a ton of distractions and slanted horizon scored much higher.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Might be a good thread, Linda. I did a scout of my walls when I was working on my "castle" photo and learned quite a bit about myself and the influences of my walls on my photography and vice versa.

I'm about to add a whole lot of huge and empty walls to my life, and they will beg to be filled, so I've got some planning to do, and some space to do it in...

pfrancke Loc: cold Maine

My take is that there are two types of images that are interesting.. For one, interest, like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That is, an interesting image is one that a person is "interested" in. That is a place you have been, a person that you care about, it is personal.

For an image to be universally interesting, the image must capture something that is newsworthy, or something that touches all of us, or perhaps just something that "surprises" us - something unexpected - man bites dog kind of thing. And then added to that image is good light, good composition, etc. So I would argue for a well taken, well composed shot of a special moment of a special thing. A combination of supporting factors of something that you are familiar but perhaps in a unique way you have never before seen.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

And that could lead to a discussion of which walls. Which photos or other art fit the below. All would be different, no?

1. bright, cheery sunroom or kitchen
2. soothing and restful, dark bedroom
3. ultra-sleek, contemporary office space
4. "non-threatening" doctor or dentist's office

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

The article touches all the basics. Lines, color, great places, shapes. All these are important. He also touches on the intangible which is some people are just drawn to certain things. This is as personal as it is varied. I might find interest, and I did, in a bunch of weeds growing out of a bog. I simplified this image to the point where the water was not actually visible and the weeds became the only subject. Although this photo did well in a local competition, I'm sure that there are many who would not like the photo because it does not have anything really interesting in it. You, for example, might consider such a photo to be "FYC fodder". An attempt to make uninteresting stuff interesting. Someone else might consider the photo "inspired" or "stunning" or "powerful". These are all impressions that different people can have about one photo. That is the real beauty of the photograph. If there were such a thing as the most beautiful photo in the world and it were hanging on a wall where nobody can see it, then it has no value. When it is shared and discussed and, hopefully, admired; then it takes on a life of its own that transcends its intrinsic beauty.

Erich

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Well please feel free to start the ball rolling and post some of yours here. Its the first thing I look at when I enter a strange house is see what if anything they have on their walls. There is a trend towards minimalism type walls it appears with only white paint covering them. Such a shame I always feel.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Linda started a new thread about the walls, pretty fun and interesting so far.

I've acquired an entire houseful of those white painted walls that are begging for stuff to go on them! It'll be fun to figure out how to fill up a whole new set. Maybe I'll get some ideas here. I'm already thinking about some frames like one Linda showed, since I have 10 spare windows just like that one.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Here you go:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-413231-1.html

I'm willing to bet you have a portrait of your beautiful wife you could share with us.