Making a WOW Photo (Page 11): Why, shucks, I thought you'd never ask! Seriously, when I read your question, my first reaction was "IT JUST HAS TO BE WOW!" Then I calmed down and two...

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

BrettOssman wrote:

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.

Why, shucks, I thought you'd never ask! Seriously, when I read your question, my first reaction was "IT JUST HAS TO BE WOW!" Then I calmed down and two suggestions popped into my head: Red and Sky.

I am addicted to Red. If you look at the first image below, you'll see why I search for it:

It just works. It works to anchor the viewer's eye; it works to bring scale and interest to an image.

My second element, sky, is important to me--it goes without saying that all of this is preceded by "to me"--because the sky lends an ethereal quality to an image. Shoot something under a bald sky and you're working uphill all the way. Shoot something under a dramatic sky and you immediately have an edge. I used to be addicted to multiple-image HDR, but now I tend more toward scaled back HDR or to tone mapping. Both keep images in the "real" arena, but both are dramatic, even "WOW."

The second image, one of the Reichstag in Berlin, combines both of the elements I lean toward.

I hope this has been helpful.

Aboard the SS United States

Notice the red?
Notice the red?...

Shipwreckalan

Good choice to use at different times of the day,weather and year!

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

I am a retired architect so I naturally see lines and space. I like to shoot with a wide lens. To make a good photo I look for good light, saturated colors and contrast. For a great photo I look for emotion and a story. The attached says to me - early cold morning. Not great but in my view fair to good photo of a pretty often shot image.

The Bean in Chicago, Christmas sunrise.

tk Loc: Iowa

CHOLLY wrote:

Erv, It IS work as Russ (PalePictures) said... but if you like taking pictures then it shouldn't be viewed as a chore, but rather as both a learning experience and an opportunity to create something that truly gives you pleasure.

BTW, that image of Greg's is HEAVILY photoshopped. Created on his desktop rather than in the field. A different set of skills than those exhibited by Russ Elkins. ;)

Cholly, how can you tell that Gregoryd45's photo is heavily processed? And why does that negate a WOW photo?

Weddingguy Loc: British Columbia - Canada

BrettOssman wrote:

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.

The reason for the slow responses to your question is because there is no single, simple answer. A "wow" shot is not just terrific selection of DOF, or perfect exposure, or great composition, or super interesting subject matter, or a perfect combination of colors, or just the right amount of "pop", or capturing the perfect moment in time, or . . . . .

It's all of the above and more. I personally believe that there is still an element of luck involved and only a pecentage of the ingredients of the "wow" image can be pre-planned. You pre-plan all that you can, then be ready to grab that perfect moment that will happen if you are lucky.

Nobody shoots a "wow" picture every time they press the shutter release.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

To see the photo, you have to look at all angles, high and low, close and far, walking left and right to check the light. Ask yourself, what is the focus point, what is to be sharp, where you want bohken or not. To take wow shots you often have to be in wow places with wow light or be able to control the light. Don't forget to look at shapes, colors and textures, leading lines, foreground, mid and back for landscape.

Some people can see this in an instant others have to go through the process. For others, it is after taking 20,000 shots which entails a process of elimination and realization.

And sometimes the wow photo is only realized in post processing -- sigh Did I mention luck?

bphappy Loc: Arizona

I think you have to teach yourself to "See" as a photographer. I learned a lot by randomly stopping during a walk with the intention of locating a decent photo of something in sight from that spot. I look for color, texture, patterns, symmetry or persons that are interesting at each spot. Eventually I began to "See" without searching so hard.

gregoryd45 Loc: Fakahatchee Strand

Erv wrote:

This is a beautiful photograph. We should ask Greg... (show quote)

Hi Erv, This shot was one of 26 I took and out of those I would post 11 of them on UHH, however I don't post more then one shot from any given shoot. I am always prepared, know my camera, and know when to be out in the field. Every time I depress the shutter I am expecting a WOW shot or I would not bother being out there. Know your terrain, lighting and habits of the birds. Contrary to what one person has said I do no PP, other then crop, or slight increase in contrast, and really don't appreciate some one saying I HEAVILY Photoshop, certainly not someone who has never posted a shot. This is the reason I don't get involved with this type of thread, but for you Erv I would. This was the shot just prior to the WOW shot alluded to.

SportsMom Loc: Texas

I really do believe in the rule of thirds. I think it makes for some of the best shots!

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

Mine is straight from camera to iPad to phone to upload. Actually uploaded the wrong photo. The one below was intended - with the snow on top.

Los-Angeles-Shooter Loc: Los Angeles

This is a fascinating topic, especially so since the "wow" factor varies by situation and type of shot. Some are from powerful colors, others from juxtaposition. Some journalistic shots are nothing special except that they capture historic moments. And some "wow" shots are fraudulent journalism: both the BBC and Reuters are notorious for "arranging" shots in conflict zones rather than reportage.

Jambulee Loc: San Antonio del Mar,Tijuana,Mex

amehta wrote:

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

This image of the eyes is not a WOW for me but it is well done. I think you've cropped out to much of the context. However it does bring up a very important part of the discussion--Post Processing. Not only must we be inspired out in the field or studio but we MUST understand what can be done in post processing. I'm always thinking about this when I'm out photographing. It is in the digital darkroom where much of the magic happens and a ho hum image is turned into a masterpiece. This is just as true today as it was in the days of film.

Here is an example: many mornings when I walk my dog I see the peach colored sky in the west mixed with the blue pastels. I wondered how could I best capture this scene? I thought about it for many days so familiarity with the scene played a big part and also knowing that HDR was the best tool of choice to bring out the colors. The foreground was in deep shadow as the sun hadn't hit there yet it was about 2 1/2 stops under the sky and Island in the distance but I knew HDR would help here. I also used LR4's gradient tool after Tonemapping in Photomatix to make the sky look like what I see in the mornings. These were taken hand held with a 50mm canon lens on a 60D,

Here are the minus 2 stops and '0' exposures and the finished image

-2 exp 1/1500 sec f8 ISO 800

'0' exp 1/350

finished image

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

Mr PC wrote:

I'm a computer guy and am learning all of the tech... (show quote)

you can study tell the cows come home . in fact there's is a lot of hedge hoggers that can write there own book on how to take and what makes a wow
photograph . but in fact no matter how much they try themselves it's hit or miss . and more misses than hits . and it's the same for every one , the only thing you can do is practice , practice , practice . and you still may not be able to get a decent photo . but there is a few gifted people who can . get a lot more of so called wow than the general population . because they see in different ways than most people do . same as if your a artist at painting or drawing ,if your not gifted you will never be as good as the ones who are . you can paint or draw for years and study all you want . but you will never match
any one who has it naturally in themselves . I knew a guy who built wooden fish boat's , gill netter's . never had a lesson in his life , but he made two a year in his boat shed . he had so many orders he couldent fill them in his life time , no one eles could make one like his no matter how hard they tried to copy his boats .

Shipwreckalan

L-A Shooter

Right on the $! One important thought - As long as you feel it, nothing else matters. Unless you are out to please others.
A

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

tk wrote:

Cholly, how can you tell that Gregoryd45's photo is heavily processed? And why does that negate a WOW photo?

NEVER read into another persons posts, things that were neither stated directly NOR implied.

Nowhere did I say Gregs photo was NOT a WOW photograph. I said it heavily photoshopped meaning it was obvious. In the context of comparing Russ Elkins photos which while touched up, did not show obvious signs of heavy processing.

BTW, you can tell a photoshopped image when you see one IF you understand light.

Look at the light on the egrets. Then look at the surrounding swamp. Check the color of the light, the intensity, and most importantly, the direction.

Now look for evidence of layers and masks... particularly at transition point in the image(s). The water where the standing egret is for example. See the difference?

On the other hand, Russ Elkins (PalePicture) has a youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=p9YL4n2h9oY

He post processed each of those photos also, but NONE of them LOOK overdone.