rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

If the "flaws" are deliberate, are they really flaws? To suggest there is only one correct way to shoot a scene and anything that deviates from this presumed ideal (be it exposure, focus, composition, or tonal rendition) should be considered an error, also removes photography as a form of unrestrained and truly free artistic expression.

dustie Loc: Nose to the grindstone

For a constructive comment: thank you for opening this topic.

From there on, I don't know if I can pose a good answer, because I have too many questions.

For several reasons, I do not have much confidence in being around many people, especially not for making photographs, because I have so little experience in photography. How can I possibly make a photo which tells a human interest story which could possibly outweigh the technical flaws of the photo, if I have not the confidence to be in the necessary evironment to do that?

Seeing the technical excellence of photos made by others, makes me want to match what they produce, but I can't on two fronts:
-- I lack the knowledge, skill and experience, but I keep reading and practicing to hopefully change that.
-- I do not have equipment capable of matching the technical quality that the equipment of others can produce, nor do I have the means to acquire better equipment any time in the forseeable future. Should I be concerned at this point that not that much of what I do will grab attention, if the technical perfection which I cannot produce is the key to worthy photos?

If it is true that a picture is worth a thousand words, how can improvement be made in finding a means to make the photos I do make tell a story someone may stop to read?

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

I think you just "hijacked" this post....

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Who suggests it is a flaw - the self styled critic or the general public. Is 'Perfection' the ultimate aim ? Or is the photograph 'Iconic.'
Look at old images taken in film that are classed as 'important ' and ask yourself 'do you like it?'. Given today's software, exactly how much difference would you expect to make and would it 'improve ' it's standing in the eyes of those who made it important.

Photography is a mix of science and emotion. The why - of what can become an iconic image is going to be a debate.

have fun

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Of course anyone can create content, paint a picture, sing a song, take a picture, cook a meal. But that is not the same as what the OP asked about when he talked about content that really grabbed the viewer, or what I was talking about when I said a picture that was amazing.

How many movies have you seen in your lifetime, how many ads? How many were truly amazing? How many forgotten? How many bands created content like the Beatles? You can have the resources and ideas and complete your vision and get 3 likes on Facebook from your friends. Or you can post something amazing, but very rarely.

srt101fan

I agree with you, but, as you said, others might not. I think "soul" is pretty descriptive!

srt101fan

What do you mean? I'm confused...

User ID

The nuns in the frame are doing nothing of note.
However the photo has great graphic quality, so
no visible flaws are tolerable cuz the photo is all
about the imagery and not really about content.

User ID

Those are not flaws.

Limbs are not cut off.
They are just cropped.
The edge of the frame
is NOT a bone saw :-O
The frame highlights a
segment of a very much
wider world. It is NOT a
world in and of itself.

Backgrounds are not
"badly" exposed just
simply for being very
light or very dark.

Unless, acoarst, your
main client happens
to be Hall Mark Cards.

Rules are not "made to
be broken". They are
made to be learned and
then forever ignored.

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Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

My God, it’s true! Once you post something to the “internets”, it never goes away! 😁

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

Unanswerable. The reason it's unanswerable is that the variables are probably in the thousands. Here are the variables as I see them:
"Content." It has been true for centuries that all art--from religious, to fine, to commercial, to popular--has to have it. Yet, even within each grouping, and the many others, what is good content varies. For a while, Michelangelo was considered a minor artist, if an Artist at all. Gerhard Richter's photo-paintings (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/607634174701253656/)are totally out of focus and bland, yet considered so full of content that they are in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The tradition understanding of content is much more than "subject." It is the idea/emotion created by the subject PLUS the elements (technique, color,shapes,teztures, values, edge.....), and composition--at a particular time.

"Viewer."Your local bartender is not likely to "see" the same thing that a curator an art museum or the editor of a photo magazine would "see."

Without noting what specific viewing audience is being talked about, you don't stand a chance of balancing content/technique. Even within each audience, the gray area is likely to be quite large.

The edit I made has some out of focus. The intended audience is fine art photography. The content is the irony that the girl is locked in ordered geometry, while the nuns, considered to represent order, are blurred and indefinite. The composition, edges, and values all contribute to this content. Art is meant to share a unique view, idea, or emotion. Lack of technical things like shadow detail, range of tones, sharpness not only do not harm the photo, they MAKE the photo.

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srt101fan

You're absolutely right Dennis, the viewpoint of the viewer is a major consideration. I was not more specific because I wasn't really sure where I was going with this topic. I guess I was hoping for a good discussion to help me think through it....and I am getting that. An interesting topic, I think, but not an easy one to address. Thanks for jumping in.

srt101fan

Thanks for participating CHG. Your comments are always valuable (well, most of the time... ). Now you got me thinking about nuns crossing Abbey Road....

srt101fan

Your opinions are always valued Andy. I saw a PBS special on Winogrand not too long ago. Still not sure about him....

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

If I didn’t mention it earlier, I do want to emphasize that I really, really like the “nun” shot. In whatever version or edit, it’s an outstanding shot.

Andy