What makes an image "worth looking at" ?
Jun 11, 2022 15:33:54 #
R.G. wrote:
The answer to "What" should give us usea... (show quote)
I dont think while shooting. The "what" may arise while editing. Given a shot worth working on, its good to uncover *what* makes it seem to be worth the work cuz that can guide the editing.
As to the idea of "visually arresting" I think it depends on the audience. Posted pix tell me that ultra wide perspective applied to red rock landscapes is visually arresting for certain audiences. But not for me. Seen one and youve seen them all. Same goes for *generic* colorful street scenes in Latin American towns, seen one, seen them all. For me, not much is arresting anymore. For some audiences, an excellent execution of a well worn theme will suffice.
Jun 11, 2022 15:36:36 #
Images of what you want to see
Images of things, people you like
Images of things, people you know
Images of things, people you like
Images of things, people you know
Jun 11, 2022 16:03:01 #
RichardTaylor wrote:
On a personal level it is images that invoke memories and that means mostly family, and some vacation photographs.
It is not the 'scapes or sports or bird photographs.
Here is an example.
It is not the 'scapes or sports or bird photographs.
Here is an example.
This is "beauty", for sure a must to make a photo worth looking at.
Jun 11, 2022 16:07:30 #
R.G. wrote:
No single definitive answer, but there are probabl... (show quote)
There is so much in that photo to make it worth looking at....and then looking again and again. The beauty of the scene, the light, the interest in the road (leading line) that makes you wonder where it leads, the soft peaceful look and "power" of the mountain, the water, all interesting and beautiful to see.
Jun 11, 2022 16:09:49 #
Horseart wrote:
There is so much in that photo to make it worth looking at....and then looking again and again. The beauty of the scene, the light, the interest in the road (leading line) that makes you wonder where it leads, the soft peaceful look and "power" of the mountain, the water, all interesting and beautiful to see.
Thank you Jo.
Jun 11, 2022 16:19:46 #
I have never really had to wonder what makes a picture worth looking at. I'll know when it makes me say "WOW" or "WHOA". I'll know if I keep wanting to go back and take another look or 7 or 10. I'll know if it makes me smile or if it makes me wonder if I could ever get a photo like that. I'll know if it reaches out to really GRAB my attention. It's never something I can tell you just any time. I can only tell you when it says "LOOK LOOK LOOK!!!!" Look at the story it tells. Look at the interest it creates, Look at the beauty. Look where it takes me. Look at how it makes me feel. I may smile, I may feel rain rolling down my cheeks, I may feel anger or pity, sorrow or compassion, even admiration or amazement. It must cause some kind of feeling for me to feel it's worth looking at. I think RG said the word...interest.
Jun 11, 2022 16:24:18 #
Horseart wrote:
This is "beauty", for sure a must to make a photo worth looking at.
Thanks very much.
Jun 11, 2022 16:50:19 #
RichardTaylor wrote:
On a personal level it is images that invoke memories and that means mostly family, and some vacation photographs.
It is not the 'scapes or sports or bird photographs.
Here is an example.
It is not the 'scapes or sports or bird photographs.
Here is an example.
This is a very tender photograph and will surely be treasured by family members for years into the future.
Jun 11, 2022 16:57:29 #
gvarner wrote:
Wow, you sure have an itchy trigger finger. Your grievances are showing.
What grievances Jun 11, 2022 17:10:49 #
Here's one from the late fifties. I didn't take, did help develop and do own it.
Jun 11, 2022 17:12:20 #
I live on an island taking a stroll on Memorial Day. The attached said something to me about how some people feel.
Jun 11, 2022 17:28:57 #
CPR wrote:
Here's one from the late fifties. I didn't take, did help develop and do own it.
Yep, that's a sweet story...."worth looking at" in my book!
Jun 11, 2022 18:33:53 #
nervous2 wrote:
This is a very tender photograph and will surely be treasured by family members for years into the future.
Thank you very much.
Jun 11, 2022 19:27:53 #
User ID wrote:
What makes an image worth looking at ? Clearly theres no single definitive answer, yet there must be many good answers.
Please feel welcome to post images, from any source, as both positive and negative examples of your own thoughts about the question. Thank you.
Please feel welcome to post images, from any source, as both positive and negative examples of your own thoughts about the question. Thank you.
Quite often it is the clickbait of the title...
bwa
Jun 11, 2022 19:38:17 #
The good and various answers prove the point there is no one definitive answer...unless that answer could be "it depends"?
It seems that reply..."it depends"...aptly applies to so many, if not all parts of the search for definitive answers in photography.
There seems to mostly be the consideration of "recreational" or "enjoyment viewing" in the range of replies.
Is there also room for another angle of approach in consideration of what makes a photo worth viewing? -- something more "utilitarian" rather than "recreational" in nature?
For example, four or five years ago, I received an assignment to attempt to get a (1930's? or '40's? or '50's?) German-made industrial engine, (which had been sitting unused for six or eight years), running again. (You know, the old "it still ran when we put it in storage here" line of assignment.)
Well, I certainly regret I did not keep the phone pic of the specification tag riveted to the side of the engine block, because it could illustrate its "utilitarian" worth so effectively.
The parts store does not have parts catalogs in German, and using an online translator was very, very limited in its effectiveness, and neither the harried parts man nor I read German. But, we were able to decifer some limited information about the machine based on numbers which were seen in the photo, in various boxes on the spec tag. It was a strikeout at the regular parts store, however.
Ultimately, on a chance, I went to another town farther away, and checked in with some fellows at a place where they do a bit of specialty jobs on some not particularly common equipment, sometimes.
Due to the assistance of the photo of the spec tag, they texted the photo to one of their suppliers as they were on phone and computers with their contact there, and we were able to brainstorm and calculate to come up with enough useable info from various numbers on the tag to make it possible to locate in English language parts lists, parts which are correct fit.
That photo, not artistic in the least, not technically outstanding in any stretch of the photographic imagination, not evoking any sentimental-peaceful-emotional, etc., response from any of us, performed its "utilitarian" duty in a way that certainly made it worth looking at....but not in a way that made us want to go back and look at it periodically for emotional satisfaction and old times sake, I suppose.
--------
These first two photos illustrate another "utilitarian" situation, in which it was worth it to look at a photo.
They made it possible to show some inexperienced property owners, by use of very few words, how a dirty vs cleaned filter had such an impact on the flow (or absence of flow) of water in their irrigation setup.
------
I don't know what category fits these last three photos.
They are victims of post processing, because the very flat, diffuse light of that overcast day did not provide contrast at a level where neither by eye nor by what the sensor picked up could much detail be seen. (I know, I know...someone might say they are not photos!!!...they're graphics, or fakes!!!...because...GASP!!...they were post processed.)
Someday, I'll likely go back out there, when there is some good, strong sunlight, to see if good contrast and detail can be photo'd directly, or I may find opportunity to go back there in the dark of night and try some sidelighting with artificial emitters. For now, I did some trials with contrast and curves adjustments to attempt bringing out some detail to see if the "petroglyph" is:
H. H. S. (or 5.)
37
or if it is:
H. A. S. (or 5.)
37
When was it made?
Who made it?
Is 37 in reference to a year...1737, 1837, 1937?
Is 37 in reference to something other than a year? If so, what?
Is it something important, or just some old-time doodling?
Was any of my blathering on worth a look?
Are any of these pictures worth a look?
"Prolly" that all depends.
It seems that reply..."it depends"...aptly applies to so many, if not all parts of the search for definitive answers in photography.
There seems to mostly be the consideration of "recreational" or "enjoyment viewing" in the range of replies.
Is there also room for another angle of approach in consideration of what makes a photo worth viewing? -- something more "utilitarian" rather than "recreational" in nature?
For example, four or five years ago, I received an assignment to attempt to get a (1930's? or '40's? or '50's?) German-made industrial engine, (which had been sitting unused for six or eight years), running again. (You know, the old "it still ran when we put it in storage here" line of assignment.)
Well, I certainly regret I did not keep the phone pic of the specification tag riveted to the side of the engine block, because it could illustrate its "utilitarian" worth so effectively.
The parts store does not have parts catalogs in German, and using an online translator was very, very limited in its effectiveness, and neither the harried parts man nor I read German. But, we were able to decifer some limited information about the machine based on numbers which were seen in the photo, in various boxes on the spec tag. It was a strikeout at the regular parts store, however.
Ultimately, on a chance, I went to another town farther away, and checked in with some fellows at a place where they do a bit of specialty jobs on some not particularly common equipment, sometimes.
Due to the assistance of the photo of the spec tag, they texted the photo to one of their suppliers as they were on phone and computers with their contact there, and we were able to brainstorm and calculate to come up with enough useable info from various numbers on the tag to make it possible to locate in English language parts lists, parts which are correct fit.
That photo, not artistic in the least, not technically outstanding in any stretch of the photographic imagination, not evoking any sentimental-peaceful-emotional, etc., response from any of us, performed its "utilitarian" duty in a way that certainly made it worth looking at....but not in a way that made us want to go back and look at it periodically for emotional satisfaction and old times sake, I suppose.
--------
These first two photos illustrate another "utilitarian" situation, in which it was worth it to look at a photo.
They made it possible to show some inexperienced property owners, by use of very few words, how a dirty vs cleaned filter had such an impact on the flow (or absence of flow) of water in their irrigation setup.
------
I don't know what category fits these last three photos.
They are victims of post processing, because the very flat, diffuse light of that overcast day did not provide contrast at a level where neither by eye nor by what the sensor picked up could much detail be seen. (I know, I know...someone might say they are not photos!!!...they're graphics, or fakes!!!...because...GASP!!...they were post processed.)
Someday, I'll likely go back out there, when there is some good, strong sunlight, to see if good contrast and detail can be photo'd directly, or I may find opportunity to go back there in the dark of night and try some sidelighting with artificial emitters. For now, I did some trials with contrast and curves adjustments to attempt bringing out some detail to see if the "petroglyph" is:
H. H. S. (or 5.)
37
or if it is:
H. A. S. (or 5.)
37
When was it made?
Who made it?
Is 37 in reference to a year...1737, 1837, 1937?
Is 37 in reference to something other than a year? If so, what?
Is it something important, or just some old-time doodling?
Was any of my blathering on worth a look?
Are any of these pictures worth a look?
"Prolly" that all depends.
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