What does it take to be a good photographer? How do you recognize a good picture?

Answer 1

6 elements of photography (best used as guidelines, not rules)
-Simplicity
-The Rule of Thirds
-Lines
-Balance
-Framing
-Avoiding Mergers

Here's a brief explanation:
Simplicity
Find the focus of the picture. Elliminate multiple subjects and have just one. That doesn't mean you can take a pic of say a group of people, but if you want to have just one person be the focus, you don't want all the others taking spliting or taking all of the attention . Like if you go to disneyland and are taking a pic of your friend and there is some guy who happened to be walking by that has hands waved up in the air and looks like he's shouting at someone. It takes the focus off of your friend.

The rule of thirds
Is a guide for have placement in your pic that is off-center.
Imagine the area your looking at to be divide into three sections horizontally and three vertically (thats 9 sections total). Most pictures are going to looking boring if the subject is placed exactly in the middle. Try moving it to one of the other sections than the middle one. You're taking a pic of someone running in a race. Lets say they are running towards the right side of your picture. If you take the picture with them in the right most section they will look like they're running out of the picture. If they are in the left section of the pic, then you eye runs with them and not off the side of the pic.

Line
Lines lead your eye. If you lines all coming towards the center of your pic that is where you will look. It's a bit harder for me to discribe this one (but it is my favorite to look for when taking pics)
If you use a lot of lines, it will focus your attention. If you use diagonal lines, it adds drama. For a softer look, look for more graceful rounded lines. Take a look at the link at the bottom, seeing examples will make more sence.

Balance
You want visual support in your pics. Your taking pics at a gymnastic practice. Your subject is on the balance beam. If you take the pic with them off to one side and one of the legs supporting the beam on the other pictured on the opposing half, they'll look as if they're gonna fall. It looks like they are standing on a tetter-totter (excuse my spelling of that word)! You must make sure to have both of the supports for the beam pictured, so it looks balanced.

Framing
Having objects in the forefront that focus on the subject. Stand near some trees and let one come close enough that it make a sort of frame around a portion of the outer edge of the pic. It makes pictures much more interesting.

Avoid mergers
I went to disneyworld and was taking pics of my sister. I noticed the sign for the dumbo ride and a really good idea hit me. So I tell her I'm gonna take a pic and tell her where to stand. I placed her in such a way that she was blocking the 'o' in dumbo and it looked like the word "dumb" was on a sign stick straight out of her head. Now of course I did do that on purpose, but if I wanted serious pic of her outside that ride, then I would not have achieved the focus I wanted. It's about avoiding things in the background that will look connected to your subject when you develop the pic.

I looked for some links you could go to, they are somewhat hard to find. But I found one I think illustrates these elements really clearly. Check it out

http://photoinf.com/General/KODAK/guidelines_for_better_photographic_composition.html

****One last piece of advice. If you want to be good at photography there is one thing you can do that is easy and will Vastly improve your skills. Buy like five rolls of film and then just go take tons of pictures of anything and everything! Did you know, to get the few incredible pictures used in an article for the National Geographic, their photographer will take literally hundreds if not thousands of pictures and most of them aren't very good. Don't expect to take one pic and have it turn out perfect! Take four or five (or a hundred!) and try it different ways. It'll start to make sence why some look better than others. Good Luck. Don't think I have much more advice, but feel free to email anytime with questions, sucess, concerns, or anything really.

Answer 2

All it takes to be just a "good" photographer is a sense of visual awareness and an understanding of what light, sensitized materials and the mechanics (using a camera or other light controlling device) of getting them together is all about.

This is proven by the ability of the photographer to repeat any shot (excepting unique circumstances like a plane crash) with identical results...and the plane crash shows timing and preparedness traits, not necessarily photographic skills...

Most portrait studios, news outlets, academic institutions or any other enterprise in any city in the country are filled with "good" photographers. Better photographers understand both the science of photography (optics, chemistry and physics, etc.) as well as the aesthetics (art, art history and design) and the psychology of the human animal - with how we respond to visual stimuli.

After that, the understanding how symbols of reality (3-dimensional everyday objects) play into their expression as metaphorical elements in a 2-dimensional print, transparency or digital file - separates the better from the best.

Those with all these abilities, plus a sense of good business can often make exceptionally high incomes - but those people are rare. Artist/photographer Richard Avedon was one of those types...

Good photographs are only good in the context in which they serve the viewer. For some, minimal standards of technical proficiency are necessary or even all that matters - for others, the mere subject matter is enough to make the photo "good" - no matter whether it is properly exposed, has good tonal range or color balance, or focus, etc..

If you happened to be curbside when Brad Pitt and Angelina stepped out of a cab in the evening under some bad fluorescent lights, but you had just enough time to grab your camera and get a slightly out of focus, greenish cast, poorly composed grab shot (- and if you are a fan - ) you'd think it was GREAT - and still show the shot to all your friends.

Some might say it was "good" - but that's only due to the subject matter, not your photographic skills!...But the photograph could still be considered "good" at the party. Anywhere else (in a different context) it is entirely debatable. The shot would be (most likely) worthless if anyone else were the subjects...

However, if hung on the wall in a gallery, some might see the plight of humanity within your symbols of 2 unknown people exiting a vehicle that pollutes the air...and the greenish cast lends a ghoulish horror to the perception that we are doing ourselves in (whether we are - or not - is irrelevant here...that's not the point...) - but hopefully you see the importance of context in viewing and subject matter coupled (or uncoupled) with photo technique.

As a photographer, you want to constantly hone your skills in the technical side of things, but also stay constantly aware of the world around you to better translate with the camera what you may at first have only looked at - into things that allow you to truly "see"....

Answer 3

Everyone has their own idea of what a good photograph is and who is a good photographer Some basics of a good photograph would include these principals:
Balance
Composition
Unity
Texture
Tonality
Focal Point
In most cases I consider a good photograph to be one that tells me something- it must not only be aesthetically pleasing- it must also speak to me in some way. A good photograph should have a strong composition which moves your eyes around the entire image. The balance of the image is very important- you wouldn't want a photograph that was very dark and heavy on one side and not so much on the other. The photo should be Unified, meaning all elements of the photograph should work well together. Texture and Tonality are also important in creating the photograph's mood.

Answer 4

Don't be satisfied to take just one picture and hope it will be good. Even the great photographers took thousands of pictures and then reviewed them for layout and lighting to determine whether they were good enough for display.

Answer 5

it does not take the latest and greatest dSLR. nor the biggest, most expensive lens. all you need is the will and a subject. some of the most profound works are produced with pin-hole cameras and developed in basements. just teach yourself to look for life and you will capture it.

and lastly. beauty is in the eye of the beholder. that is why it is art. some people love everything while others love nothing.

Answer 6

Sharp, focused, leveled photographs that have good focal points to look at, and that do not have objects in the photo that have no photographic consistancy, or value to it.

Answer 7

Good art (of any medium) provokes an emotional response in the viewer. If you respond viscerally to something, then it's good, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Answer 8

You have to bring the art work in to existence.Know your camera well.Your photo of an apple could be the one that gets the agency contract.

Answer 9

Take good pictures, and visualize everything that is art.

Answer 10

well, different peope recognize different things. pictures are just like different kinds of foods.people like different kinds of foods as well as pictures. hope it helps!