Is there a way to train your eye to recognize a good photographic image?

Question

or is it just personal preference? do you need to study lots of images for detail, and everything else?

Answer 1

its time, exposure to good stuff, knowledge of art, training, study et cetera

mix em up in a melting pot

its in the eye of the bee keeper, but there are certain rules and stuff........just keep look look looking, the more you do the more you will reconise it when its infrount of you.

it starts when you see things you like and finishes when you understand ALL the reasons you like something, so keep at it, i liked your stuff, jealous people will say its crap and a well adjusted critic will tell you what they think and why

im technically strong and artistically weak, i know that, but i also know good work when i see it........so its all the factors above

also i always check the corners of images,

communication is important in images, if an image has a message or can alter peoples moods then it is very strong

there are two sides to it, technical - exposure,depth, sharpness etc

then the art side

keep asking questions dude your doing great

EDIT: if you FEEL something its good - it has communicated to you


a

Answer 2

I feel that if a subject inspires you to make an image, the only thing standing in your way is the challenge of knowing how to capture it. While practice makes perfect as the old saying goes, a little training, art class or photography magazine won't hurt either. At the end of the day I find if I am happy with the image, that is success. I tried anticipating what other people would like and it's just too subjective to predict. Shoot for you and your own style will develop.
G'Luck, and remember, we're all in this together.

Answer 3

There is a decided difference between looking and seeing. I like this passage from "Object & Image: An Introduction To Photography, Third Edition" by George M. Craven on pp 8 & 9:

SEEING PHOTOGRAPHICALLY

"No matter how we want our pictures to function, as photographers we must also think of our image in terms of what our tools and materials can do. Practically speaking, we must understand how photographic materials and processes work in order to visualize our picture. To Edward Weston, the photographer, this was "seeing photographically," a process by which we concentrate on an object or observe an event, decide what kind of image we want to make from it, and then see the image in our mind as a picture. Although great photographs occasionally result from accident ot chance, most are created by photographers seeing and visualizing the image beforehand."

From the SUMMARY of Chapter 1, p 9:

3. "Looking and seeing are not the same; seeing involves perception, and this brings into play our entire system of human values. Because people's values differ, no two people see exactly the same."

I often suggest this book.

I also believe that looking at photographs taken by great photographers is helpful, as is reading about them. Photography magazines are also a good resource.

Answer 4

An instructor told us that one good way to train your eye was to go out to the forest preserve and shoot the alphabet. Shoot something in nature shaped like an "A" then a "B" etc.

Join a Camera Club and participate in such things as photo contests taking place in a junk yard. Learn how to spot various colors of light reflecting off a piece of broken glass.

Besides technicalities learn guidelines for composition:

- Never have two subjects of equal value. If there is two, there should be a third; one main subject and the other two subordinate. Otherwise your picture will lose impact.

- Use the rule of thirds. Mentally divide your picture into thirds by both imaginary vertical and horizontal lines ( # ). At one of the four sections where the lines cross is where your center of action should be (facing toward the middle).

Join a Camera Club, learn, practice, and have fun.

I hope this helps. Good Luck.

Answer 5

Understanding what makes an image attractive to people helps. I would suggest joining a camera club and listen to judges critique images. There are books on the subject, one which comes to mind is "Criticizing Photographs - an introduction to understanding images" by Terry Barrett.

Answer 6

the more you practice the better i think...i like to check the difference between original and fixed pics...they can do amazing things!