What Is The Most Important Thing In Photography?

What Is the most important thing in Photography?
In this video, we're going to talk about what is the most important thing in photography. We'll explore different aspects of photography and discuss the most important factor in creating great photos.

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned photographer, this video will help you understand what is essential for creating great photos. We'll explore different aspects of photography and discuss the most important factor in creating great photos. So watch it and learn what the most important thing in photography is!

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[corykphotography]

Story and Composition are the key ingredients to photography and Passion for photography is the magic.

[AguilaDeOnix]

That's largely how I feel. Like, I get why people like folks seek shallow depth of field and occasionally I like it for some of the reptile closeups I do. On the other hand, I want to give an idea on how the animals survive and adapt so people have a greater respect for those surroundings. So sometimes, I like a little background.

[vainin]

You prove your point with images that really catch the viewer's eyes and emotions.

[mariusm]

Thanks for bringing up this interesting, almost philosophical question Peter.
I think the answer is different to almost all of us otherwise we would end up taking the same pictures.
The photos on Instagram, Facebook and and other platforms are sort of a proof for that. The intention why we take a photo changes the result. If it's just for "look at me - I've been here" (typical social media content) you will choose a different angle, composition, subject than for an artsy picture.
If you are doing a reportage you may not do a good job when leaving out and keeping room for interpretation, whereas street photography may work well with the interpretation...
Anyway - thanks for starting a thought process on my side. The question why I take a picture should go first followed by the how, what and when.

[corykphotography]

P.p.s.
You the man Peter! Thank you for all your content. You have taught me a lot along my photographic journey.

[rodmehta]

Hi Peter, I like those philosophical uploads.
My thoughts:
-A considered image is what it needs to be, not an accidental snapshot, unless one is an expert at seeking those out (street photography)
-Perspective matters. Are we feeling what the viewer is supposed to feel, or what the photographer felt that moment? Being precise in that is what makes a successful photograph, when the aim was achieved, and you know it, imo. I've been to some great exhibitions in that regard, but also to many awful ones. Helmut Newton comes to mind as a Master of planning. I might not be his greatest fan, but one can feel the consideration that goes I to every picture. Nothing is accidental.
-However, whatever one wants to to with a camera, just do it. I recommend not giving a toot about what others think. Just have fun.
Cheers & thanks :-)

[richardpriestley]

Very thought provoking video Peter . I would express my motivation as - What am I trying to portray in the image and what is the story ; then what do I need from the camera to take the image - so that it pleases me and then the editing to try to maximise the potential of the image - if possible!

[digitalrex]

I’d say it’s 50/50 what the subject is versus what the photographer sees and how they interpret it through composition and editing. This is especially true in portrait photographer where the model is a fellow artist collaborating to get the best image. For land scape and travel that has become more of my focus in the last few years the most important part for me is the exploration and physical connection with a new space, the photograph is just the byproduct.

[numbersix]

Hey Pete! I like your videos. I went and checked out Pat Kay's videos, just watched the first 4.
He is a literal and logical thinker, and he ends up sounding superficial sometimes, for example the way he described a role of the unconscious, he didn't address feelings or other unconscious motivations, he sort of indicated it as being automatic recognition and arrangement of a visual lexicon (which would be great to master, but a little far away from unconscious motivation.)
So he is a more external person, and you are more internal and encourage introspection.

PS Another interesting thing is that he believes shutter is more important than aperture. I tend that way myself but among the other 2 or 3 YouTogs I watch, they usually use either aperture priority or manual most of the time.

Thanks Peter, and don't worry about your schedule. I can't imagine why I would ever unsubscribe.

[skysurfercva]

For some people, according to posts I read on photography forums, it seems that the most important thing is switching systems every year or so because their tools aren't perfect enough for them. 🙂

[ruuddirks]

It all depends on your public. A photographic-oriented group will mainly look at the photographic qualities. But a "normal" group will look primarily at the content.

[bamsemh]

The picture. Not the pixels, details, mistakes, what you would do differently. Sadly 9 out of 10 photographers only see the mistakes and therefore never see the picture.

So, get the shot is the most important thing 😊

Hope you will bring us to your videos again next year 😊 it was my best motivation in the start 💪

[rhiwderinraytube]

For me photography is all about creating an image that I am happy with. Editing percentage will depend upon how good my composition and exposure was when I took the photo.

[rogermuggleton]

Perhaps it depends on the purpose of the photograph? Classical photography may be about light and form, and people still seem to want to reproduce the sort of shots that were valued in the early days of 35mm photography, even rejecting colour. But not all photography should be like that. A studio shot from 1922 doesn't add much to the model, but that same model in a street scene will also tell you about the environment 100 years ago. Take away the model and there is still interest in the shot, even if was thought a distraction at the time it was taken. So shots that show our world today may be more interesting a few decades in the future.

We may take photos to aid identification of things in the natural world - insects, plants, etc. I could use f/1.2 to get a nice creamy bokeh and to make the subject stand out, but that's not much help if most of the subject is a bit out of focus and I don't properly record distinguishing features or the surrounding environment.

Perhaps I am making a case for the much-maligned 'record shot' that shows things as they really are, rather than something manipulated to 'tell a story'?

[hnahler]

Peter, no reason to apologise for posting fewer videos. I hope you have some exciting work and projects planned for autumn.

[scrptwic]

Peter
I photograph for myself mostly I like to improve my skills I'm way past taking bad images or out of focus images but not boring pictures. Composition now is more important and learning from mistakes. I think editing is half of the photo process I rarely see a photo that would not benefit from editing in some form

[hankroest]

Arthur Danto famously said that "Art de-familiarizes the commonplace." I think photography, in a similar way, familiarizes the extraordinary. They are receptive in opposite ways, and then oppositely creative. Ultimately of course the art object has value as a hand-made thing while the photo is mechanically produced, like a poem or a book.

[corykphotography]

P.s.
I prefer longer focal lengths that will compress the scene of the image. Like you said, less in the photo to leave more for the viewers imagination.

[annekasurinen]

There are these pictures that just document something (a scenery or some site, people, occasion, and then what is in it is the main thing) and then there are these pics that are made, where the mood or the idea is the main thing and then editing might add to them something extra. Think do both of them, but prefer the latter shooting style, so I pretty much take pictures of different subjects if find them interesting enough

[jamescall]

The most important thing in photography is light!