What makes a great photograph? A vital ingredient often missing from conventional formula.

This video sets out a simple formula about what makes a great photograph. It then describes what's missing from the formula, and lessons we can learn the mobile phone revolution in taking and sharing photographs.

[Just-a-bystander]

Many years ago, while at art college working on photography, we had a discussion about creating images and the audience.. someone said that art was for everyone but in counter, it was suggested that was not true. Part of the process of creating art is also presenting art to be seen. And to be seen, someone has to make the effort to enter the gallery and WANT to see it. Your audience is no longer everyone but rather just a pie slice of humanity that puts in the effort. The web extends our audience but still, your audience are only those that make the effort, show interest and search out the images. In business, understanding and targeting your customer by realizing any product isn’t for everyone but if fact specifically fulfills a need is a major element of profitable success. Products that best give people what they absolutely want, even if they don’t yet know what that is, can be fabulously successful. However, in art, giving people exactly what they want often fails because it misses out on surprise and inventiveness. Good art often needs to challenge the viewer. That illusive element is often what separates great from just good.

[stevenkramer]

Yes, It's the impact on the viewer that I often miss. Thank you for a great reminder.
btw It's my shot at 7:44 "Ben Thanh Tourist Building".

[Snapit]

Capturing and framing a moment that cannot be repeated with all the p’s you stated is what makes the image a feast for our eyes!! Our lenses are like an artists paint brushes that we use to paint an image !

[loneshootr]

I enjoy your videos Simon, always well thought out and well presented.
Although I may not entirely agree on 'impact on others' point (other than normal consideration of humane sensibilities), I tend to feel that the creator should not consider the impact of work on others (unless it's work produced for financial gain, client work or print sales etc.).
I've found in my own life that achieving an image I make to satisfy myself exclusively, tends to incidentally please others more readily than if I consider others in the creation process. But then again, I don't share images online these days - though I used to when I was in business, naturally.

It's great to hear your thoughts on different topics, keep up the good work 🙂

To me, you produce such good videos with very relevant content. This one is another one, because we still think about your thoughts for a long time after watching it and when we press the shutter. Bravo!

[bennyob]

Another great video, Simon. You should have a hell of a lot more subscribers. Your content is remarkable

[robgoodwin]

Lately I've been wondering what the point of my photography is. You've made a critically important point that helps to provide me with a new focus and purpose in my work. Thank you for this thoughtful and clearly articulated video.

[Just-a-bystander]

Another excellent youtube channel which adds to this discussion .. looks at great historic photographers and what makes them good: The photographic Eye .. worth a look

[danielbiturbo]

I'm often drawn to photos that are really hard to figure out, that forces you to look twice.
It can be a macro, where it's difficult to get a sense of scale, of ice crystals or what ever.
Or just a simple phone snap down a multistory Hotel staircase, that revolves around the center of the photo.

[thisisus]

Hi Simon, Your question, What makes a great photograph?, has already been answered. It is "the decisive moment" (HCB), the moment when elements of a scene come together and the photographer captures it by anticipating the moment, or by chance (being in the right place at the right time with any kind of camera). I am a big fan and love your work. Cheers

[HaraldEngels]

Seen from my perspective your videos about photography in general (like this here) are excellent and standing out here on Youtube. My absolute favorite is the video about bokeh in photography. Thank you for putting all this dedication into sharing this great work. You motivated me to start this year also a channel about my (plenty) vintage lenses and how to use these in the digital age. When it comes to the question "what makes a great photograph" I agree with your perspective that gear is overrated and the subject of a photo, the composition and the storytelling are too often underrated. What concerns me is that many people are nowadays more digital editors (post-processing artists where the subject is exchangeable) than photographers.

[trinityharbour]

I took some time to process your formula and watched this video three times to do it justice. I was moved by this comment: "How could sharing a particular image hurt other people?" I liked the sensitivity you showed here, in addition to a thoughtful treatment on creating images.

[roybixby]

Thanks for bringing up critical points.
There are too many images of blurry water waterfalls and over colour enhanced sunsets.
Photographers are too concerned with perfecting their technique than an original image.
Taking yet another image of a famous landmark seems pointless.
I wonder if digital photography is so easy that photographers are not developing a photographers' eye.
Few have learnt to see the way a cameras does anymore...

[Abutado]

New to vintage gear. I just scored for $10 an old range finder Branded DED. I can't find anything on the brand. The lense is why I wanted it though. It's an Industar 61. For $10 at St. Vincent's.

[christopherbgriffith]

YES. As you were starting to talk about the Impact photos have on others, what popped into my mind was "story", and then moments later you said the same thing. I recently did a year-long photo-a-day challenge. Some of the photos I produced were just okay, some were technically excellent (if you'll forgive the arrogance of asserting so), but one photo above all the others had the most likes, commentary, and even went on to win an online competition. In terms of time and effort, there are other photos from the project that took more effort and longer for me to take, process, etc. than this one. But because its subject matter coincided with the zeitgeist of the pandemic, resonated with how people were feeling, and told a relatable and amusing story, it rose above the rest as "great". I've pondered a lot about how to achieve this kind of storytelling again as I continue to grow as a photographer. I really enjoy philosophical discussions like this - thanks for posting!

[patriziodalessandro]

Hi.
I agree with you that a picture must shout its message to the viewer, otherwise it is worthless.
I waited until the end and was surprised not to find any reference to the ingredient which alone is 80% of any picture: light.
No light = no picture.
Good light = you have an excellent chance of taking a good picture...

[borderlands]

A good photo is one that elicits a visceral response in the viewer. Miroslav Tichy shot on cameras made from junk, with plastic lenses ground from cigarette ash. His photographs were underdeveloped, impermanently fixed, lacked tonal range, were strewn on the floor, and partly devoured by the mice that shared his house. Tichy's subject was controversial, young women photographed candidly in his Czech locality. By conventional standards they defied every metric of what makes a good photograph, yet they are fascinating insight into the photographer's mind and aesthetic objects in their own right.

What people lack is not a good camera, but a curator's eye.

[stevefullenwidercpa]

This topic seems to be appearing more frequently by creative professionals. Dan Milner of Blurb has made a similar point in discussing the difference between content and real photography. One is consumed and is discarded, the other stays with you for life.

[arthurfelig]

Transfer of felt emotion; from photographer to viewer.

[AndrewWertheimer]

Fine video, Simon. I agree that you correctly found the missing element, which I might add as thought or reflection or narrative or message or mood conveyed by the photo. I think these are at least partly related to photographers seeing others’ photos, especially classics... so one can avoid cliche and become an auteur (as they would say on film studies) (or find one’s style and theme). I do think that older gear and primes — over zooms —- and B&W over color — encourage a different way of engaging with subjects. One thing I liked about Japanese photographers and photo magazines is that many were interested in these deeper things. Photo magazines and videos in the states are more driven by G.A.S. — partly because I think advertisers or sponsors developed a more consumerist drive. It’s always fun to take an old Spotmatic or my ancient EOS 5D and just enjoy and see what is possible with what you have. Friends do that with pinholes or large format. Aloha from Honolulu. 📸