Friday, May 25, 2007

Photo-Receptive

There is something about a really great picture that is almost universally effective at conveying powerful feeling. Like a great painting, masterful photographs are carefully crafted, they don't happen by accident. Made right, photographs can make you forget that you are looking at a picture and immerse you in imagery that grabs your attention and keeps it by adding up layer upon layer of interest.

Technically, there are many visual devices that the artist can employ to create an effective photograph. Contrast, color, lighting, focus, pattern, composition, and detail can all be used to create a dynamic "story" that catches the eye and "leads" it around the picture.

I think careful attention to the construction of this "story" is what separates good photographers from great ones, and it is becoming more and more of an obsession with me as I try to improve my work.

Photography: It's really NOT about the camera.

Note: You'll be happy to know that I am not pretentious enough yet to put a photograph of mine in this particular post.

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