This document discusses what makes a good photo by listing 12 elements: intimacy, human interest, mood, camera angle, spontaneity, contrast, drama, light and shadow, luminosity, realism, innovation, and creativity. It then provides examples and further explanation of each element. Intimacy involves close relationships while human interest draws the viewer in. Mood sets the atmosphere and camera angle provides unique perspectives. Spontaneity comes from natural feelings. Contrast includes variations in many attributes while drama creates emotional impact. Light and shadow, luminosity, and realism depict scenes realistically. Innovation introduces new perspectives and creativity comes from original expression.

2. What makes a good
photo?
Here are some things that will make any photo look very good
and grab attention:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Intimacy
Human interest
Mood
Camera angle
Spontaneity
Contrast
Drama
Light and shadow
Luminocity
Realism
Innovation
Creativity

3. Intimacy - the feeling of being close and belonging together. Close or
warm friendship. Emotion can be melted with intimacy.
Human interest - a photo that draws the viewer into the picture where
they may linger over it rather than a curious glance.
Mood - the atmosphere or pervading tone of a place or situation.
Camera angle - look up, down and vary your position to capture a
unique perspective. Try different lens too!
Spontaneity - the quality of being spontaneous and coming from natural
feelings without constraint.
Contrast - usually when people think of contrast, they think in light and
dark terms but how many other varieties are there? Tall and short, big
and small, strong and weak, old and young. The list can stretch for
miles.
Drama - something that creates an instant emotional impact to the
viewer. A tragedy, struggle, triumph or happiness.

4. Light and shadow – “Taking
advantage of low angle light I
was able to capture the suns
rays through this glass of water.
Although this type of photo is
not everyone's delight. I found
it created an interesting
combination.”
Luminosity - emitting or
reflecting light. This one was a
tough one for me, as I think of
sunrise and sunsets or light
reflecting off the water. I do not
have many kinds of these
photos. I had to look hard in the
archives for a photo for this
theme.

5. Realism – showing how people live.
Innovation - introducing something from a different perspective.
Creativity - "What is creativity?" and you'll get a terrific tangle of
definitions...it's offbeat and mysterious, multiple exposures, darkroom
(ed. Photoshop?) trickery,...The dictionary equates creative with being
original in thought or expression."
Taking from all the "What makes a good photo"
subjects and wrapping it up to produce a creative
photo. The opportunities are all around us. All we
have to do is look and apply. As the quote from the
article I saved concludes, "Don't let creativity
escape you - we all have it."
Source: andyslens.zenfolio.com

6. Henri Cartier-Bresson
French, b. 1908, d. 2004
“To take a photograph is to
align the head, the eye and the
heart. It's a way of life. ”
Born in Chanteloup, Seine-etMarne, Henri Cartier-Bresson
developed a strong fascination with
painting early on, and particularly
with Surrealism. In 1932 he
discovered the Leica - his camera of
choice thereafter. He explained his
approach to photography in these
terms, '"For me the camera is a
sketch book, an instrument of
intuition and spontaneity, the
master of the instant which, in
visual terms, questions and decides
simultaneously. It is by economy of
means that one arrives at simplicity
of expression."

7. FRANCE. 1932. Paris. Place de l'Europe.
Gare Saint Lazare.
This is one of the most famous
pictures taken by Carter-Bresson.
Photographer captured the unique
moment of weightlessness of a man
trying to jump over the puddle. The
picture has everything it could possibly
have: lines created by the fence and a
ladder in the
water, reflection, shaped, light and
shadows, separation of the background
and the object off the center. This
photo is alive, you almost feel how the
next moment man will step into the
water and everything and everyone
will start their movement, their lives.

8. SOVIET UNION. 1954. Russia. Moscow.
Canteen for workers building the Hotel Metropole.
To me this picture brings
memories of old photo albums
with black-and-white pictures
of my grandparents and
parents as babies. Soviet
workers, both men and
women, simple straight lines in
the architecture, Lenin’s
portrait and a hall, well rather
board, of fame to the right of
the picture. The photo reflects
soviet life an people as they
were –
hardworking, communicative, t
ired but still smiling.

9. USA. 1947. New York City.
Manhattan. Downtown.
This picture is
loneliness, sensuality, strong character
and humanity. The long narrow
labyrinth of streets, grey and dull
buildings, deserted cold town – you
feel it as you look at the picture.
However, some kindness is present in
the picture and it is a central object in
it. A man reaching his hand out to a
kitten or puppy, probably holding some
food or just willing to take the little
one and press it to his chest. This
picture makes you think, makes you
feel. It is very contradictory and this
makes it a good photo.
Source: www.magnumphotos.com

10. Terry Richardson
American, b.1965, now 48
Richardson was born in New York
City, the son of Bob Richardson, a
fashion photographer. He was shy
as a teenager and began
photography in high school. In his
work Richardson explores ideas of
sexuality capturing nudity and
both simulated and actual sexual
acts in his pictures. Most of his
models are shot before a white
background, but sometimes it
expands into something different.
In the end of photoshoot terry
usually swaps glasses with his
model and they take a picture
with thumbs up.

11. Karlie Kloss by Terry Richardson for
Vogue UK
November 2011
Here are some pictures that Terry
took for the Vogue magazine.
They look very bright and
glamorous.

12. If previous pictures had a lot of red
on them these are in blue colour
theme. What makes there pictures
good is an original use of places
and surroundings.
The pictures reflect some kind of
retro style with all the mirrors, light
signs and fast food. Also, pictures
look a bit old, at least 7-10 years.
Obviously this was achieved by using
layers in Photoshop or other program.

13. These pictures were taken during the same photoshoot however they
are black and white. Black and white pictures add some age to the
pictures but also some kind of sensitivity and intimacy. In these
pictures there is beauty, movement, sex and seduction. For those who
had ever seen a few photoshoots by Terry will recognise his manner
and the way he presents pictures. His pictures have
lines, shadows, reflection and beautiful model. What can make a
picture better?

14. So to conclude, most of the
good pictures have something
unique captured on them. For
me most of the best pictures are
in black and white or old
pictures. Black and white show
all the shadows ands emotions.
They make the people see what
is important and central at that
picture rather than being
destructed by bright colours.
Also, good picture has to have
some motion or suddenness.
The person in the picture doesn’t
always have to look at the
camera, however, if the model is
woman it is the best part of the
photo as she attracts and almost
talks to the person with her
eyes. But the main thing is to be
creative and see original things
and features that can be
captured.