In this blog post, we will discuss the 3 primary reason a photo fails — focus, lighting and composition. We’ve all seen them, photos that just don’t work, but why? Some believe that they just need better gear, but even with the most expensive gear, images can still fall short. Again, why? I will argue that there are 3 primary reasons, focus, lighting and composition, and if you can master those, then the pictures you take can only get better.
In no specific order, we will explore the matter of focus first. Many images just aren’t sharp, and a blurry focus will break the best shot. If an image is soft in focus or if focus falls in the wrong place, it can be make or break for the overall image. Granted some of the strongest images use a balance between sharpness and blur. It’s one of the key ways to establish depth of field in an image, and why is depth of field important? Simply stated, it directs the viewer’s eye through an image, it tells the viewer what the photographer wants them to see and where to look, and even when. So, if everything is blurry or if focus is not where it needs to be, the shot just won’t be good.
The second area of a photo to consider is lighting. If a photo is too dark or too light, it just defeats the image. Too dark and it can’t be seen, too light and it becomes so bright, it washes or completely blows an image out, but when an image’s lighting is defined properly, it establishes mood, it sets a feeling or emotion in an image, and it creates a setting that ultimately gives a photo impact. So, lighting is a very critical component of creating a strong image, and it simply must be captured correctly.
Lastly, the third factor that directly influences a photograph is composition. Simply stated, composition tells a story, it guides the viewer’s eye, and it is used to evoke emotion. In photography, it intentionally arranges core visual elements, form/shape, tone/color, texture, balance etc. The elements can further be used to define space through the use of leading lines, negative/positive space, framing, layering etc. Without composition, an image becomes nothing short of chaos because the viewer doesn’t know what he/she is looking at or even why. A successful photo needs organization between the foreground, midground and the background to be created in an image so the viewer can understand the image’s purpose. Composition creates a hierarchy of what is important in an image, and it provides the viewer with a roadmap of the image, so it too, is crucial in a photo’s overall success.
Therefore, if you want to create images that are successful and that make an impact on its viewers, when taking a photograph, attention needs to be given to focus, lighting and composition. When you accomplish these areas of photography, your images will allow the viewer to see what and how you want them to see the story that you’re telling, to understand the meaning and purpose of it, and how you want them to feel. Achieve that and your photography will ultimately, find success and have an impact on its viewer.