The 5 Essential Elements of a Great Photo

Have you ever sat and looked at your photos and wondered "Why do my photos not look like I pictured in my head?" "What am I doing wrong?" "Do I even really have a clue about what I am doing?"

I am pretty sure that you know exactly what you are doing. You understand how the exposure triangle works, you know how your camera works and you have the basics of how to put everything together, but for some reason things are not clicking together for you. I know that I have struggled with this. I still do. I feel like I am meeting all the bench marks that all of the famous photographers tell you that you should be hitting but there is something that is still missing. So I did some digging into my photos and then did some of my own research and discovered that there are five areas that are essential to making a photo great, and I noticed that I am not always hitting the mark with some of them.

LIGHT- Strange to think that this is the first element to point out, however I believe that this is SO important. I am sure that like myself you have read a ton of articles talking about the importance of light and making sure that it is right for the image that you are trying to create. I will be the first to admit that I am no expert however there are several things that I have noticed when I do not pay attention to light. For example when I am on the field shooting sports events I am always looking for the next great action shot, however I have had the light kill several amazing shots for me. I made poor judgement of the light like shooting from a shaded area into a sunny area, or there were times I was night shooting and my camera and lens just could not keep up, and therefore the epic shots were grainy and out of focus. Light can do so much for you and reduce a huge amount of work in post processing as long as you are paying attention. It can give the illusion of an increased depth of field, it can cause more drama in a photo or it can assist with drawing the eye of the viewer to a specific part of the image. All of this saves time in post processing.


IMPACT- What causes you to stop and take notice of a location, or maybe even a photo? Is it the colors, the scene, the light? Most of the time it is the IMPACT the photo has on you. It may not be something that you catch right away, but typically if something has an impact on you it draws you back time and time again. This is something that you want your photo to have. If your photo has great impact on the viewer it will draw them back time and time again. As they return to your photo in most cases they are not returning alone, especially if they are excited about it, because it is a photo that is near and dear their heart. They are more willing to share this photo and the story of the photo. Sometimes that story may not be what you were trying to portray, but because of the impact the image had on the viewer they are able to create their own story, and with that it gains even more meaning and importance to that particular individual. 

Even though there is not much going on in this photo what kind of impact does it give? For some it is a beautiful dog, for others it is much more. For example it is a beautiful dog that is in total control of her space and commands the attention of all of those around her. She protects the ones that she loves ferociously, and above all she is not afraid of what may lie ahead of her. 

COMPOSITION-  With every photo the composition is key in most cases. If in every single photo you took you placed your subject in the center, and there was not much else what good does it do for the viewer? Honestly not much. The photo could be a great one, but because of the composition the impact is lessened or the story of the photo is not told as it should and therefore the viewer becomes disinterested and more likely to move on to another image, and will also more then likely forget the image that they have just looked at. You want to have strong composition in every photo. You want to use guidelines such as the Rule of Thirds to assist you in this process. You can also use items within the photo to pull your viewer through the photo. 

For example in this shot the subject is in the center of the frame. However, because of the placement of his left knee, and right elbow, it gives the illusion that the subject is going to run right out of the photo and into your lap! This composition can draw the viewer in as they try to determine what the player is thinking as he is moving with the ball and it begins to tell its own story as the viewer makes decisions on what is happening just outside of the frame in their minds.

CREATIVITY- You want people to look at your photos right? I am sure that if you are reading this that you are looking for ways to get more people to look at your photos without you having to shove them in their face and almost beg them to look. One way to get people interested is to be creative. I mean this is one of the reasons that you picked up your camera right? Don't just take a picture of a tree, if you want the picture of the tree that is great, but find a way to make it creative.

Look at this photo. On its face there is nothing interesting about heavy machinery. However, with the colors, the composition and the light within this photo it changes. You can see more of a story here. It is almost like this is some sort monster that is coming in and destroying the forest and the homes of the animals that live there. If you see a scene that catches your eye there is a reason for it, there is something there, a story so to speak, all you have to do is find a way to creatively tell it within your photo.

COMMUNICATION-  In order for a photo to be successful it has to be able to communicate to the viewer. It has to be able to tell a story, show the emotion, and at the same time be able to draw the viewer in to that story. Does this mean that the photo has to be complex and full of different items. NO!! It can be as simple as the photos I have shown above. You do not have to over load your photo with complex thoughts or ways to try and convey the message that you are trying to get the viewer to see. Sometimes, all it takes is the ability to capture the feeling, or emotion if you will that you are feeling at the time that you take the image. For example in the construction image, There is not a lot going on, however there is a kind of sadness, fear, loss, and disappointment that can be detected due to the destruction that is documented. There is also a sense of overpowerment, and dominance with the presentation of a large machine in an area, that in most cases is out of the norm. Communication with any photo is key as the photographer is not always going to be there to explain it. Therefore when you are composing a photo keep that thought in mind and remember to not over think what you are trying to say with the shot.

What are important elements to a photo that I have not listed? I would love to hear your thoughts and comments! Please leave your comments below so I can add to this article.


Further reading and resources for this article:
5 Fundamental Elements of Great Photographs
Perfect Photography- The Ten Essential Elements
The 5 Elements of Captive Photography