When you first look at a photograph and make an initial judgment of it as being 'great', is it because it is technically great or because it makes you feel something? In other words, are you reacting to its technical quality or its emotive quality? Explain in detail.


When I first see a photograph, I initially judge it on the way it makes me feel. However, if there are any glaring problems with it, then my eyes jump to them instantly, so I don't have a chance to see how the overall photo would make me feel. I love the way that V-J Day in Times Square makes me feel, not because overall it is a great photo in the technical aspects, but because it just looks so romantic and everyone looks so happy. There is happiness seeping out of the photo, and anyone looking at it can find it easy to get caught up in that. If I was being technical, I could find things wrong with the photo, like how its not in great focus. However, until now, I'd never tried to do that, I'd always just looked at it and instantly liked it because of the feeling I got.

The message the photographer is relaying to us; that is what we feel. If it is a message of joy, we most likely see the photo and feel joyful. Then we will most likely like it, at least initially. A story is told in a picture, and that story is all we need to see to know if we like it or not. If the story evokes happiness or worry or sadness, that is how we initially feel. Emotions are contagious, and the ones being portrayed in a photo can often be found in the viewer too. You just have to be willing to look at the photo for its beauty, not for technicality.




People always say a picture is worth a thousand words, and I really do believe them. Do you?