Making More Meaningful Photos

Recently, my mind has been searching for an answer to this question: What more can I implement in my photography to make photos worth remembering, worth viewing, worth keeping.

There are a few answers I gathered from reading, viewing photos by good photographers, and listening to what other photographers have to say in interviews.

In an age where technology has made it easy to snap a picture, the art of capturing a great image is now the main challenge. When we want to capture a scene, or moment, there is only so much we can fit into a photo - what and how we do it is what will make the image worthwhile. Capturing these moments aren’t easy, and sometimes you might just have to be lucky, but certainly we can increase the odds by being ready when that moment arrives. I feel the need to train my mind how to see as if my eyes were the camera.

I believe it’s the little things in a photo that make a lasting impression, that those who really look at good photography see deeper than the surface of the image (the quality of print, sharpness, colour, etc.) - they see what the photographer sees, and feel what the photographer felt. They appreciate what is being told by the photo, in the same way we can appreciate a good book no matter it’s condition, or how it looks, because the most important elements remain the same. This idea downplays the importance of editing and presentation, which can add to an already good image, but we need to put priority first on the substance of the image - that is the story behind it, or what it’s intended to convey. Then there’s composition - how we choose to construct that story or piece so that it can present our message in the best way possible - one that is unique to us and represents how we see the world.

The photos I admire the most are the ones that allow me to be in the photographer’s position - that allow me a fraction of their experience. In my own way, I want to give that opportunity to others.