What makes a good photographer (synthesis)
Throughout these posts, I have written about how to be a photographer and what it takes to make good photos but I found myself wondering what makes a good photographer. What does a photographer have to accomplish to be classified as a “famous” photographer like Ansel Adams? Is there some kind of achievement to make? Or maybe there’s a specific trait they all have. To answer this question, I researched three of the most famous photographers to see if there was anything about their work that they have in common.
Annie Leibovitz is known for portraiture and creating dramatic representations of her subjects that also accentuate their features. She is also known for her work as a photojournalist. She took pictures like the one above during very important times in our history. A major characteristic of her pictures from her time of photojournalism was her ability to “capture moments either before or after ‘the moment.’” (Article A). In the photo above, she captures the moment after Nixon had left the White House for the last time. It’s a seemingly mundane picture, but once you understand its meaning you fully feel the weight the picture holds.
Another influential photographer is Henri Cartier-Bresson. He was known for still photography that seemed to fit so perfectly it seemed to be on accident. His work is subtle, but once you look at it you see everything he did to make the photo turn out just right. In the photo above, “The combination of architectural elements and the blurry image of the biker emphasize movement through their spirals, curves, and slight distortion.”(Article B). Once you take these elements into account, you begin to notice how much thought went into this photo.
Lastly, we have Ansel Adams. He is best known for his dramatic depictions of different landscapes. He shot mainly in black and white, creating a standard for future photos of the same style. What stands out most about his pictures is the emotion they carry. His photos were “a dramatic rendering of the photographer’s emotions upon viewing the scene.”(Article C). Ansel Adams was not just an ordinary landscape photographer documenting nature. He brought more depth to his photos, letting his emotions affect the pictures he took. This is what made him stand out above others.
To conclude, all three of these photographers have reasons they stand out. none of them have anything in common, though, so what is it that makes a photographer “famous”? One thing these three actually have in common is emotional depth. They all connect to the view in some way. Annie shows the moment after the “big moment” when nothing important is going on but yet you still feel a connection. Henri makes something simple into something incredibly beautiful just through timing. Ansel adds emotion to something as simple as nature. They all connected to their audience, encouraging more engagement. So, what really makes a good photographer? A good photographer thinks about the picture they take. They make every picture count, and they even see something in pictures that others would ignore.
