A great photograph is like a symphony.
There are billions of photos being taken daily. Rough estimates suggest that there are about 12 to 20 BILLION photos made every day. You read that right! But how many photographs stick around, get seen, thrive, and survive the test of time?
And how many truly get seen and appreciated by billions of people across decades of time? Not many!
Studying the greats of photography
There are billions of shots that are pretty good, but not great. To get that one-of-a-kind timeless epic banger of a shot, lots of things need to go right. I've been studying photography and especially into what makes a photo great. I have studied the greats of photography and stared at their photographs to decipher what makes them great. I've found it to be a symphony. A symphony of elements that work together in perfect harmony, just like an orchestra. My two cents:
An orchestra needed to create a symphony
To create a great symphony, you'd need a range of musicians, each playing a specific role in the well-oiled orchestra. You have for example the charismatic and lively conductor to lead the pack, and the talented violinist, cello, flute, french horn, percussion, and so on, to collaborate in a wonderous harmony. Each section, like strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion, works together to create a full, harmonious sound that makes listeners teary-eyed. The balance and coordination between these roles is what brings a symphony to life and makes it great. Their collaboration is essential to create a sound that feels like magic.
A great photograph works just like that. Several elements have to come together in that short moment in time to make a photograph that generates more than just a thumb from your aunt on Facebook.
The symphony of a great photograph
To get a great shot, you will need to create your own little symphony. And that is a total sum that needs to come together in a millisecond of;
+ The right light
+ The right subject
+ The right timing
+ The photographer’s eye seeing the opportunity
+ The correct use of compositional techniques
+ The patience and focus of the photographer
+ The photographer standing at the right angle
+ The right camera and lens for that exact setting
+ And the subtle atmospheric editing that is just right
Take one away and what do you got? Bad light? What a bummer! Not standing in the right spot? Oefhfff. Overedited the photograph? Close, but no sugar.
So, you see, a great photograph has to have all these elements work together to make it stand out from the billions of ‘pretty good’ photographs.
Examples of symphonies
There is no one better at creating (photographic) symphonies in my opinion than the legendary Steve McCurry. How he consistently over the decades has created great photographs is mesmerizing, admirable, and without a doubt very inspirational.
The ‘Top 10 List of my Favorite Photographers of all Time’ is filled with these ‘conductors’. Take for instance Billy Dinh’s atmospheric street photographs that are elite at timing, patience, and editing. Or Michael Dean Morgan’s atmospheric shots of Bali in which he clearly has spent years on the Island of the Gods to compose these wonderous photographs.
My own two best shots I’ve ever shot are also clearly symphonies. Let me showcase two of my favorites that are also available as super exclusive 1/1 Fine Art in my shop.
Mighty Fuji
There are a gazillion photos of Mount Fuji, but none like this unique layered shot during the colorful autumn. I was looking for days to get a unique angle that honors the grandeur of Mount Fuji. Dozens of photographers were lined up at the spots where Fuji was looking nice and clean. So many generic angles were taken and I couldn’t be the next one that took the exact same shot…
After many frustrating hours, I finally found my symphony: I got the right angle from a certain vantage point, a layered shot from top to bottom, with red autumn leaves on top, the layered forest ridges, the perfect weather conditions, the subtle editing, the strong contrasts, and Mount Fuji being showcased as it is: grand, powerful, huge, epic, beautiful, and mighty!
It took everything needed to not just get another good photo of Mt Fuji, but a great one!
I’ve even written an article and made a short video about how this one-of-a-kind photo has come together. Read it here: “Mighty Fuji” — The Story behind the iconic landscape photograph and 1/1 fine art.
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So, now you know what it takes to compose not just another good shot, but a timeless epic photograph that gets appreciated by the masses, makes you great money, and stands the test of time.
Want to read more insights and tips from an amateur who went pro?
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