Whether you’re a photographer, photo editor or a creative who works with photos on the regular, there’s a question you ask yourself every day: what makes a powerful image? This the kind of photo that throws a line to those on the other side, the viewer, causing them to pause, reflect, and remember. In this article, we take a look at how to communicate with visual language, not simply to show a picture but to compel, evoke feeling and to convey a message.
A photo that tells a story is the kind of photo that doesn’t need a caption. In this sense, any person from anywhere in the world and who speaks any language can look at the image and understand the message. What makes a photo that tells a story? It demonstrates relationships either between its subjects, between the photographer and the subject or the subject and the viewer. It has telling details that communicate a message and if left out, would not deliver the same story. It also often evokes emotion, whether that be wonder, anger, sympathy or inspiration.
2. The modern perspective
Our collective point of view has changed in the last 10 years alone. We’re more often than not looking at images on screen, small and large, rather than in prints. But we’re also shooting through more mobile and accessible versions of a camera, like a smartphones, GoPros and drones. Both of these factors drastically change how we capture and take in imagery. Images that play with these concepts capture a modern audience – think spectacular drone photography, curious images of screens within screens or even multimedia experimentation, like combining images with sound and movement.
It’s the flaws in an image that tells the story, and this is exactly why authentic photography is in more demand than ever. Details that may have formerly been considered a distraction or an imperfection in a photo are actually the kinds of things that make a photo more ‘real.’ This is what tells the viewer that the photographer and the person or people in the photo are alive and human, just like them. These flaws are what create a human connection between the image and the viewer, and this is what makes real photography so compelling.
4. Originality
Originality never goes out of style, and by it’s very definition, it’s what sets itself apart from the crowd. Creativity can come in many forms, but to define it more broadly, it is what goes against the popular and communicates in a new way. One of the challenges we face as visual artists and consumers of photography is that we look at what’s popular, whats succeeded and we can’t help but absorb that into our own practice.
Ways to reinvigorate your creativity, whether you’re a photographer or editor, is to set time apart from your work – revisiting after time has passed lends to your becoming a more objective editor. Finding inspiration from creative works outside photography challenges your mind to think outside the photography box.
Try your hand at one or all four of these methods, whether you’re a photographer or a photo buyer looking for powerful images. Looking for more inspiration? See compelling photography in our EyeEm Market collections.
To take a great photo, you need to understand the four essential elements of photography: composition, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Each of these elements affects your photo differently, and understanding how they work together is the key to taking great pictures.
EyeEm's technologyautomatically suggests tags for your photos and the curators tag your photos for partner sites like Getty and more. This can be a big time saver. I've been an EyeEm user for quite a while now and I've made over $10,000 from my photos - it can be done! Here are my five tips for selling on EyeEm Market.
A powerful image is one that looks real. Remember, you are trying to evoke an emotion — a genuine feeling in the viewer that connects them to the photograph. You want your viewer to mentally put themselves in the photograph, or at least, feel like they are in the same space as they view it.
Light is the most important base element of any image. Always look for beautiful light because it will make the elements in the image look fabulous. Observe how the direction and colour of light changes throughout the day and alters the appearance of everything in the frame.
The elements of form in photography involve different aspects of light, shadow, depth, angles, and composition that create the perception of three-dimensionality in a two-dimensional image.
How was it selling your first photo on EyeEm? Selling my first photo on EyeEm was pretty unbelievable. I say that because I couldn't believe how easy it was and because one of the first photos I sold was of a dead co*ckroach I took while on public transit. Then actually getting paid for some of my photos was incredible!
German stock photo website EyeEm, a platform that once overtook Instagram in the App Store charts, has reportedly filed for bankruptcy. EyeEm was acquired by Talenthouse in 2020.
Crowd shots, travel, and seasonal photos also sell well – but that's not all. Read up on tips from photo sellers that have found success on EyeEm Market, along with updates from our editors on what photos are selling in the Market section of the EyeEm Blog.
Students examine how identity and biases can impact how individuals interpret images and experience the challenge of selecting images to represent news events, particularly connected to sensitive issues.
The notion that "the object stares back", advanced and explored in Elkins (1997), emphasises image power as the uncontrollable effect or hold that images have on the imagination of spectators. Thus "affective image" may be taken as his core concept.
However, at the photographic level, three key elements will always remain the same. If you every time you take a shot, you consider your composition, light, and subject, you will be well on your way to making a successful photograph.
Our “3 C's” are “Content, Concept, and Composition”. As a part of the creative photographic process, I believe mentally assessing the close interaction of how we are expressing all “3 C's” will lead us to making more successful photographs.
When you set out to take a great photograph, it is important to consider three key elements: the subject, the background, and the light. Great photographs often include an engaging subject set in a neutral or complementary background, bathed in soft light.
Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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