Defining Good Photography, What Makes A Good Photograph?

Click, flash, say cheese, don't forget to smile! Some people are born to be on camera, others prefer to be behind the lens but what actually makes a good photograph? Is it a beautiful face, a breathe taking scene, a magical memory captured in a moment, a steady hand, correct positioning, or does it all depend on a good camera? Well that's what I want to look at in this article. I will be showing you some of my favourite photographs that I have taken and then you can judge for yourselves what makes a good photograph.

There are so many college courses offering to teach you photography, is it really necessary to study in order to be able to take photo's? Well I've never done a course, and I still love some photo's that I have taken, but if I was to pursue photography as my career then I could see the benefit in this. But for me photography is more of a hobby, so can pictures match up to the professionals? What defines a good photo. I'm going to put 10 photo's up for you to see, which I have taken, and you can see if you think they are good. You are the judge!

This is a silly photo I will admit, but personally I love it. This is me and my best friend being silly on a Friday night at home. We were dancing around and making a video to put on you tube, this is one of the photo's we used in the video. It was taken with a basic 8 mega pixel digital camera, that was resting on a table, which was set to take the picture automatically after 30 seconds. It holds happy memories for me, it looks quite funky and cool, but does that make it a good photo?

I took this photo a few years ago, and I still like it. It's so simple but looks really effective. In case you are wondering, this is my footprint in the sand. At the time i was on holiday in Ireland, it had been raining lots so the sand was really soft and moldable. I love the way the light and shadows make this photograph have a 3D effect. It was taken on my old mobile phone which had a 3 mega pixel camera, so no fancy equipment used.

I think this photo is beatiful. It was taken in the lake district whilst we were walking. I love the way the horizon is so clear cut between land and sky. It looks quite eary but at the same time a beautiful landscape with so many different tones of green. The cloud gives great effect to the picture and the peaks in the background add to the dimension.

This little lady is Pheobe and she was two years old when i took the photo. She's a mighty cheeky monkey and this picture reflects that. This photo was taken on a cold day and she still insisted on wearing her grand mothers sunglasses. What makes this a good photo? The central positioning, all your focus is drawn directly to her. No distractions or missinterpretations, your eyes are immediately fixed on her.

This probably isn't a typical everyday photo, but that's what makes it intriguing and fun. This was taken at my friends wedding so it also holds happy memmories for me. She had a camping wedding, so we were all dressed up in fancy dresses and wearing our wellies!! This photo shows unity being formed in a circle with a central focus, it's quirky so I like it.

The setting for this photo is Blackpool sea side. Not really the most beautiful place in the world, but if you pick your moments you can get some special photo shots here. The tide was out leaving a little stream along the beach formed by sand banks, a flock of starlings are flying across the horizon just as the sun is about to set, casting beautiful colours across the entire sky. These are the moments that turn an average view into a spectacular one!

Admittedly this isn't the most beautiful or attractive photo, but it draws your eye. I call it Heather's Split Personality ( Heather being the girl in the photo). This was done on my phone - It's called a montage photo. It simply joins three photo's together giving you this effect. It's a fun photograph!

This is a beautiful photo of a waterfall, what makes it even more beautiful is the natural light. The sunlight from above and behind the tree's glistens on the top pool and then a shadow is formed on the inal fall and pool. The clay and iron within the stream gives the water a beautiful orange tint which makes it stand out as different.The tree's arching over the picture also frames the photo pushing your eyes towards the water falls. It could be a picture out of a fairy tale.

At first glance this picture looks nice but nothing that special. But once you start to examine it the reflection is so beautiful. What your missing at the top of the photo is shown to you in the reflection, the tops of the lush green tree's, the sky and the clouds. The whole scene is beautiful. It's actually of a pond in Rivington that has been designed to look like a japanese garden. Admittedley it was designed many years ago and has become very overgrown, but it is still a lovely place and I love this image.

This is London! I lived here for three moths and out of all the photo's I took there, this is my favourite. London is such a busy place, full of hustle and bustle, people rushing around constantly coming and going, always in a hurry.But right in the centre of London this scene can be captured, it's a "freeze frame", like when you hold your breath for a moment and everything is frozen and peaceful, and then the bustle starts again afterwards. The amazing historical buildings in the distance and the tranquil river Thames showing it's beauty , the clear blue sky and the cotton wool like clouds all adding that special something.

So there you have it, ten photographs, all of which I love and admire. So what is it that makes a good photograph? Well I think many things, memmories, pure beauty, funky new styles, special effects, positioning, lighting, they all add to that perfect picture. My advice to everyone is to just enjoy your pictures, enjoy taking them and cherish the memmories they hold for you, because that is what turns a good picture into the perfect picture (for you at least)!