Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/06/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]- -----Original Message----- From: Alan Hull <hull@vaggeryd.mail.telia.com> >I can understand a spectacular picture, (when you say WOW). But what >on earth is a powerful one? > A "powerful image" transcends technical matters of sharpness, bokeh, etc, though it may rely all for best effect. It provokes an emotional response in the viewer; makes you care one way or another about the subject; and when the response is as the photographer intended, said photographer can feel very smug indeed. A picture that's merely pretty doesn't do more than please the eyes briefly, and is quickly forgotten. I believe a good deal of the reason why Ansel Adams prints (they must be properly and adequately illuminated!!) are so admired is that the best of them have a sort of visual richness which draws us into the scene and makes us feel intensely alive while we're there: Too often, we see the world vaguely, not because our eyes are bad, but because our mind is elsewhere. Many powerful images are used for advertising; very good ones can make you personally identify with a brand of merchandise :-) Jeff