Qualities of a Winning Print

Qualities of a winning print

The prints must have something to make them special, such as an artistic touch or an unusual subject. Award-winning photographers must work not only to develop techniques, but also to discover the inner self that provides the spark that separates their work from that of others.

IMPACT "Is this a new and fresh approach to an assignment?" If your answer is no, the image probably looks unreal or contrived. Try again. Impact is an important element in winning pictures, providing the quality that stops viewers in their tracks and demands attention.

COMPOSITION The effective use of space, diagonals, pyramids, leading lines and other compositional elements is essential for artistic photographs. " When we stand in front of a truly well-composed photograph, the only feeling we can have is humility, for we know that we are freed from the many details of our daily lives."
Frank Kristian 5 basic types of composition: from left to right, from right to left, the triangle, the "S" composition and the "L" composition.

SUBJECT MATTER Extraordinary faces and places attract more attention than ordinary ones do. Beautiful women handsome men, adorable children, and expressive faces make superior subject for portraits.

CENTER OF INTEREST Does your eye zoom to the photograph's center of interest? If it doesn't, you may have 2 or more centers of interests that vie for the viewer's attention. Anything that detracts from the center of interest lowers a print's scores.

STYLE Does the photograph tells a story? In some images the story is confused by conflicting elements. Fortunately, you can soften or darken these with a vignette or artwork. Another problem in some photographer is the issue of contrived props or locations, such as a hay bale combined with a painted background.

LIGHTING Does the use of light improve or detract from the photograph? The ability to truly see light is one of the most precious gift a photographer can cultivate. Learning how to observe and utilize various types of illumination often requires years of practice or study under skilled instructors. Judges analyze how well the photographer used the light.

COLOR BALANCE Does the strongest colors add to the center of interest or do they lead the viewer's eye elsewhere? Warm colors, such as red, orange, dominate photographs, while cool colors, such as green or blue, recede into the background.

PRINT QUALITY Does the print contain detail in the highlights as well as the shadows? An award winning print must have both. Also, is the print sharp? Did enlargement focus or subject movement create a fuzzy image?

PRESENTATION Do the mounting or matte help the print or do they detract from the overall effect. Any mounting or matting that calls attention to itself will hurt the prints score.

ON CREATIVITY For me creativity always requires concentration and sometimes exercises that help light an inner spark. From my doctor, I learned to wash my mind clear of all thoughts except my client. I ask my associates to aid my concentration by deferring telephone calls and other interruption for a short length of time. From great photographers I learned to prepare for a session with warm-up exercises to free the creative spirit that comes to me from a higher power. Often I'll skim books by great photographers or artists before a session. I also keep notebooks filled with magazine clippings and photographers organized by subject, such as men, women, children, groups and brides.

Composer Johannes Brahms said he tried to put his mind in neutral so the music would flow through him. Some of my best creative ideas have formed an extended, pre dawn walks when I have time to listen without interference from telephones, radio, television or other people. Discipline and creativity might seem to be on conflict, but for me they go hand-in-hand I must force myself to take time for a long walks in order to have quite time alone for prayer and contemplation.

Year of working eight to ten hours a day behind the camera finally paid off when I learned to see light, composition and emotion in a session. Some days I don't feel like doing the scheduled session in my appointment book, but my sense professionalism requires me to work anyway. And by the end of the day, I usually feel exhilarated. An added bonus sometimes on these jam-packed days, I create winning prints.

Excerpts from "The Business of Portrait Photography by Tom McDonald.