[Leica] What are the most important aspects of a photographic image?

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca)]

George Lottermoser & Phil Swango offered:
Subject: Re: [Leica] What are the most important aspects of a photographic 
image?


> On Jan 3, 2011, at 11:15 PM, Phil Swango wrote:
>
>> Over the years I have come to believe that the most important attribute 
>> of a
>> photo is whether it lingers in the memory.  I remember many great images 
>> by
>> HCB, AA, etc., not because of any one factor like light or composition, 
>> but
>> because the totality of the elements that make up a photograph,
>> collectively, caused the picture to stay in my memory.

George Lottermoser offered:
> Can't help wondering if these "outstanding photographs"
> linger long in our memories because we see them over and over again
> as we're students and practitioners of the art and craft;
> and reading the history and collecting the books, etc.
>
> At some level photographers seem the largest consumer group
> of photographic images; whether in print or on the web.

Hi George, Phil & Crew:
One could ask.. "How many HCB books do you have in your private home 
collection?" And how many of the identical photos are in everyone?" And how 
many times have you looked through each copy?

If you have copies of different titles on the same photographer you will 
find many identical photos in each.! That means that at least 5 times those 
images have been burned into your memory banks along with the written word.

Then add "How many times have you seen the same 5 pictures in magazines, on 
TV or the screen before you?" Over the years?

Many images from the past are not necessarily Pulitzer Prize all time most 
fantastic photos. But in the eyes of some folks claim they are. They're 
"only great" because you've seen them a gazillion times repeating them over 
and over therefore they stay in our memories as honey to a piece of toast! 
ERGO: Famous!

Obviously there are those that are truly incredible due to the moment 
captured. But then history and length of time shown and constant build up by 
writers and critics, the photographer becomes "One of the greatest in the 
world!" Again because we see them not a few times in our own  book copies, 
but we see and talk about them hundreds, nay, thousands of times during our 
ever lengthening career and lives.

ERGO: Picture "definitely becomes famous!" And  we all remember it as we 
continue to make the photographer more famous.

But has anyone ever thought that maybe? Just maybe? There is some shy kind 
of shooter in the back woods of Alaska, France, Russia or any other 
location? Who has quietly gone about his life shooting brilliant images 
about the world because he loves doing it? And his or her photography puts 
almost everyone else to near shame?

But simply because he's never been  published "BIG-TIME!" Ala HCB, AA and 
many others considered "Holy Grail exposures of film!" That the photography 
doesn't rate simply because we've never seen nor heard of either?

"They walk amongst us quietly doing their thing !"
cheers,
ted