Is it really all about having an eye?

Question

I am just curious how many people agree that in photography, Its not about what camera you have, how many different lenses, or techinique, but that its all about having an eye (like knowing what camera angles are best.. )?

Answer 1

The best rule of thumb I've heard about what makes for great photographs is:

50% light

40% photographer

10% equipment



This sounds about right to me. Althought for specialized forms of photography (e.g., sports, wildlife - equipment may be closer to 20%).



And the light component and the photographer component are kind of inter-related. The nicer the light, the better the photo, but it takes a skilled photographer to recognize great light when it exists.

Answer 2

It's more than just having an eye for composition, although that is certainly a big part of taking good photos. Beyond that, a good photographer needs to understand whatever subject he is shooting and be able to interact with that subject in a manner appropriate to the desired photograph. In some cases this means building a rapport and in others it means being invisible. A good photographer also needs to understand light and exposure and how the two interact. Whether digital or film, the same basic technical elements are at work and even a photographer using a pin hole camera needs to have technical skill (perhaps more so than one with a $30K digital medium format camera).



When I take a photo, I am capturing a moment in time. All of my life experience, influences, thoughts, feelings and emotions combine with my technical skill and vision wrapping themselves up in the single moment when I depress the shutter and capture a moment. Whether I have spent hours planning the lighting and setting up the shot, or am grabbing a candid photo that presents itself to me without warning, every single photo is the culmination of who I am and what I see. Much more than just "having an eye" although that is a part of it... (but others are right - equipment matters little...).

Answer 3

I would give a little comparation first:

Van Gogh had used a simple brushes and a simple oil colours;

Some today artist who sells his paintings,let's say, on the street-very ordinary paintings, he could have a superior tools and material against Van Gogh; but still, I don't have to mention the diference!

It's all same for everything else - you don't need even a good eye for real thing - you have to feel that what you want to achieve(of course you need initial knowledge for doing art), and without that feel, passion, will, even if you have the whole knovledge of all techniques, and 'good eye', you will still be on the level of regularity!

So free your mind and try to get some shots from the hart, and you will see an amazing results!

Answer 4

Photography is an art, you need to see through your lens in terms of framing it and putting it on you wall. If you would like to see that image each day, snap it. If not, why would somebody else. No need to get all fancy pants with it. With a decent camera it can be easier to take the shot well, but not to see it. Does that help?

Answer 5

I've seen it over and over again. The best cameras in the world can only take good pictures if the photographer sees what it is that he's looking for. Give a pro a point-and-click camera and even though he might be limited in what he can do stylewise, he can still take extraordinary pictures.

Answer 6

the eye is more important then the equipment still you need to know what you can and can`t do with ur camera

you may see an amazing light and shadow scene but if your camera is bad and you don`t know how to use it chances are your picture ain`t going to be great

Answer 7

Angle,lighting,filters.lenses and camerasn and of course your eyes.

Answer 8

in a sense it is aboout the eye, you have to be able to see something, something beautiful in that you see it and appreciate what it is.



And, you have to be able to capture it in such a way that others can understand what you saw when you took the picture.

Answer 9

Eye and angle.