On Easy and Hard Images
As Ann has been working her way through her images, she’ll periodically ask me to take a look at one and share my thoughts about whether it should be added to the website. Last week I realized that they often tend to fall into a certain “type” of image, and that it would be worth talking about on the website.
The idea I’d like to toss out there is that there are easy images and hard images. Also that there are different categories of “easy and hard” images. Easy images are photographs that are easy to appreciate. Whether they’re of an iconic place, or with stunningly beautiful lighting, or incredibly compelling compositions, it’s hard not to appreciate them. This photograph of Ann’s is one that’s easy to appreciate. Not only is there the beauty of the subject, Yosemite Valley, there’s the amazing clouds and the shadows and light that give depth to the valley, highlight Bridalveil Falls and convey a sense of the amazing light that exists there.
I see nothing wrong with easy photographs (looking at them or making them), particularly when they offer more than that initial first tasting. Often, that’s the difference between a good photograph and a poorer photograph. The latter is easy at first glance and then offers nothing more. A good easy image offers more once the sugar high for the eyes has worn off.
Then there are the hard photographs. The ones that do not immediately jar you like a fish slap to the face. Images that don’t visually shout to immediately grab your attention, the absence of which perhaps giving you an excuse to just move onward. However if you pause for a moment and make an effort, even if it’s to ask, “What is that?” you begin to see. And then you look some more, and then see some more. And your eye wanders, explores and discovers. The image begins to unfold itself, like a story, which must be read to be appreciated, because you learn very little from looking at the book cover.
So I suspect Ann was a bit surprised when I responded to her, “Should I keep this one or throw it out?” by launching into a good 5 minute explanation of why this was an amazing image. Of course I had to pause a few seconds to look at it before responding, because its riches were not obvious on the surface. And the reason it took 5 minutes was because, once I started talking, as I was explaining one aspect of the image I found compelling, I would see another, and another, and another.
Until I finally realized it was about time I stopped talking and simply added, “Yes, you should keep it.” Look at this image. Take your time with it and you’ll be rewarded. From the composition of the various elements within the frame, to the differing tonal values and textures, there’s a lot to discover with this image.
Yes, some images are both easy and hard, in many ways those are the best ones. But that is truly difficult to achieve, as much as we may try.
So, given a choice between an easy or a hard image, I’ll often go for the hard. There’s simply more to it in most instances, and I love that feeling of discovery.