There are several qualities or attributes that contribute to making a good photograph, including:
Composition - how the elements of the photograph are arranged within the frame.
Lighting - the use of light and shadow to create mood, depth, and dimensionality.
Focus - the sharpness or clarity of the image, and where the viewer's eye is drawn.
Color - the use of color, or lack thereof, to create mood and atmosphere.
Contrast - the range of tones from light to dark, and how they work together to create depth and dimensionality.
Subject matter - the content of the photograph, whether it is a person, place, or thing, and how it is represented.
Emotion - the ability of the photograph to evoke an emotional response in the viewer.
Storytelling - the way the photograph tells a story or conveys a message.
Ultimately, a good photograph is one that captures the viewer's attention and holds it, either through its technical excellence, its emotional impact, or its ability to tell a compelling story. It is an image that stays with the viewer long after they have looked away, and that invites them to see the world in a new way.
A photograph can tell a story in many ways, including through composition, lighting, subject matter, and emotion. Here are some ways that photographs can tell a story:
Composition - The arrangement of the elements within the frame can suggest a narrative or guide the viewer's eye through the image. For example, a photograph that uses leading lines to draw the viewer's gaze towards a particular subject can suggest movement or direction.
Lighting - The use of light and shadow can create mood and atmosphere, and can suggest a time of day or a particular setting. For example, a photograph of a street at night with bright lights and long shadows can suggest a sense of mystery or danger.
Subject Matter - The subject of the photograph can convey a story or a message. For example, a photograph of a person in a particular setting can suggest something about their character or their story.
Emotion - A photograph can evoke an emotional response in the viewer, whether it is joy, sadness, fear, or any other emotion. This emotional impact can be used to tell a story or convey a message.
As for whether the camera lies, it is important to remember that photographs are not objective representations of reality. The camera can be manipulated in many ways to create a particular effect or convey a particular message. For example, the choice of lens, aperture, and shutter speed can all affect how a scene is captured, and post-processing techniques can further alter the image. Additionally, the act of framing a photograph involves making choices about what to include and what to leave out, which can shape the viewer's understanding of the scene. Therefore, it is important to approach photographs with a critical eye and an awareness of the ways in which they can be manipulated to tell a particular story or convey a particular message.