Reflection N. 1 - What is a good photo and why?

This is the first of a set of reflections on photography. Like any good reflection, it is meant to make us think about something. This time, I will not give any opinions of my own, but I will deliver a number of questions and ideas that can somehow contribute to this reflection and discussion.

So, "What is a good photo and why?". What is the first thing that you look for when you look at a photo for the first time? Is it the color (or absence of it)? Is it the composition? The main subject? The contrast? Could it be the shapes, textures, lines? What about the focus or depth of field? Do you go straight for the post-processing? Or is it the lighting?

Let's imagine for a moment that you don't know anything about photography and all those technical details. What makes it compelling and attractive? Do you have to like it for it to be a good photography? Or, does it have to be a good photography for you to like it? How many times have you photographed something that only meant something to you, that only appealed to your senses? And how many times have you published a photo in your photoblog that you thought it would be the one, and then came to the conclusion that after all nobody cared?

Two babies and a Crocodile

How often do you get to play while doing your job!?

This time I was asked to photograph some baby doll (do not confuse with "babydoll" wear) clothes. Oh yeah, and there is a fine market out there for this kind of articles. The detail they put into this clothes can rival any big maker in the "real people" fashion industry. Anyway, at first I thought about doing some catalogue material in the studio, but then I decided to pull out my list of contacts and find someone with baby dolls to work with. There's this really cool Music Academy nearby, and they have a place for the kids to play during the break... and yep, lucky me, they had baby dolls.

So when I get to the place, I find this nice corner with a colorful bookcase/"gamecase", a really tiny bench on the side and a crocodile sleeping on the bench. The window was on the left, and the sun was almost down. I was just "scouting" the place so I didn't bring any flashes or fancy equipment, but you know... "scouting" and "playing around" aren't really too different from each other. I grabbed two of the dolls, dressed them with some nice "go well together" clothes, and put the croc in the middle.

Passion for Photography

I woke up this morning still undecided about what to write in chromystic's first blog entry. Thought of speaking about myself and the reason for creating Chromystic, along with my expectations, goals and desires; thought about sharing some kind of crazy tutorial with cool effects and odd techniques; thought about not thinking at all, just saying hello to everyone and digress straight to post nº 2.

Instead, I decided to share with you some of my passion for photography.

Well, unlike many others, It did not start when I was a child, although it had always been a strong presence at home. My father loved photography… he had many cameras, a fully equiped darkroom, a slide machine and all kinds of wooden cases filled with slides, which I used to play with during the afternoons, contemplating the images.