There are many elements in photography that come together to make an image be considered “good”. Elements like lighting, the rule of thirds, lines, shapes, texture, patterns, and color all work well together to add interest and a great deal of composition in photographs.
Johnston detailed the four primary elements of good photography that can create compelling images; light, composition, timing, and gesture/expression.
Basically, there are five common elements that great images typically have; Good use of light, color, a captivating moment, correct composition for the given situation, and the photographer's choice of distance to their subject.
There are seven basic elements of photographic art: line, shape, form, texture, color, size, and depth. As a photographic artist, your knowledge and awareness of these different elements can be vital to the success of your composition and help convey the meaning of your photograph.
If you always consider these three variables, light, subject, and composition. You will have mastered perhaps the most critical part of photography, and learned how to actually convey an emotional message with your shots.
Clarity, Color, Contrast, and Consistency.
These are critical components of a strong photo.
It can be as simple as a pretty picture, a visually stunning place, or something more emotional, a direct photo journalistic story. Adding this personalized depth to images really helps them stand out from the others. Adding more key details (or maybe less?) leads the viewer into the story you are portraying.
Color is the most striking of the elements when used correctly. Contrasting and complementary colors will create an amazing image but used incorrectly will wash out an otherwise great photo. Color evokes deep emotion. We think in color and feel in color and use color to describe those feelings.
The rule of thirds is a composition guideline that places your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open. While there are other forms of composition, the rule of thirds generally leads to compelling and well-composed shots.
The Basics
Regardless of why the image is out of focus, if it is blurry, it is no good. The other way, is if you are taking a photo of a particular subject, item, or person, but the depth-of-field is out. The image is clear just in front or behind the subject, leaving the subject itself out of focus and blurry.
A good photograph focuses on at least one subject, makes that subject clear in the photo, and composes the entire image in a way that is visual appealing (usually relying on the rule of thirds.)
Light is the most important base element of any image. Always look for beautiful light because it will make the elements in the image look fabulous. Observe how the direction and color of light changes throughout the day and alters the appearance of everything in the frame.
Three of the most important settings are shutter speed, ISO, and aperture — otherwise known as the exposure triangle, or the three pillars of photography.
A good composition is one in which every visual element has a precise role and adds something to the story. For a good composition, photography needs a balance between the elements in the frame. It means you have to balance the amount of detail and space, highlights and shadows, etc.
Creative photography is a technique by which you combine different shapes, colors, and forms of ordinary moments and turn them into creative art using your photography skills. This type of photography demands a unique way of seeing things and projecting an innovative image, altered from reality.
Lighting and composition are the two most crucial aspects of photography, which comprise three of the seven fundamentals.