What Makes a Photograph Stand Out?

[BrentLakin]

A great photograph is not always about having the most expensive camera or equipment. Lighting, composition, timing, colors, and the photographer’s ability to capture an interesting moment can all make a picture more memorable.

I think photography is also about telling a story through a single image. Even a simple subject can look completely different when photographed from the right angle or under the right lighting conditions.

 

[Whiskeyman]

Back when I belonged to a local photography club, we had monthly print competitions/judgings. The judges were all PSA level judges and used PSA criteria for judging. The biggest feature that made a photo score at the highest level was impact. Many photos were "technically superior" but lacked a subject that caused the viewer to want to look at the photo closely or more than once. Those that scored highest were usually the ones that had a subject that impacted the viewer in a strong positive way.