What the differance between a good shot and a great shot?

Nod said:
I prefer to look at it as a friendly discussion than an argument - I think we're generally in agreement and just "arguing" over semantics!

Enjoying the Laverda or has it been garaged for the winter? Unfortunately, my Royal Enfield has had to be garaged for a few months - I've had to surrender my license after a brain operation :(
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Oh bummer, yes of course I did ponder that fact when I heard, you'll get it back after a while if your ok, and probably could be right! Brains an amazing thing and all that.

I use my Laverda most weeks for blatting over to see folks, while keeping the parking space for my van init! ;) Quick tips on parking up your Enfield If I may bud...otherwise you'll be calling someone like me out to get it running again. ;) Fill the petrol tank to the brim to stop rust. (cover the lid from rain entry also) Turn the fuel tap off. Empty the carburettors float bowl via the bowls drain plug, to ensure long standing evaporated fuel doesnt bung it up.... make sure its not refilling via a leaky fuel tap. (clamp the hose if it is)
If you do all that a little squirt of engine oil down the bore and it will restart with fresh fuel every time no matter how long you leave it.
 
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Nod said:
Very true, Tony.

Look at Cath Wales's boobs out shots - I don't think anyone could argue that they were good piuctures but I'm sure the scum that took them made quite a few bob out of them, Although I hope his legal fees ate all of it up and he's been left peniless!
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We could say the money shot is in fact the decisive moment shot, if you get my jist.
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
Oh bummer, yes of course I did ponder that fact when I heard, you'll get it back after a while if your ok, and probably could be right! Brains an amazing thing and all that.

Well, if I recover too much more, I'll be dangerous!!!

I use my Laverda most weeks for blatting over to see folks, while keeping the parking space for my van init! ;) Quick tips on parking up your Enfield If I may bud...otherwise you'll be calling someone like me out to get it running again. ;) Fill the petrol tank to the brim to stop rust.It was filled shortly before I got too ill to use it - maybe 10-15 miles. (cover the lid from rain entry also) Turn the fuel tap off.No fuel tap or carbs - it's one of the new Indian ones with fuel injection. Empty the carburettors float bowl via the bowls drain plug, to ensure long standing evaporated fuel doesnt bung it up.... make sure its not refilling via a leaky fuel tap. (clamp the hose if it is)
If you do all that a little squirt of engine oil down the bore and it will restart with fresh fuel every time no matter how long you leave it.How about a squirt of GT85 (NOT WD40 - that's just a water dispersant, not a proper lubricant)?
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kestral said:
The problem with the original posters question is,that it is always someones OPINION that decides wether a shot is great.The question it's self requires proof that a shot is great and as long as it is just opinion that is the only evidence tendered, it is subjective and individual.So Granny is going to tell her Grandson "that's a nice photo", as are people with that sort of disposition. I have had 40yrs of seeing other peoples photos and other people seeing mine and the only GREAT(what ever that means?) shots I have taken are the ones that put hundreds of pounds in my bank account.That way opinion does not come into it.
I have found that editors of magazines/newspapers,Joe public will all tell me that my photos are great BUT when I say would you like to buy one to put on your wall or publish in your mag,it's not really that great after all.
This business of "that's a great shot" in it's self I find a bit silly now,it is somewhat embarrassing when the budding photographer get's his photos out and starts showing them around "Oh that's a good one and that one".Do they really mean it? What does GREAT mean?:shrug:
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Ok now we are getting somewhere...

So for you the definition of a great shot is totally up to the amount of money the pic will fetch? So let me ask you a direct question if I may. Factoring out all money and everyone else in the world, what makes a great pic to you? Is the phrasing of the the question really so relevant to label it a silly question? Or is it that the business of photography making the photographer so jaded that the art is overtaken by the mighty dollar?

I placed this question to get a real answer. The truth is, the critique area of the forum is full of exactly what you have mentioned, great shot, nice one I really like #4 blah blah blah. I love the forum but that section has been a bit on the useless side. This is why I posted the question, no pic just the honest opinion of an experienced photographer on what makes a great shot is all I was hoping to get.
 
Forbiddenbiker said:
Id imagine he had a few frames of the moment slipping away after he either got it or missed it ....its just not possible for him to have several extra poor frames of a single moment. ..not quite getting you here/

Its a photographers foresight that gets the shot of the moment isn't it. Sometimes luck but mostly its all about knowing what's likely to happen next while quickly building a composition for the shot that's about to get snapped.

Id imagine it was nearly always his first shot that got the moments, that's mostly the only way it can be I feel. :thinking:
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Perhaps it is because I am new to photography but what I envision is the frame work of what the final shot will turn out to be. So many times I look at a scene and envision a shot only to take a test shot a realize that the shot is a lot different than I originally thought it would be. Most of the the time the scene turns out to be much better but perhaps the exposure is not displaying the true mood and or feel that I am trying to exploit. A lot of the time I look at a situation and think that it will make a good shot but until I take a test shot I truly do not know how and what will make the shot good or great. Most of the time I can envision the the exposure but I have to experiment with the composition to make the shot shine. Like I said, this could be because I do not have the experience that most of you have.
 
BarryG said:
That covers it in my opinion.

There are a million reasons you might stay longer than 3 seconds, but if you do, it's a good shot.
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There are many shots that we look at for longer than 3 seconds only to realize that they are no good. I took a shot of my girlfriend and stared at it for 3 minutes thinking how beautiful she was but I didn't post the shot because it was not shot correctly.
 
Ah but what is it about one shot over another that evokes emotion?

shaylou said:
There are many shots that we look at for longer than 3 seconds only to realize that they are no good. I took a shot of my girlfriend and stared at it for 3 minutes thinking how beautiful she was but I didn't post the shot because it was not shot correctly.
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Ask yourself what is about her face that evokes an emotion in you?

Is it the fact she has two eyes, and a nose, mouth, two ears..... or is it the precise sizes and composition of those items that does it for you?
 
shaylou said:
Perhaps it is because I am new to photography but what I envision is the frame work of what the final shot will turn out to be. So many times I look at a scene and envision a shot only to take a test shot a realize that the shot is a lot different than I originally thought it would be. Most of the the time the scene turns out to be much better but perhaps the exposure is not displaying the true mood and or feel that I am trying to exploit. A lot of the time I look at a situation and think that it will make a good shot but until I take a test shot I truly do not know how and what will make the shot good or great. Most of the time I can envision the the exposure but I have to experiment with the composition to make the shot shine. Like I said, this could be because I do not have the experience that most of you have.
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I think we all still do this to some degree, Some shots I can see miles away going to be great, others take a little more work, or are just beyond me and I produce carp. Don't be so hard on yourself, Ive seen some good work of yours, it just takes time to do it consistently..practice is everything.
 
Nod said:
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Yeah GT85 ok like WD40 is ok ...they will certainly loosen any rusty piston rings which is kinda likely on that bike ....GT45 is better than engine oil at loosening rings but it wont lubricate during those its first few essential strokes ...perhaps GT85 first, half hour before starting, then a splash of engine oil, turn it over slowly with ignition off, then spin it fast, spark plug in, fresh top up of petrol...and bang away it will go.

Also splashing some oil down the bore during storage, may be every four months could retain the bore and rings in perfect order. ..they do get rusty inside if left im worried about.
 
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Cheers for the warning, Adam, I'll heave the plug out and give it a squirt of GT85 next time I'm in the garage. Might even add a drop or 2 of engine oil and ease it over on the kicker. Poor thing's only done 1010 miles since new! I've been too sick to ride and enjoy it much for the poast 12 months. :(

Fortunately, it looks good even standing still - like a real bike should!
 
Nod said:
Cheers for the warning, Adam, I'll heave the plug out and give it a squirt of GT85 next time I'm in the garage. Might even add a drop or 2 of engine oil and ease it over on the kicker. Poor thing's only done 1010 miles since new! I've been too sick to ride and enjoy it much for the poast 12 months. :(

Fortunately, it looks good even standing still - like a real bike should!
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I think I'm missing something here. Are these suppose to be in another forum about cars or did I miss something earlier?
 
Sorry, Shane, Adam and I are both motorcyclists/bikers and he's given me a few tips on laying my bike up for the period until I can reapply for my driving license (I've had to surrender it after open brain surgery). I appologise for the thread Hijack and I think Adam and my discussion has been resolved anyway.
 
Nod said:
Sorry, Shane, Adam and I are both motorcyclists/bikers and he's given me a few tips on laying my bike up for the period until I can reapply for my driving license (I've had to surrender it after open brain surgery). I appologise for the thread Hijack and I think Adam and my discussion has been resolved anyway.
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Oh no not at all feel free to keep going as I too am a bit of a gear head. I found it interesting just was confused on the topic. I'm good now. Lol
 
This is one of the reasons I hate photography. But at the same time, it's the reason why so many love it.......there is no measuring stick. No right or wrong. I think I need there to be. I can produce well exposed, sharp photographs that are 'ok', but generally 'meh' but none that are great, or even very good. People will still pick holes in some of the very good ones. I'd much prefer it if it were like maths, where the answer is generally correct.
 
This a grate shot..............

images
 
mmm ok we have two photographers side by side taking a picture of the same image. Why does one turn out so much better than the other?

this (I think) is where the artist comes in. having an eye for detail, getting the angle just right, moving the pov ever so slightly.

sometimes the beauty is in a flaw - one reason why I like to see people in landscape shots :)

also, the camera/lens used, as well as the chosen settings, does make quite a difference (anyone who denies this should explain why they aren't using a cheap basic camera themselves). Ok so there's quite a difference between my 450D and my 50D - but the real difference is in the glass. This can't, however, make a bad picture good.

all of the above is my opinion of course, which, as others have pointed out, is another facet to the question.
 
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