Aesthetics in Digital Photography

3What Are the Criteria For a Beautiful Photo?

The value of certain colours are emphasized by certain forms and dulled by others. In any event, sharp colours sound stronger in sharp forms (for example, yellow in a triangle). Those inclined to be deep are intensified by round forms (for example blue in a circle). On the other hand, if a form does not fit the colour, the conjunction should not be considered “inharmonious”, but rather as a new possibility and, therefore, as harmony.

Wassily KANDINSKY (1954)

Let us set aside both philosophy and neurobiology for the moment and look at texts that offer practical advice on how to obtain beautiful photos.

Wherever possible, when the authors themselves do not give reasons for their recommendations, we will try to justify the strategies they suggest by using the theories we have just discussed in the previous chapters.

As far as possible, we will verify this on the ground, either through tests in experimental psychology (where the effect of such-and-such a parameter is measured across a cohort of observers) or through measurements on several collections of photographs, from which we will derive statistical results that make it possible to distinguish photos that are said to be beautiful from those that are more ordinary.

3.1. Before we enter into the fray

3.1.1. What reference books do we have?

We are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing guides that advise us on art and how to take good photographs. There are dozens of books ...