Why do people like this photo?

[blackrose89]

This is my very very first "photograph", well attempt, after I decided to enroll into photography school. I knew nothing about photography when I took this photo. I mean nothing. But for whatever reason, this photo gets a lot of great feedback. Not just from friends and family, but from other photographers I have encountered. There is no attempt at composition... althought I did NOT want to cut his ear off. I took the photo with Iphone app and there was a giant obnoxious colorful watermark that imprinted on the image, so I had to crop it, I didn't want to.

Is there something I'm missing, to me it just looks like a bad beginner snapshot.

 

[Majeed Badizadegan]

The lighting is good but it is very soft. (a bit out of focus). And some highlights are blown from the light so you've lost some detail in the fur.

 

[COLTSFANATIC1]

nice pic, I had a phone 3gs and it would take great pictures, and nobody would think they came from a phone, but they would not compare to my dslr

 

[adversus]

Pictures that elicit positive responses from people do not have to be technically correct. If people like it, you have a good photograph. Hell, if only YOU like it, then you have a good photograph.

That's the point of art.

 

[Buckster]

The light's not bad, but yeah, I can relate. I've got a cat photo on flickr that I shot on T-MAX 400 film with my Mamiya RB67 and developed in the bathroom. It doesn't look all that special to me, but has gotten "favorited" more times than any of my other photos. I don't get it.

My biggest seller ever is a shot I nearly threw away of an empty road leading into Dallas that I shot on a whim through the windshield while driving without even looking through the viewfinder to compose - just picked it up off the seat, pointed through the windshield and pressed the shutter, then set it back down again. It was just a snapshot. I've sold several hundred of it as postcards over the past couple of years, plus several larger prints, and every once in a while, another hundred postcards get ordered.

I guess you just never know what people are going to like. Come to think of it, I never understood the appeal of disco either... Hmmm...

 

[WesternGuy]

I agree with adversus about positive response. I suspect that it may have something to do with the fact that the cat's eyes have a very nice catchlight in them and he/she is looking right at the camera. The eyes tend to grab the viewer's attention, at least they did mine, it was only after this that I began to notice the "technical" aspects - a lot of it is out of focus, thus is is a soft image, the black & white conversion is more "grey and grey" as there is not enough tonal contrast in it to make it a good B&W, some of the fur is blown out...

My 0.02¢ FWIW.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

 

[Brentles]

Cats are one of the most searched item on the web!....people love cats....could be as simple as that!

 

[ann]

Blackrose,

I have to agree with you, iphone or not I find it lacking. Technically and in sharpness. Something I was told many years ago, (probably longer than your age) be careful of advise from those who know nothing about photography, they can lead you astray.

We are usually very harsh on our own work . We love things no one else likes, we hate things people rave about; finding a creative balance is a long journey.

 

[mishele]

It's a cat shot!!! People go crazy over them!! It's like the cat blinds everyone from seeing the picture for what it truly is....lol

 

[joealcantar]

May be out of focus , but I like the shot just because you saw the shot. The paw is acting as a leading line to the body and the cat has your attention, unlike some subject shots that are taken when the subject does not look at you. Don't lose your interest , even if with the iphone, work on the focusing and composition until you pick up a starter camera and can do more. Give yourself a little more room next time for the cropping.
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Shoot well, Joe