Bad Photographs

What makes a bad photograph? For this assignment, you will consider what makes a bad photograph and then create several examples.

Readings and Resources

• TBA

Instructions

For this assignment, you will consider what makes a bad photograph and then create several examples. Bad photographs usually exhibit one or more of the following technical and compositional problems:

• Harsh shadows on the person’s face and /or other areas of the photograph
• Focus problems
• Subject grossly off centered or badly positioned
• Composition awkwardly cropped
• Background distractions
• Image flopped
• Poor mix of background and foreground elements
• Unflattering and/or unnatural pose
• Under- or over-exposed photo

In photojournalism, a “bad” photograph may involve problems with cliche and boring composition:

• The “grip and grin”
• The “execution at dawn”
• The man or woman at his or her desk
• The “bored meeting”

To complete the assignment, you will shoot at least three different “bad” photographs.  The bad photographs should have one or more of the following problems:

• Harsh shadows on the person’s face and /or other areas of the photograph
• Subject grossly off centered or badly positioned
• Background distractions
• Poor mix of background and foreground elements
• Unflattering and/or unnatural pose

Evaluation