What makes us respond to an image?

Mowing the lawn in an old cemetry in South Africa.

I think are several factors which can influence the importance we attribute to an image or how we rate it aesthetically. Without going into a philosophical discourse about it, here are a few key considerations:

I don't think there is such a thing as a bad image or a good image, just pictures that are interesting and pictures that are not interesting. Whether or not depends on several things:

Historical context. Older pictures tend to get more interesting
Subject matter
Technical and aesthetic qualities
How well an image communicates an idea or emotion
How unusual the image is. Unique views and rarely seen subjects are more interesting
The caption or text associated with the image is extremely important to how we perceive it
The way the image is presented. The same picture in a magazine, a book, on screen or in a gallery will all be perceived in a different way. Many pictures that work well on a computer monitor actually come out quite poorly in print and vice versa. Each medium has its own associations and particular graphic quality
Who took the image has an influence on the way it is perceived. Mediocre images by famous photographers will still generate more interest and acclaim than superb images by unknowns.
Personal associations and experiences that relate to the subject matter will also influence the way you perceive it
Personal taste in things like colours

Why we like a particular image and why we find it interesting are complicated issues but hopefully I've provided some food for thought.

Paul Indigo

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