Difficult vs. easy pictures

True, just because a picture is more "difficult" to take doesn't necessarily mean that it's a better picture.  But... arg... I'm having trouble expressing myself.  This is quite rare... let me explain through pictures:



A lot of people were impressed by this picture. And honestly, I can see why people like it so much - because it looks nice.  But you know what?  This picture is incredibly easy to take, and it means NOTHING to me.

Am I being humble?  absolutely not.  Two other photographers went with me this day, and their picture looks nearly IDENTICAL to this one.  If 10 other photographers would have gone, their pictures would look nearly identical as well, regardless of their equipment (yes, even with a point and shoot).

Don't believe me? you better believe it.





(taken by kim jipsanim and park jipsanim)

Can you see why I don't really care about the picture above?  It does not take an ounce of creativity - literally anyone can take the shot.  I mean come on!  You have beautiful buildings in front of you, with water reflecting the lights.  There's really very little thinking involved with this one.

But no one took this picture:



which was ten times more difficult picture to take than any of the other pictures.  Not because it was technically difficult, but it's really hard to see a spider web on a pitch dark night, especially with such a nice view surrounding you.  You'll most likely be drawn to the buildings and pass up a small details like this one.

Plus, even if you do see one, there's slightly more thinking involved.  At what angle will you take this shot?  What will be the depth of field, how much buildings should you show, etc. etc.

And this one, people absolutely love this one, but again, it's really not difficult to see this one:



I mean, it's a friggin' fireworks - or even better, it's fire works in middle of an ocean.  Everyone knows that it's pretty.  You'd have to be an idiot not to capture the fireworks with the ocean under it.  All you have to do is set your shutter speed to 1/15th of a second and fire.  It's really not difficult.  Really!

But what about this one?



It has a philosophical meaning to it.  Half of the apple is rotting, while the other half is alive as it's still clinging on to the tree.  Do you see pictures like this often?  probably not.  At least I haven't.

What about this?  Do you know where this picture was taken at?



none other than covenant UMC. It's incredibly difficult to take creative shots at a place you've been at for over a decade. 

anyways, I guess what I'm trying to say is, I like pictures that are creative, not the ones anybody can take.  Anyone can take pictures like this:



thousands of people have, and thousands of people will.  About a week after I took this one, I saw a nearly IDENTICAL picture at the front page of Korea Times.  Lame.


I know it doesn't look as cool, but I'd much rather take pictures that are more unique and creative, at least in my point of view.