Photos based in reality

The science behind what I love about photos

My summer vacation was spent in parts of Spain and Italy this year. Outside of beaches and romantics sunsets, I spent a lot time in museums and fancy old villas. Time well spent, if you ask me. I was overwhelmed with all kinds of interior design, sculptures, paintings and photography. I started noticing what I genuinely tend to gravitate towards vs what was great art. I guess the internet's a bit of a mixed bag; everything's right there, so we kind of build these internal filters for what actually sticks with us.

It got me thinking about what I try to accomplish when I take my own photos and if I could figure out the characteristics of photos I've taken that truly stick with me. Note: I'm intentionally not using words like good, bad, or great photos here. I want you, the reader, to focus on something else, something less absolute in opinion. Even if you disagree with me, it's at least going to get you thinking about the characteristics of images that make a photo stick for you.

When I think about what makes my photography tick, here's the sweet spot I'm always aiming for:

• Raw but polished enough to come across as professional

• Documentative. It's about ensuring the photo's intention and the story it tells are truly genuine.

• Obscure. I like to leave out enough detail to leave room for imagination.

I can sum this all up with the title of this article: Photos based in reality. That feels extremely vague, right? I've watched tons of videos breaking down rules of thirds, color, contrast, composition, and so on. However, I see them all as a means to an end. That end could be anything, depending on who you ask. For me, it's the three points listed above.

I'm elated when a photo nails all three points. Here are a few examples of images that come close.

1. Gessica on Film

Take this one, for instance. I took it during a film photoshoot in a rented studio, aiming to get the cover for my upcoming zines. This particular photo didn't make the cut for the cover, but it's still my favorite one from the session

• Raw: It's a really tight crop of the model. I'll admit, I was far too close on the first shot. In the moment, I noticed it, stood back, and retook the image to get enough breathing space on the sides. Here's a pro tip: telling someone to just "do that again" usually makes it even harder to replicate, and sure enough, I could never truly replicate this exact gaze, unfortunately. But even with this tight crop, her gaze gives the photo enough room; it feels immediate, not confined.

• Documentative: This photo just gets the model. Even though I don't know her all that well, this image perfectly captures the impression I have of her: a unique mix of confident and shy at the same time. It's like a visual summary of that personality.

• Obscure: This is the funny part. The feeling from the "Documenting" point really lends itself here because it was a moment we couldn't replicate, so it left me thinking: what was going through her mind in that moment? It holds onto a little secret, and that's what makes it stick.

2. Hats Off to the Heat

• Raw: It feels genuinely plucked from a moment. It's got that grainy texture, the bright, almost blown-out sky, and the slightly off-kilter perspective of someone just trying to grab a scene as it happens.

• Documentative: The photo just screams "tourists season!" which is exactly what it was. It perfectly captures that feeling of being one person among many, all looking at something. And the detail of one person without a hat in a sea of them – initially, I hated that detail and even thought about using AI to add one in. But over time, I started wondering if it looked intentional or like a happy mistake. Like, maybe I actually took that photo because there was one odd person out subconsciously?

• Obscure: Why wasn't she wearing a hat on such a sunny day? It's a small detail that makes me pause and think, adding a layer of mystery to an otherwise straightforward scene.

3. Defiant

• Raw: Gritty and real. The harsh sunlight, the shadows, the grain from the film – it all adds to this unfiltered, in-the-moment vibe. Honestly, I've yet to truly dive into editing this one because I'm so scared I'll just ruin the vibe I already get from it.

• Documentative: The shot perfectly captures a specific kind of swagger and attitude. The guy's stance, the shadow on one side of his face created by his hat, the setting with the graffiti wall and industrial background – it all comes together to document a very particular urban energy. It’s like a snapshot of a character in their natural habitat.

• Obscure: The casual, almost defiant posture leaves a lot unsaid.