Is This Pure Luck? Part 2
Sometimes, luck needs to be provoked.
What makes a good photograph? Is it just luck, or is there more to it? I think it goes both ways.
Good composition is certainly important. Interesting colors, textures, and contrasts also play a big role. But in my opinion, a good photograph must have an element of the unexpected – a random moment that looks unbelievable, as if it was planned, even though we know it wasn’t. This is an element of luck.
That’s exactly what happened with this photograph, which I consider one of my most successful. It shows a woman walking through the arches of the old Hektorović Palace in the beautiful town of Stari Grad on the island of Hvar, Croatia.
My main goal was to capture her reflection in Hektorović’s fish pond, and I patiently waited until the woman reached the right position in the frame before I took a shot. The reflection of the palace in the water almost looks like an abstract painting, with textures and shapes that remind me of a piece of art. The black-and-white edit enhances the contrasts, bringing out the difference between the dark and light tones, all playing out on the surface of the pond.
However, the real magic of this photo was revealed to me later, when I was reviewing my shots in Lightroom. I was amazed to see the swallow (bird) that had flown through the frame at exactly the right moment. It is actually the only “real” thing in the photograph, while everything else is a reflection in the water.
I converted the photo to black and white and played around with cropping, contrast, blacks, and the dehaze effect. The black-and-white effect further emphasizes the contrasts and draws attention to the textures and shapes rather than the colors, which works perfectly for this type of reflective photograph.
So, is this photo the result of luck?
I think it is, and it isn’t.
It’s luck because I didn’t plan to capture the swallow, especially considering how fast they fly. But it’s also not entirely luck because the shot was the result of planning – I had consciously decided to visit Hektorović’s pond with my camera.
Sometimes, luck needs to be provoked.
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." – Seneca
Awesome photo! I don't believe it's just one or two elements that can create magical shots. In street photography Henri Cartier-Bresson coined the term, "the decisive moment", defined as the precise instant when the elements of a scene come together in perfect harmony, creating an image that captures the essence of the event. However, I think there's an additional element-for me, anyway. When INTENTION builds and both skill and chance come together with the energy of what's around, that is when the magical moment occurs. The more often I pursue it, the more my chances increase of capturing that magical moment. All I need is time! More time for more shooting and more magical moments. Thank you for sharing this.