What Makes a Great Photograph? #4 Robert Capa

Robert Capa: one of my favorite photographers of all time.

1. Three subjects

Three subjects juxtaposed against the building in the background:

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2. Selfie, with subject in mirror, and their head in the foreground

Hemmingway head in center, Capa selfie in top left, and Hemingway head in foreground (bottom right):

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3. Crowd scene, with arabesque curve composition

Note all the heads, different depth and distance, with the arabesque (cyan). Also the repeating rectangle signs in background:

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4. Bottom heavy

Repeating people, bottom heavy composition, much negative space in sky, and directional movement towards the left of the frame:

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5. Frame in frame

The frame in frame, the depth of the scene:

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6. Two simple subjects, moving away from each other, and rectangle shape

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7. Arabesque composition, high angle perspective shooting downwards, with diagonal slant

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8. Low angle perspective, shape of the man as a triangle

Simple, heroic, triumphant composition of a paratrooper:

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9. Arabesque

Simple and elegant arabesque:

10. Head-on composition

11. Diagonal arabesque portrait from low angle 

12. Triumphant, super low angle perspective photo of child, making him look larger than life

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By ERIC KIM

Artist-Philosopher