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Chuck Inglefield | profile | all galleries >> Pre 2/14/2007 Archive >> Other Stuff That Seemed Important at the Time >> Thoughts & Opinions >> thoughts on the art of photography >> Simplicity of Image Content tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Simplicity of Image Content

So there is a phenomenon that for me has been created by they way we view images on the internet. It is this...Very often - and I mean almost always - when I see a "thumbnail" version of an image that looks really great, I click on it and am let down a little with the full sized version of that image. I have a feeling that this does not just happen to me, but is a ubiquitous experience for those interested in photography as art. So I've spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out why this is.

So far, I have come to this conclusion: the thumbnail of an image gives us really only the major parts of the image (be they color/light/form/line...etc) without much detail. The detail is there, but it's so small as not to distract from the main reason the image works. When opening up the larger image, all this other detail and "stuff" is included which detracts (more often than not) from the reason the image works (as was readily evident by viewing the thumbnail).

So it is the simplicity of the thumbnail that wins out over the detail of the larger image. A truly effective image should work well at both sizes....meaning that the larger version needs to get rid of all the stuff that is detracting from the image.

It is a challenge to simplify. The camera and lens are completely objective and cannot see selectively. Every detail in view is captured. It is up to the photographer to be selective with the composition while shooting and with the processing in the digital darkroom.


A couple of my old images to illustrate:
This one is a good example of the thumbnail looking WAY better than the full sized image. At thumbnail size whe really have just a couple of key things...complimentary colors of the tree and background and that curved line. When the full sized image is view, we now see much more stuff that does not enhance the image. This inlcudes the pool drain, the partially obstructed tables and chairs, the other competing lines. All of these things are distractions that were not as visible in the thumbnail; and in my opinion make this an unsuccessful image.

This one is a good example of the thumbnail looking WAY better than the full sized image. At thumbnail size whe really have just a couple of key things...complimentary colors of the tree and background and that curved line. When the full sized image is view, we now see much more "stuff" that does not enhance the image. This inlcudes the pool drain, the partially obstructed tables and chairs, the other competing lines. All of these things are distractions that were not as visible in the thumbnail; and in my opinion make this an unsuccessful image.
This one is a bit different. In fact, the larger version doesn't really carry a great deal more detail than the thumbnail. So I think this is very effective full size because it's simplicity is maintained. The image is about light, line and form. The man in the lower right is sometimes often not even noticed until the full sized image is viewed. This, to me emphasized the point that little things make all the difference. In this image it's the inclusion of a little thing. In most images, (like the one above) it will be the removal of the little distractions that makes the image successful.

This one is a bit different. In fact, the larger version doesn't really carry a great deal more detail than the thumbnail. So I think this is very effective full size because it's simplicity is maintained. The image is about light, line and form. The man in the lower right is sometimes often not even noticed until the full sized image is viewed. This, to me emphasized the point that little things make all the difference. In this image it's the inclusion of a "little thing." In most images, (like the one above) it will be the removal of the little distractions that makes the image successful.


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Guest 10-Nov-2006 16:17
Interesting comments, Chuck. I think this is true for many things in life - the closer you get, the worse it looks (I know that's what people say about me!). Anway, I agree that th Internet creates a lot of problems viewing images. Not just in terms of thumbnails, but color consistency, resolution, etc. This last week, I've been playing with color calibration (purchased Spyder calibrator) and wow! what a difference! Seeing such a difference makes me worry that others have been viwing my photos too dark, or too bright, or not in the right color...Anayway intersting commentary you've started.
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