Paintings every Photographer must study

    Top three (in my opinion) tips of advice for photographers:

• The most recognized painting in the world has a lot to teach photographers, mainly connection with your subject. As has been said before, that smile says a lot about the connection between the painter and the subject. That is what every photographer should be looking for when they take a portrait and one of the reasons why this is such a memorable image. 

• Photography, like painting before it, has an instinctual basis. The need to show someone else something with an image. Learning new techniques is fun but they should not get in the way of that id urge, that basic feeling of wanting to show someone else a picture. Before you think about composition, lighting and technique, do you first have something you want to show someone else. 

• Most photographers look for that moment, that bigger than life explosion of happening that hooks people in. Nighthawks is a soft hook. This is a photo that grabs your attention because it is so quiet. Photographers also have to be on the lookout for these quiet moments as well.

    My favorite painting from this website: Nighthawks

    Picture very similar to it:

    I do think the photographer tried to capture the photo, and I do think he semi-captured the painting's idea of quiet and peace. I do feel that if the photographer had moved away, to give the people some space and to make the photo seem quieter and isolated, instead of in your face, in a sort of way.

    I think the paintings that would influence me are the naturalistic ones, and the quiet ones, such as Nighthawk and the Bathing at La Grenouillere.

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