Photography, like all art, is completely subjective. A good photograph is one that makes you feel something. I don’t care much for all those pictures with the perfect compositions but it’s the feeling that is important. Extra points for a photograph that delivers the feeling that the photographer intended.

What makes a good photo is that you want to look at it. Or maybe you don’t want to look at it but you just have to. Composition can help tell a story but composition does not make the picture.

I really like the photographer Robert Adams, and in particular his book “Skogen”. It’s filled with nice pictures and very few of them follow many of the common composition “rules”.

You like what you like. If someone shows you pictures, just tell them what you like about the pictures.

I look at focus. Did they opt for wide or narrow apeture. Did they get the focus sharp or did the focus point accidentally fixate on something other than the subject.

I look at composition around the edge of the frame. A random branch or leaf unintentionally breaking the frame. Using something in the foreground intentionally as a frame is different. Crop out the unintentional distraction. Conversely, be aware of ears, hair, arms, hands, legs, feet, (and tails if applicable) getting cut off in the frame. Sometimes that’s a legitimate choice, sometimes it looks like an accident. Maybe better to capture the whole being and crop down later.

I look at white balance and color tone to see if it’s pleasing to me. This is highly subjective depending on the viewer.

I look for other compositional things like straight horizons, leading lines, rule of thirds. And if those rules were intentionally broken as a style choice or accidental.

I believe learners should try to follow compositional rules. Once you’ve mastered looking out for those things while minding your exposure time, apeture, ISO, and focus all at the same time when getting your shot, then you will get a feel for when you can break the rules for more impact and it still be a good photo.