Is a beautiful photo enough? It might grab attention at first glance, but does it hold meaning beyond the surface? Many start with the goal of capturing visually stunning images, but over time, it becomes clear that beauty alone isn’t always fulfilling. Photography can achieve so much more by telling stories, evoking emotions, and inviting deeper reflection.
Coming to you from Mitchell Kanashkevich, this insightful video explores why aesthetically pleasing images often fall short of being memorable. Kanashkevich explains that focusing solely on beauty can lead to shallow results. A photo with vibrant colors or dramatic light might look impressive, but it can lack depth. He emphasizes the importance of incorporating moments, mood, or a sense of story into your work. These elements, he suggests, are what linger with viewers and make an image powerful.
Kanashkevich uses personal experiences to illustrate his point. Early in his career, he believed the ultimate goal was to create stunning photos. However, a mentor challenged this idea, encouraging him to look beyond surface aesthetics. Photos of sulfur miners in Indonesia, which he initially dismissed as imperfect, carried more emotional weight than the polished, conventionally beautiful ones he favored. This realization shifted his perspective, teaching him to seek meaning over perfection.
The video introduces the work of photographer Gueorgui Pinkhassov as an example of unconventional beauty. Kanashkevich admits he was frustrated by some of Pinkhassov’s photos at first, finding them messy or unclear. Yet, those same images stayed in his mind, slowly revealing their depth. Photos like these, he argues, don’t rely on traditional notions of beauty but instead create impact through mood, mystery, and unspoken tension.
Kanashkevich also provides actionable advice. He suggests asking yourself questions before and during shooting: What story are you trying to tell? What emotions do you want to evoke? Even when processing your photos, he advises being intentional with adjustments. Boosting saturation or contrast just because it looks good might dilute the photo’s meaning. Instead, consider how edits enhance the narrative or feeling you want to convey. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Kanashkevich.
