We could talk a long time about what makes a good image.  We could list criteria and features, we could have rules, we could have recommendations.  But when it comes down to it, rigidly following rules and meeting criteria just don’t hack it.  An acceptable image would probably result but it would likely be as memorable as the artwork on the wall in a hotel room.  Visual Muzak.

All of the criteria, features, rules and recommendations have their place and we can certainly point to spectacularly good images that share at least some of them.  There is one criterion that, at this moment anyway,  I would like to pursue a bit,  if only to see where it goes.  The criterion is simplicity, especially geometric or graphic simplicity.  Human structures provide excellent material.  Here, for example, is the arch in St. Louis:

And part of the entrance to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta:

Here are some structures in Indianapolis:

Interesting geometry is not limited to buildings.  Here are a couple of examples from nature:

When looking at a photograph a common question is ‘what is the subject?’   Sometimes the subject is simply the texture and there is no specific area of the photograph that is more important than any other area.   This, however, is not often the case.  Most often, there is a specific main subject in the image and with geometric, or graphic simplicity, it is easy to find.  If you want to make good picture making as simple as possible, simplicity itself is a good place to start.   As is the case with other rules and suggestions, simplicity isn’t the be all and end all of composition but more often than not it helps.