We have two general thinking systems, analytical and intuitive. The intuitive mind goes with the flow. It sees life and puts the pieces together based on all of it’s observations, experiences and knowledge acquired over a life time along with some built-in DNA intelligence.
The analytical system has to stop and figure things out. It gathers the facts and data, calculates and deduces. It works to come up with meaningful meaning.
The brain can be lazy, saving its energy for emergencies and lean times. It would rather coast than pedal, but when called to action it will do its job.
When we view images, one or the other of these systems is dominant. We are either mostly just absorbing the image or we have to think about it. The lazy brain would rather just absorb images, getting all the meaning from what it sees. That may be why visually striking images are so appealing. We don’t have to think to hard to love them.
Photos that have to be explained or searched for meaning make our brains work. We’ll give it a go but most likely not for very long before we get bored and give up. We typically don’t want to search for meaning in other people’s photos. Even with well made photos we will find ourselves looking for the title or the caption so we don’t have to think to hard.
When we are out there shooting, chances are we are engaging our intuitive system. But intuition is not shared. My intuitive photo may make you work. Something to think about after the fact when editing. Will your viewers get it or have to work for it?