What's your magic number?

[dubaiphil]

I'm looking at my web profile at the moment, and considering a presence beyond my Zenfolio website (which I mainly use for backup and in order to post online). While doing so part of my process has been to condense my images into a more concise portfolio. This is a challenging thing to do but I'd urge everyone to try it - to be clinical, objective and cull images which may be personal to you is a difficult task.

In doing so, I've come across my magic number. Beyond street and environmental portraiture, where I'm generally shooting a lone subject, it's amazing how many times that 3 is my magic number. Here are a few examples (I'll post multiples of 3!)

So, what's your magic number?


1.




2.




3.




4.




5.




6.




7.




8.




9.

[chauncey]

I understand where you're coming from as I subscribe to the odd number rule with three being a
dominate choice...unless it one or five or seven...

[Shadowman]

Nice observation, I'll have to review mine but I would have to say mine is 1 figure per shot.

[Mike Buckley]

Interesting observation, Phil. I have no idea if I have a magic number.

EDIT: Correct that. I see that I have a different magic number. This morning I wrote my 11,111th post. Perhaps my magic number pertaining to photography is also 1.

[GrahamS]

Interesting concept, Phil. Whatever your magic number, your images are magic, regardless.

[NorthernFocus]

That is an interesting phenomenon, Phil.

Regarding objectively culling the portfolio, I struggle with the ability to do so. I invariably end up with way too many shots.

All excellent shots here, by the way.

[Krawuntzel]

...In doing so, I've come across my magic number. ...it's amazing how many times that 3 is my magic number. Here are a few examples (I'll post multiples of 3!)...So, what's your magic number?

IMHO there is no magic in/for/with numbers. My (very limited) experience with "people photography" tell me 1 (=portrait) or 3 (= interaction) works best, because viewers will concentrate only to the interaction of up to three "persons", roughly making a triangle. More persons are disturbing to the eyes.
Erwin