What makes photographs “subjective”?

The dictionary defines “subjective” as “particular to a given person; personal.”

All photographs are “subjective” because they all result from a combination of personal choices made from many equally-valid options.

Even if nothing at all is done to change a photograph after it was taken, almost* all photographs immediately reflect five highly “subjective” choices:

1. Which equipment was used
2. Where the camera was placed
3. Which direction the camera was pointed
4. How broad a view of the scene was in the picture
5. When the shutter was clicked

(There often are additional “subjective” pre-exposure decisions the photographer can make involving shutter speed, depth-of-field, and plane of focus.)

That’s why every photograph is a “subjective interpretation” the moment the shutter is clicked to create it — even if it is not changed later.

* If a camera is set up remotely and the shutter is triggered by the subject (motion sensor) when no human is present, then #5 does not apply.