Call them 5-star images. They’re the images that make an instant impression, capable of grabbing a viewer’s attention amid a flood of other choices. Singular images are the ones that get the most likes on social networks, the top (and sometimes only) image on a webpage, the first and last images in a slideshow, the one used for a card to an exhibition or a poster promoting it, the cover plus the opening and closing pages of a book. Singular images are the heat.

Singular images are classically composed with strong graphic structures that are simplified and dynamic. The dramas they tell are easily grasped and digested. Color contrast (of luminosity, hue, and/or saturation) is high. Rarely will a singular image have technical flaws; they can afford no distractions. It’s rare that a singular image doesn’t exhibit these characteristics. For an image to be considered singular without them, it has to be exceptionally strong in other areas.

Some high-impact images don’t have legs. They sizzle and fizzle. They may be graphically compelling, but they may not offer anything exceptional beyond their execution. You may need to give images a waiting period to discover this. When determining whether an image’s payout is short or long, ask yourself some questions. Does the image sustain attention? Does it tell an interesting story? Does it make the viewer think? Does it work on multiple levels? Does it elude easy definition? Does it haunt the viewer long after it is seen? The very best singular images do it all. These are the truly great images.

It takes time to amass a number of singular images. Singular images often involve strokes of luck. No matter how talented, skilled, and prepared you are, it’s almost impossible to guarantee inspiration. But you can learn to recognize when it’s present and what it takes to cultivate and sustain it ...