There isn’t a purely objective formula. In practice, a “good” photograph is usually one that communicates something clearly: a story, emotion, idea, gesture, or moment. That expressive impact often matters more than strict technical perfection.

Technical qualities still count, such as:

• appropriate focus
• blur used intentionally rather than accidentally
• effective color or grayscale tones
• overall visual clarity and presentation

But judges don’t usually score technical points in isolation. A photo can be imperfect yet still be compelling if the subject, timing, or emotional content is strong. An out-of-focus or unconventional image may still succeed when that quality supports the image rather than weakens it.

In contests, judging is typically a balance of:

1. impact or meaning
2. composition and visual strength
3. technical execution
4. originality or uniqueness

So the short answer is: taste can’t really be removed. Even judges use personal and shared aesthetic standards. Technical quality helps, but a winning photo usually stands out because it says something and leaves an impression.