What makes a story?
Apr 27, 2023 11:52:43 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
photog11 wrote:
We all talk about how a picture should tell a stor... (show quote)
This is an interesting question, and there are several interesting replies, especially Linda's. But I disagree with the statement that words are unnecessary. At school, we focus a lot on the generation of Artist's Statements for every piece of art. For one thing, it's a chance for the artist to say something nice about himself and his work. But it can also provide context and information about motivation that can make the viewing experience much richer than just seeing the image alone. It can also provide information about scale, which is often very difficult to convey in either a photograph or a painting. And I enjoy knowing if my interpretation differs from that of the artist, just like I enjoy knowing if a viewer sees something different from what I saw or intended in my photographs. It can also be helpful and educational to learn if I completely missed the mark.
I cannot recall a single instance in which the impact of an image was reduced by having accompanying words.
Apr 28, 2023 05:17:53 #
Hard to say , It depends on who's seeing it I suppose ( i remember the book ' Ways of Seeing )..
Eg if a photo is in Time Magazine , then the people that buy it are already looking for a story picture , but then a gain if a not so good photo be published there , would the readers automatically assume that it's a good one with a story ? Like any artform It depends on the audience .. Though some Photos are probably automatic in their story .. EG the naked little girl running from a napalm attack in vietnam .. I personally try and capture character in my portraits , whether posed or street candid ... I think since the invention of the digital camera and phones , a lot of photography has been watered down ... Editors not seeking out the ' Amazing Shots ' as much as they used to ..
Eg if a photo is in Time Magazine , then the people that buy it are already looking for a story picture , but then a gain if a not so good photo be published there , would the readers automatically assume that it's a good one with a story ? Like any artform It depends on the audience .. Though some Photos are probably automatic in their story .. EG the naked little girl running from a napalm attack in vietnam .. I personally try and capture character in my portraits , whether posed or street candid ... I think since the invention of the digital camera and phones , a lot of photography has been watered down ... Editors not seeking out the ' Amazing Shots ' as much as they used to ..
Apr 28, 2023 05:51:02 #
cmc4214 wrote:
Interesting question.
I don't believe that a photo will always tell the same story to everyone who views it.
I don't believe that a photo will always tell the same story to everyone who views it.
Agreed, but the title of the photo can direct the viewer to the photographer's intended message.
For example, three photos of an egg balanced on white paper... a bit so-what-blah image series! But if titled "Texture is Subtlely Captured" then the viewer looks more intensely to see the subtle texture of both the egg and the paper and ponder the effect of lighting. We may even do a ray analysis to see if the light is positioned differently. The title has motivated the viewer to do a detailed look and analysis.
A discussion of the psychology of photo titles John Suler's Photographic Psychology... "Image and Psyche" :
https://truecenterpublishing.com/photopsy/titles.htm
An all-encompassing and well-written with image examples book on "Image and Psyche" ... it is a scholarly work and is free.
Apr 28, 2023 06:05:34 #
Two influences on my early photography were Nat.Geo. photos, which told part of a story, and their excellent captions which expanded on the story. The other was Norman Rockwell paintings, which were very "readable".
Apr 28, 2023 07:33:51 #
Good question. The “tell a story” notion is largely camera club banter. A bird sitting on a branch is a mere snap shot, but if it had a twig in its mouth, it’s an “image that tells a story”!!! So, the “story” thing can be a convenient excuse to marginalize a photo. People take photos for any number of reasons and viewers respond to what they see also for any number of reasons. Any specific object shown in a photo can be given any meaning any viewer wants to add to that photo.
Apr 28, 2023 07:38:08 #
Apr 28, 2023 07:43:34 #
Apr 28, 2023 08:21:22 #
cmc4214
Loc: S.W. Pennsylvania
dpullum wrote:
Agreed, but the title of the photo can direct the ... (show quote)
Very true, discussion about a photo can also influence what you see.
Apr 28, 2023 08:31:53 #
n4jee
Loc: New Bern, NC
CHG_CANON wrote:
A true photograph doesn't need to be explained.
The iconic photo, taken by Sunday Courier & Press photographer Randy Dieter, labeled it "Editorial Without Words."
Apr 28, 2023 08:47:15 #
John Maher
Loc: Northern Virginia
photog11 wrote:
We all talk about how a picture should tell a stor... (show quote)
I think "illustrate" a story may be a better term.
I do not recall the picture, but I learned a lot about guide and leader dogs for the blind from this description and the comments.
Apr 28, 2023 08:56:34 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
Very pretty, documentary shot which appeals to all of us who love flowers and spring.
Photo storytelling doesn't have to be literal. Crocuses peeking up through fresh snowfall would elicit a different feeling than an image with green grass and sunshine.
Photo storytelling doesn't have to be literal. Crocuses peeking up through fresh snowfall would elicit a different feeling than an image with green grass and sunshine.
Apr 28, 2023 10:09:35 #
Architect1776 wrote:
PS,
I am not blind but my late wife was.
Her dog guides from Leader Dog averaged 12 years.
Yes, they provide amazing freedom of movement and travel.
Also they are trained to a level that is incomprehensible to the average person.
Most "Trained" dogs are trained to enhance natural instincts of chase, bite etc.
Leader Dogs are just the opposite and must have complete control to never do such dog things.
I am not blind but my late wife was.
Her dog guides from Leader Dog averaged 12 years.
Yes, they provide amazing freedom of movement and travel.
Also they are trained to a level that is incomprehensible to the average person.
Most "Trained" dogs are trained to enhance natural instincts of chase, bite etc.
Leader Dogs are just the opposite and must have complete control to never do such dog things.
Apr 28, 2023 10:16:54 #
Nosaj wrote:
Good question. The “tell a story” notion is largely camera club banter. A bird sitting on a branch is a mere snap shot, but if it had a twig in its mouth, it’s an “image that tells a story”!!! So, the “story” thing can be a convenient excuse to marginalize a photo. People take photos for any number of reasons and viewers respond to what they see also for any number of reasons. Any specific object shown in a photo can be given any meaning any viewer wants to add to that photo.
Apr 28, 2023 10:52:09 #
cmc4214 wrote:
Interesting question.
I don't believe that a photo will always tell the same story to everyone who views it.
I don't believe that a photo will always tell the same story to everyone who views it.
Wise observation!
Many images evoke emotions or thoughts or memories in viewers that photographers didn't consider might be there. I've had people pull things out of my own photos that are so varied and random, I have had to question whether I was channeling for someone else!
The old Rod Stewart song, "Every Picture Tells a Story," is true for most people, most photos. But the story can vary from one to another. What we bring to an image is at least as important as what we take from it. That's an essential component of art.
I believe that photographers should be able to define the boundaries of their work by grounding images with words. Likewise, I believe words need grounding with images, at least some of the time.
Apr 28, 2023 10:55:22 #
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