Don't totally agree, Jon. These photos do not tell a story as they are just random takes during a walk, but if photos are part of a series they definitely can tell a story. They should, or what is the point of the sequence? And even one can tell a clear story I believe, though that might depend on the viewer and the width and depth of their filter.
I think itās the words āstoryā or ānarrativeā that I find troubling. Theyāre literary terms, primarily, and I understand why people reach for them, and other words like āpoeticā, to describe the odd effects of photographs. Photography has its own language and grammar - flatness, frame, time and focus, according to Stephen Shore - but it has often allied itself with other mediums: painting, drawing, printmaking and literature. Sequences of photographs can be āreadā like a story, I suppose, but they are so polysemic that each āreaderā will be making up entirely different stories in their heads. The narrative is not inside the photographs but, rather, invented by the viewer. I was intrigued to see how viewers might respond to this mini sequence. My view, for what itās worth, is that there is no wrong way to make or read a photograph. Itās the ultimate democratic art form (along with dance).
Nice concept. I just keep looking at the first photo, those colors are stunning and there is so much to see. The second one is brilliant because it is shot through the fence. That absolutely add to the photo. The third one does not do it for me. I can't see a story in these, though I like them (first 2 that is), but does that matter?
Thanks Marcel. The only āstoryā for me is the walk. The pictures arenāt intended to convey a narrative, except for the stories viewers may imagine. They were made in fairly close proximity within an hour or so. I chose them fairly instinctively from the batch. Of course, three pictures does play with the idea of a beginning, middle and end, so I am having a bit of fun with sequencing, but photos only show you what the light bounced off. To ask them to do more than this is unfair, in my opinion.
i'll take your penny because i don't have a story just the title for a story: "behind"
I see what you did there š
I love the first image in particular. Definitely a story here although Iām not sure what - feels quite eccentric. Really cool idea too.
Thanks Deborah šš»
Don't totally agree, Jon. These photos do not tell a story as they are just random takes during a walk, but if photos are part of a series they definitely can tell a story. They should, or what is the point of the sequence? And even one can tell a clear story I believe, though that might depend on the viewer and the width and depth of their filter.
I think itās the words āstoryā or ānarrativeā that I find troubling. Theyāre literary terms, primarily, and I understand why people reach for them, and other words like āpoeticā, to describe the odd effects of photographs. Photography has its own language and grammar - flatness, frame, time and focus, according to Stephen Shore - but it has often allied itself with other mediums: painting, drawing, printmaking and literature. Sequences of photographs can be āreadā like a story, I suppose, but they are so polysemic that each āreaderā will be making up entirely different stories in their heads. The narrative is not inside the photographs but, rather, invented by the viewer. I was intrigued to see how viewers might respond to this mini sequence. My view, for what itās worth, is that there is no wrong way to make or read a photograph. Itās the ultimate democratic art form (along with dance).
Nice concept. I just keep looking at the first photo, those colors are stunning and there is so much to see. The second one is brilliant because it is shot through the fence. That absolutely add to the photo. The third one does not do it for me. I can't see a story in these, though I like them (first 2 that is), but does that matter?
Thanks Marcel. The only āstoryā for me is the walk. The pictures arenāt intended to convey a narrative, except for the stories viewers may imagine. They were made in fairly close proximity within an hour or so. I chose them fairly instinctively from the batch. Of course, three pictures does play with the idea of a beginning, middle and end, so I am having a bit of fun with sequencing, but photos only show you what the light bounced off. To ask them to do more than this is unfair, in my opinion.