Trying to tell a story? Include some context

Shay Stephens

A photo can tell a story to be sure, but that story is created in the minds of the viewer based on what the photo is showing. So if you want to guide the viewer to a particular story that you have in mind, you need to leave visual clues, or context, as I like to call it.

A photo of a woman with a smile on her face could be interpreted in many ways by the viewer. If you want to guide the viewer into a certain direction, you could add the visual detail (context) of a shadow of a man (oh she is smiling at him), or perhaps she is holding some bug spray. What story do you get from that? What if instead she is in a country fair setting and a huge pumpkin is visible?

With the simple inclusion of one detail you can drastically change the plot and story line of the photo of the smiling woman. So if you have a story to tell, try to be creative in choosing the elements that make that story come to life, not just for you, but also an unrelated viewer of your photo.

Photography is all about effective story telling with the use of images. So use those images to build context around your photo. Your skill in communicating visually will grow by leaps and bounds if you do so.

Nikolai

Excellent point, Shay!
I may add: think of a short story, and then try to take your picture in a way that text is not needed

NanaMo

lustlust no wonder we all love "youse guys" ....wonderful advise and you help us grow by leaps and bounds!!

Thank you....I am sure the "dgrinners" will add more wonderful advice...no, I am not adding advice yet.....feel I am toooooo new but will work on it....and I have been the beneficiary of great advice on my entries (thanks to all of you who have helped me...)!

Maureen

thebigsky

It's a good point Shay, and I think it would be advisable to make the story obvious enough to stand on its own without needing to reference the given theme to make sense of it.

Charlie

Felicia

thebigsky wrote:

It's a good point Shay, and I think it would be advisable to make the story obvious enough to stand on its own without needing to reference the given theme to make sense of it.

Charlie

Charlie, I wondered if you were a Kate Bush fan when I saw the "Cloudbusting" under your username. Greetings, fellow fan!

thebigsky

Felicia wrote:

Charlie, I wondered if you were a Kate Bush fan when I saw the "Cloudbusting" under your username. Greetings, fellow fan!

Hi,

Now I immediately know, without ever having met or spoken to you that you're an intelligent, thoughtful and wise soul, ah the beauty of the language of music.

Charlie

Felicia

thebigsky wrote:

Hi,

Now I immediately know, without ever having met or spoken to you that you're an intelligent, thoughtful and wise soul, ah the beauty of the language of music.

Charlie

Thank you, kind sir! Back at 'cha! "These are the moments..."