a sense of place?

[Turtle]

Of course. After all, why else do we take location photographs?

http://thomasstanworth.viewbook.com/album/afghanistanrussiansandroyals?p=1#2

A series can be helpful, but single shots can sometimes deliver an awful lot.

 

[FrankS]

Yes, but to really show it takes a long term committment to getting to know the place and documenting it. Not a single image, but a story.

I don't buy into this view. What it takes is a sensitive photographer's eye. Spending days, weeks, or months in a place is not necessary. Additionally, while a series of photographs may tell a more complete story, a single image is enough to give a sense of place, IMO.

 

[Turtle]

I agree with Frank, but I think what Chris says can apply to more subtle situations or those which are visually more ordinary. In some cases it can take time and multiple images to build a palpable sense of place. Sometimes they are the most satisfying to photography because the resultant success of the images is harder won. I think where Chris works and lives falls into the second category.

 

[crawdiddy]

can you photograph a sense of place?
i think you can...

please post yours...

Great shot, Joe.

 

[SciAggie]

My meager attempt

 

[zenza]

So far I'd say all of the images posted fail to evoke a sense of place. The Death Valley shot may do it but it's almost too literal.

 

[Thardy]

So far I'd say all of the images posted fail to evoke a sense of place. The Death Valley shot may do it but it's almost too literal.

It depends on one's experience. I think I recognize some of these places from actually being there before, and seeing them in photos again bring back vivid memories of what I experienced.

 

[FrankS]

So far I'd say all of the images posted fail to evoke a sense of place. The Death Valley shot may do it but it's almost too literal.

Care to contribute an image? It's a little too easy to lean back and be critical.

 

[back alley]

Nope. It's subjective ("A sense of place"), by definition. So the way you tell the story is all yours.

Death Valley (re-post):

Roland.

great image...i love it!

 

[back alley]

absolutely.

fabulous pic!

 

[coelacanth]

Is this worky or not worky?


China Beach by Suguru Nishioka, on Flickr

 

[back alley]

so what does a 'sense of place' mean to you...?

to pinpoint that exact 'place' on a map?

or to get a 'sense' of what that place is like?

 

[Thardy]

Yeah, I think I've been here before. The large beach, the cool damp air and guys braving that frigid water on the No Cal coast.

photo by ferider

 

[Turtle]

To me it means everything that is intangible and subjective yet definitive about a place.

 

[coelacanth]

so what does a 'sense of place' mean to you...?

to pinpoint that exact 'place' on a map?

or to get a 'sense' of what that place is like?

I think, to me, it is the atmosphere of the place or the area with or without people. If the presence of people makes the atmosphere of the scene, then their emotions will be apart of the "sense of place." At least that's what I thought when I saw this thread.

 

[paulfish4570]

thank you, sir.

 

[dave lackey]

I don't buy into this view. What it takes is a sensitive photographer's eye. Spending days, weeks, or months in a place is not necessary. Additionally, while a series of photographs may tell a more complete story, a single image is enough to give a sense of place, IMO.

As I mentioned above, with a 40-year career in planning and architecture, "sense of place" means one thing and I know what it means but few people outside of this field of study will relate to that definition, although, once it is a built project, they love it.:angel:

I understand what Chris meant above and I agree with it as it is another take on "sense of place". If I am doing photo documentary work, as I am doing these days, it takes a long time getting to know a place, the people, the customs and everything you can possibly find about that place. Capturing it on film is an evolutionary process that, once you have it all down, then you can say you have captured the "sense of place". Can it be done with one photograph? Yes, IMO, but it is more difficult than putting a body of work together. In some areas it may be easier to show it with one photograph and in other areas, it may be impossible.

The Online Photographer recently had a discussion about a tree in a field with no caption. Big deal, it was a tree. No caption needed. Right? Well, go there and read the story and it demonstrates why captions on photographs can mean everything. Sometimes the picture is all that is needed but then sometimes it is not enough for the image to be appreciated.

Looking forward to more images being posted!

 

[Roninman]

Winter Barn

Winter Barn



Misty



Three Bales

 

[zenza]

Care to contribute an image? It's a little too easy to lean back and be critical.

I would but I honestly don't think any of my images capture a sense of place in the way I define it. I've been trying to do so for awhile now since moving to the Pacific Northwest but I don't think I've quite got it yet. I'm not saying the images that have been posted are bad by any means.

so what does a 'sense of place' mean to you...?

to pinpoint that exact 'place' on a map?

or to get a 'sense' of what that place is like?

I'd argue that later. I think Turtle said it best.

To me it means everything that is intangible and subjective yet definitive about a place.

Here's an image of my own. To me and the friends that were with me at the time it may evoke a sense of place during a tiny sliver of time, but to the rest of you I doubt it.

 

[FrankS]

A lot of the discussions/arguments stem from differences in personal definitions/understandings of terms being discussed.

In this case, as Joe has asked, what does one mean when one says, "sense of place," and do others understand it the same way.