Dan Daniel
Well-known
This isn't your *own* opinion. It's pretty common. For example, this is the essence of Winogrand's thinking contained in his aphorism, 'I photograph something to see what it will look like photographed' or whatever the true quote is. Read his interviews and he expands on this. Berger, as I've given you references to elsewhere. Barthes, Sontag. Nothing unique here.
So, I guess you can sit here waiting for someone to prove you wrong. Reminds me of K waiting to get into the Castle in the Kafka novel, but hey, whatever you want to do. But I'd suggest that you take this certainty of what a photograph can't do and go out and photograph until you find out what they *can* do.
By the way, what kind of story can you make from this single photo?
kxl
Social Documentary
Five basic elements of a story: Plot, Character, Conflict, Theme & Setting
I can see how a single image can depict the latter 4 elements, but plot?
I can see how a single image can depict the latter 4 elements, but plot?
Sparrow
Veteran
nongfuspring
Well-known
Interpretation drives narrative not the photograph.
Lss
Well-known
Dan Daniel
Well-known
maggieo
More Deadly
Maybe. I think this one might, albeit a very short story:
Cedar Bowl, North Platte, NE, 1980 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr
Cedar Bowl, North Platte, NE, 1980 by Maggie Osterberg, on Flickr
goamules
Well-known
Good grief. I can write a story around an orange. And it would be different from someone elses interpretation of the orange. So can a picture represent facts and sequence of time incontrovertibly, clearly, and with noting open to interpretation? Of course not. That's why we write. Painters and Photographers are artists. And art is open to interpretation. That picture of a baseball below a broken window could mean anything at all.
A good storyteller can make up 15 different stories about the same picture. My dad used to do that for us as kids, pointing to a picture on our bedroom wall.
A good storyteller can make up 15 different stories about the same picture. My dad used to do that for us as kids, pointing to a picture on our bedroom wall.
paulfish4570
Veteran
no, but it can be a poem: a haiku, perhaps, or a sonnet, or an ode ...
Sparrow
Veteran
haiku a poem
that do never rhyme
just this time
that do never rhyme
just this time
mike rosenlof
Insufficient information
Remember your high school English teacher saying "don't tell, show"?
I think photos can show a story. The photo of the Hindenberg zeplin burning. It shows a story. "This airship caught fire and burned" It's not the complete story, but you can infer a story from it. You don't learn from the photo that it was 1937, the airship had crossed the Atlantic, burned, a number of people died, and the event basically ended the zeplin for commercial air travel.
Take a look at most of the Pulitzer prize photographs. They almost all show a story. Few tell the whole story.
I think photos can show a story. The photo of the Hindenberg zeplin burning. It shows a story. "This airship caught fire and burned" It's not the complete story, but you can infer a story from it. You don't learn from the photo that it was 1937, the airship had crossed the Atlantic, burned, a number of people died, and the event basically ended the zeplin for commercial air travel.
Take a look at most of the Pulitzer prize photographs. They almost all show a story. Few tell the whole story.
Addy101
Well-known
This question was asked a couple of years ago - to cut a long story short: most think no, some (me) think yes. They never meet and this will be a long thread.
I agree with Mike on the Hindenburg picture, however, people in the opposite camp will point out that it is only a story because of previous knowledge, but philosophical that is flawed reasoning, as everything we know is because we have prior knowledge.....
I agree with Mike on the Hindenburg picture, however, people in the opposite camp will point out that it is only a story because of previous knowledge, but philosophical that is flawed reasoning, as everything we know is because we have prior knowledge.....
fdarnell
Well-known
If it's a good one.
daveleo
what?
A picture can invoke a story in the viewers mind.
Actually, I don't understand how it could not.
Is it the same story the photographer intended to tell?
Neither of them will ever know unless they talk to each other, and even then I'm not sure the "message" will get across.
Actually, I don't understand how it could not.
Is it the same story the photographer intended to tell?
Neither of them will ever know unless they talk to each other, and even then I'm not sure the "message" will get across.
Ranchu
Veteran
The fantastic richness of the imagery the semantic interconnection. It rapidly became clear that their differences were more than semantic. It's not strictly a political question-more of a semantic one. They tirelessly search the entire historical published corpus of science for any semantic meaning. They'd still be wrong of course, but would be closer to having a semantic point.
OK, now it comes down to the dreaded semantic arguments. Whether it was a leading cause or trailing result makes little difference except for semantic wrangling. The determination of when a human life begins is a semantic opinion, based on culture. The tone of the discussion here shows how formalization doesn't get rid of all semantic tussling.
My two cents, seems to me that some semantic manipulation would help the cause here.
OK, now it comes down to the dreaded semantic arguments. Whether it was a leading cause or trailing result makes little difference except for semantic wrangling. The determination of when a human life begins is a semantic opinion, based on culture. The tone of the discussion here shows how formalization doesn't get rid of all semantic tussling.
My two cents, seems to me that some semantic manipulation would help the cause here.
noisycheese
Normal(ish) Human
In a word, yes.
daveleo
what?
locheeboy
locheeboy
Originally Posted by Hsg
My own opinion remains unchanged, that a single photo cannot tell a story on its own.
If someone can change that opinion with logic and reason then I'm open to change my mind.
Do ye not just need a hug?
Dan Daniel
Well-known
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Depends on viewer life experience, awareness and else.
Those who aren't so primitive will be able to add missing lines. And imagination is going to be different.
Those who aren't so primitive will be able to add missing lines. And imagination is going to be different.