Hsg
who dares wins
First of all the word story should be defined in order for this discussion to make sense. But that is not so easy as you can see in this link: https://www.google.ca/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=define story
After seeing that the word story is really problematic with many definitions that don't agree with one another, for example a story can be a factual telling of something that really happened or a fairy-tale and imaginary tale... A story can be a made up excuse that one makes when late for work or it can be an honest retelling of what actually occurred.
After reading all the definitions of the word story, which one is applied to a story-telling photo? Or that is even sensible?
My question is, those who think a single photo can tell a story? What exactly do they mean?
After seeing that the word story is really problematic with many definitions that don't agree with one another, for example a story can be a factual telling of something that really happened or a fairy-tale and imaginary tale... A story can be a made up excuse that one makes when late for work or it can be an honest retelling of what actually occurred.
After reading all the definitions of the word story, which one is applied to a story-telling photo? Or that is even sensible?
My question is, those who think a single photo can tell a story? What exactly do they mean?
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Any story is based on a series of events that evolve.
If you want to tell a story in a single shot, that series of events needs to show in that single shot.
If the single shot does not depict a series of events, it's not telling a story by itself.
Now, telling a story with a single shot and prior knowledge of a series of events present with the viewer, that is an option. But that's not only a single shot, is it!?
If you want to tell a story in a single shot, that series of events needs to show in that single shot.
If the single shot does not depict a series of events, it's not telling a story by itself.
Now, telling a story with a single shot and prior knowledge of a series of events present with the viewer, that is an option. But that's not only a single shot, is it!?
Steve Bellayr
Veteran
Let's alter the question to 'What does the photographer want to communicate to the viewer?' For example: A selfie in front of a monument states 'Look at me I was here.' That may be a story but is it worth reading?
Hsg
who dares wins
I agree with this definition of story for this discussion if others agree.
But I'd like to add that since a photo, that is unaltered, is a factual document, such as a passport photo, then it follows that a story-telling unaltered-photo should tell a factual story. Is that make sense?
Tijmendal
Young photog
I don't believe so.
It can suggest a story, but telling one: no. A lot is always left to speculation.
It's easy to make up a whole story around a Gregory Crewdson picture, but that is staged, so there's no 'real' story to tell.
A press photo - for example - is the result (or the beginning) of a story. While there is a true story to tell, I doubt it's hard to derive from a single image.
It can suggest a story, but telling one: no. A lot is always left to speculation.
It's easy to make up a whole story around a Gregory Crewdson picture, but that is staged, so there's no 'real' story to tell.
A press photo - for example - is the result (or the beginning) of a story. While there is a true story to tell, I doubt it's hard to derive from a single image.
Dan Daniel
Well-known
'Story' is a fabrication in the first place. It's one way that we structure events. Stories are not facts. A story may include facts, but it then also excludes other facts. No story can tell all the facts.
No photo can be all the facts, either. It shows one side of a face but not the other. It shows what is in one direction but not what is out of the frame. So like a story, all photos are fabrications- a limited set of facts. Limited not just by angle and framing but also by time- one moment in time, not all moments.
Linguistics makes a distinction between the synchronic and the diachronic-
http://faculty.washington.edu/cbehler/glossary/diachron.html
A photo has many synchronic elements. The diachronic, which is analogous to 'story'- is not 'in' the photo.
Sparrow
Veteran
... em ... every picture tells a story? Rod Stewart? ... doh
OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
gns
Well-known
I think he was asking the question..."every picture tells a story, don't it"?
Hsg
who dares wins
This thread can be settled if someone posts a photo that does tell a story, and not just on a subjective level.
Anyway, if one considers iconic images, such as the man standing in front of the tank... If it wasn't for the news footage and 'stories' of that event through other mediums, no one could know the story of that photo.
A man standing in front of a tank, he could be a tourist or he could be talking to someone inside the tank... But from news reporting we know that the man was trying to stop the tanks.
There is a wikipedia page for that picture, it tells the story of that photo, the photo itself is mute.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_Man
All great iconic images are complemented by extensive story-telling through other mediums, mostly using language.
Even great paintings that depict religious, mythological or historical stories depend on the knowledge of the viewer of knowing about those stories.
Anyway, if one considers iconic images, such as the man standing in front of the tank... If it wasn't for the news footage and 'stories' of that event through other mediums, no one could know the story of that photo.
A man standing in front of a tank, he could be a tourist or he could be talking to someone inside the tank... But from news reporting we know that the man was trying to stop the tanks.
There is a wikipedia page for that picture, it tells the story of that photo, the photo itself is mute.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank_Man
All great iconic images are complemented by extensive story-telling through other mediums, mostly using language.
Even great paintings that depict religious, mythological or historical stories depend on the knowledge of the viewer of knowing about those stories.
gns
Well-known
Sparrow
Veteran
Michael Markey
Veteran
No ... a picture has no narrative ability ...it shows you what things look like.
Any "story" is of your own making.
Any "story" is of your own making.
Dan Daniel
Well-known
Sparrow
Veteran
... and the length of words one can remember how to spell I expect
(a real problem for me)
Hsg
who dares wins
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.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Sparrow
Veteran
Hsg
who dares wins
... I'm just as reasonable myself, if someone can change my opinion with dogma and bigotry then I'll be happy to think about changing my mind
We have limited time on this planet and we should do our best to understand what motivates us.
If photography is a means of finding some attention online, then I much rather do something else. So for me photography is a serious thing.
