Can a single photo tell a story?

[Hsg]

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?

 

[johannielscom]

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!?

 

[Steve Bellayr]

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]

Any story is based on a series of events that evolve.

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]

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.

 

[Dan Daniel]

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?

'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]

... em ... every picture tells a story? Rod Stewart? ... doh

 

[OurManInTangier]

... em ... every picture tells a story? Rod Stewart? ... doh

😀

I know, we're losing you...Stewart.

 

[gns]

... em ... every picture tells a story? Rod Stewart? ... doh

I think he was asking the question..."every picture tells a story, don't it"?

 

[Hsg]

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.

 

[gns]

This thread can be settled if someone posts a photo that does tell a story, and not just on a subjective level.

You didn't search previous threads on this topic, did you?

 

[Sparrow]

I think he was asking the question..."every picture tells a story, don't it"?

... just because he's Scotch doesn't excuse his grammatical failings ... and the haircut for that matter

 

[Michael Markey]

No ... a picture has no narrative ability ...it shows you what things look like.
Any "story" is of your own making.

 

[Dan Daniel]

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.

Sure. You win!!

Now what are you going to do?

 

[Sparrow]

It tells a thousand words.

Depends on the length of the story you want to tell

... and the length of words one can remember how to spell I expect


(a real problem for me)

 

[Hsg]

Sure.

Now what?

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]

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?

"I was here."

Good story bro!

😀

 

[Sparrow]

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.

... 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 too 😀

 

[Hsg]

... 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.

 

[mfogiel]

Yes, in the end, she ate all the ice cream:


20149901 by mfogiel, on Flickr