How Important is a Photo's Narration?

[wgerrard]

I've been showing photos online from a recent trip, and more, to friends and family. Some folks say they want more "narration". I think that means they want to hear a story behind each photo.

Most of the time, the story is only, "I was there, thought this would make an interesting photo, and took half-a-dozen shots to get this one".

Let's ignore the natural interest friends and family have in what we do. How important are narratives -- words -- to photos?

 

[Coldkennels]

Depends on the photo and the audience. I guess a lot of people say "the photo should tell the whole story". I'm personally of the opinion that some photos are enhanced or improved by a bit of a story. But then I've got a writing degree and have an interest in politics; words, politics and photography is all intertwined for me.

But then I can appreciate a pretty picture or a shot of a striking moment on its own accord. I don't expect a macro shot of a flower on flickr to have a huge amount of narration!

 

[dave lackey]

One of my law professors once said that the sign of a good attorney is one who doesn't answer your question with a yes or no response. The best will answer, "it depends".

Same in this case. In a casual setting, people tend to like a little story that goes with it. People always love a story and that is why courtroom attorneys who are very successful tell good stories.

Photo documentaries like those I do, also need narrations. Sometimes a little more and then sometimes a little less. But then there are images that may not need narration. So, it depends.

Recently, the online photographer posted a picture of a tree. No caption. It was just a tree. Cool.

But, then, the history of the tree was amazing and a small narration changed the picture completely and expanded a world of thought and emotion. That was more than cool.😱

Read this:

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2011/07/in-praise-of-captions.html

Try a short caption that captures a description in a sentence or two. Not easy. But, that is a good place to start.:angel:

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

To me, it is very important. Vital. I do documentary work though. For some work it may not matter or may get in the way.

 

[FrankS]

There is also talk about the narrative being in the picture itself, not added on verbally.

 

[dave lackey]

To me, it is very important. Vital. I do documentary work though. For some work it may not matter or may get in the way.

Believe me, Chris knows what he is talking about!:angel:

 

[Rob-F]

When I show a slide show, I'd rather not have to field the inevitable questions. "Where is this taken." (Why do people say "where is this taken," and not "Where was this taken?") But they usually give up asking questions, because my slide shows are fast paced. The average time a slide spends on the screen is 7 seconds, the average length of a movie scene between cuts. I tell them in advance what the show focuses on, and I'll have an occasional title or caption. Beyond that, I feel the images should stand on their own merit, with a minimal need for explanation. I'm trying to offer a visual experience, more so than information.

 

[Particular]

Words can be very effective at putting an image into context. Whether the context that matters is a place, event, or a concept or idea is up to you. When done right, words can 'prime' your audience to receive an image, and see in it what you want them to see it. It is very easy to bludgeon the viewers with data, that is not relevant. Adding a key bit if information can make an image that may otherwise be too subtle stand out.

 

[Bob Michaels]

It really depends. I believe with documentary photography, some information is essential. It can either be an accompanying story or captions to individual photos. With a landscape, much less so. Absolutely unnecessary for family happy snaps.

 

[SciAggie]

I agree that some captions are important. The previous link to the online photographer is as example; there probably are many. This thread made me think immediately of a picture I took last weekend in Boston.

My wife and I were strolling down Brattle Street after visiting the home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. We were enjoying soaking up the sense of time and history associated with the homes along the street. As we were walking along, I saw a gate post covered with lichen. I took the following photo. Along with the photo, I found an excerpt from a poem by Emmerson that I thought was appropriate.

Wings of what wind the lichen bore,
Wafting the puny seeds of power,
Which, lodged in rock, the rock abrade?
And well the primal pioneer
Knew the strong task to it assigned,

An excerpt from "Wealth" by Ralph Waldo Emmerson

It made me reflect on the difficulty in preserving history.

Is the photo better with the story and caption? I don't know, but it puts the photo in context and explains what I was thinking and why I took it.

 

[vinyljunky]

I look at a photo the same way I look at a painting. I honestly feel that with the exception of documentary work, the viewer should form their own opinions and narrative.

 

[Neare]

Only as important as the photographer wants them to be. You can make an active choice to have nothing alongside the photo too.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Bill,

The question of the narrative within the picture (otherwise it's not a narrative, it's a caption, at least as far as I am concerned) has long exercised me. A few years ago I did a piece on what I see as the difference between narrative, record and graphic pictures. You may find it of interest: http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps graphic & narrative.html

Cheers,

R.

 

[wgerrard]

Interesting piece, Roger, and a useful distinction of narrative and caption. My captions are usually just a location and perhaps a bit more. They provide little context and don't channel thoughts in any one direction.

A photo like the Levoca cage shot, though, changes dramatically when the right context is provided.

 

[Sparrow]

.... obviously one would need a thousand words for each photograph I'd imagine ... to make it worth it that is

 

[claacct]

People are interested in what you did in a trip, not what you photographed...

 

[Roger Hicks]

People are interested in what you did in a trip, not what you photographed...

Sorry, I can't quite see your point. Pictures are a part of telling them what you did, and what the place was like.

In fact, I'd suggest that unless you are a very good raconteur, they are likely to be more interested in what the place is like, rather than in what you did.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Rayt]

A narrative can certainly make a picture more interesting but it really can't make it any better.

 

[willie_901]

Some people believe the essence of a good photograph is a balance in the conflict between form and content (narrative).

 

[Turtle]

I think basic contextual narrative can be very useful, but one perhaps has to be careful not to intrude into the realm of what the photo should be delivering i.e. don't describe it.

I'm in the process of writing some text to go with a series of images and can't say I enjoy it. I do however understand the need for it and keep reminding myself not to take for granted the fact that of course I know the context because I was there. Others weren't.