Photography – Points to Consider
Again, I have been considering the relevance of the story through images. As we continue to share a plethora of images every moment, one (me) has to answer why any particular story is worth telling.
Oliver, 2020, Cobourg
Further, I have been questioning the act of reportage vs. artistic statement and the need to share/gather/ponder/dissect these moments.
I have been writing about all of this for some time and am attempting to summarize it in one or two ‘glasses of rarefied wine.’
I have also considered the voyeuristic nature of photographs. Where, if any, is the ethical or socially responsible line? Is there a line? Do we need to tell that story? In all cases, I do it to share my experience, but are there times when an image is inappropriate to share?
Then there are those images where we are genuinely unaware of any story at the time of exposure–it becomes a reflex to shoot. In the end, and much to my delight, the image can scream ‘story’. How do we absorb this? I am most intrigued by these images and work to seek them out.
The motivation to capture moments is fundamentally the essence of image creation. Capturing or portraying a solitary fragment of time can be tremendously powerful. Conveying aspects of life, of nature, of savage human tragedy, of the rhythms of light passively painting our day, while a challenge, becomes the commitment to transcribe events.
I can write stories, which I do, but making an image leverages meaning we all hold within and even frames context with our unique experiences, empathy and bias.
The truth of an image, though, is solitary. Its ‘truth’ doesn’t alter, but people’s perceptions will have exclusive interpretations of its story. These perspectives enlighten me and are another aspect of image-making I look forward to. Discussion can bring added value to an image or series of images.
I wonder if an image can be so truthful and authentic that there is only one interpretation. Does this make for the very best in photography? Evidence from images created by some of the most influential photographers would say yes. Something to strive for each day I shoot.
