Storytelling beyond the buzzword
Looks like storytelling is everywhere nowadays, right? / How a mentor sparked storytelling for me.
Stories, humanity's ancient companion, have laid the foundations for our cultures and civilizations throughout the ages. From the simple cave drawings our ancestors used to record their adventures to the complex digital narratives we create today, storytelling remains an indestructible force that binds us together.
Capture authentic stories
As a visual form of storytelling, photography has changed the way we tell stories, from black and white photographs to today's digital images. Just as our ancestors used cave drawings to record their stories, we now capture moments with the click of a camera. But how is photography evolving in this age of digital excess, and how can we continue to captivate once the hype of storytelling dies down?
From postcards to Instagram, photography has adapted to technological advances. However, the power of the image to capture emotion and tell stories remains unchanged. In today's modern world we are bombarded with visual stimuli, but within this huge pile of images it is crucial to maintain the depth of photography.
Authenticity is the cornerstone around which photography revolves. In a world of filtered perfection and curated feeds, real, unpolished images are like a breath of fresh air. Photography allows us to capture authentic stories, from everyday moments to life-changing events. It is this sincerity that has a lasting impact.
We need to move beyond the hype of short-lived images. We must strive for images that touch the viewer on a deeper level. Not through technical perfection, but more the emotion and story behind the image that lingers.
The art is in capturing the essence of a moment.
My first experience of storytelling
When I first encountered storytelling in the context of photography, it was like discovering a hidden treasure that changed the way I saw images. My mentor at the time, Rosa Verhoeve, an experienced photographer with a passion for storytelling, opened the doors to a new dimension of expression and meaning in my photography.
Back in 2015, a former mentor of mine wanted to organise a storytelling masterclass. This mentor is Jan Ros, who is also featured in the first issue of Darkrooms Magazine with his project 'DisneyDike'. Jan put together a group of photographer friends who were interested in doing more with storytelling in their photography. He asked Rosa to be the group's mentor.
Rosa Verhoeve (1959 - 2018) is a renowned photographer and won the prestigious Silver Camera Award for her series ‘Salto Vitale’, about Ethiopian youth circuses.
She also spent 10 years working on a photographic project about her mixed heritage - she is part Dutch, part Indonesian - in the project 'Kopi Susu'. That means coffee with milk in Indonesian. That book is still one of my favorite photo books, and one of the photos from that project (see below) is one of my all-time favorite photos. It is the ultimate storytelling photo in one image.
I still consider these masterclasses, which we did with Rosa for about 3 years until she passed away in 2018, as the most valuable period of my photographic life.
The exceptional guide
On my journey of self-development and growth, I have had several mentors over the past 15 years, each with an unique contribution to my knowledge and skills. Each mentor has their own style, expertise and personality, and each leaves an unforgettable impression. However, there is one mentor who stands out above the rest as an exceptional guide: Rosa.
What distinguished Rosa from the other mentors goes beyond the mere transfer of knowledge. It is the art of inspiration, the ability to ignite a spark of passion and determination. Her ability not only to point the way, but to fuel the fire of self-exploration. While other mentors have been influential, it is Rosa who has shifted my perspective, challenged my abilities and boosted my confidence.
That’s it for this newsletter.
Till next time,
P.S. I've only included one photo (my favorite) in this newsletter, but I urge you to check out the two links to Rosa's projects above.
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It is interesting how photography has followed painting. When photographers could take accurate images they freed painters from being the accurate recorders, to be able to paint abstract and ‘inaccurate’ paintings. Photography then evolved and adapted, until is as much ‘art’ as a painting is, though the way they tell a story differs.
But to me storytelling is the same for painting and photography. It is the transition between how the viewer interprets the photo, and the way the photographer interprets what they see.
the word storytelling means nothing to me as it is overused these days, so much used that actually lost is meaning (i do understand the idea and the importance of it but i had to rant). instead your post has more meaning about mentoring and the importance of having the right mentor and is very well put in words - it is a lovely homage. i will check out rosa