Thank you for this. Very interesting. I nearly always leave my images without context and let the viewer make their own story, but that is probably because that is what I do when I go to a gallery or exhibition. But that is just my personal preference.
I really like your story about the mortuary. It is your story and your memory. And in sharing the context, you are asking others to think about their mud-pile, we all have these memories, and your trigger is a great one. It takes the viewer on a journey down memory lane. Nice!
It's always nice to hear the viewer's thoughts on your work. It might be - no it most likely is - not as you intended because often the viewer misses the context.
Coming from a background in dreams and dream analysis, there are a lot of parallels. When you share a dream with someone, they often will project their own meaning onto your dream experience. While some things are universal, often there are very personal connections, like your example of playground now mortuary. Still, in the sharing, you might reveal some new awareness for your viewer as much as for yourself.
Right, everyone will give their own 'meaning' to a photo, based on their filter and experiences. Therefor it is so important to hear what they think and feel. It's a symbiosis.
Don't quote me on this... I've surmised that the narrative of photographs as they change over time--tend to change from joy (or positive vibes) to the detriment of the original intent of it. I took a photo of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center as a plane passed in the distance behind them. That original photographic story drastically shifted after 9/11. My conscience doesn't to even allow me show it publicly.
In that same vein, have you experienced where a photo's perspective change in due to something more incredibly wonderful occurred in the same spot you took that original photo? LMK
Wow, yes that happens as well. I've once taken a photo of two paths dividing. To me it was just a great scene. Then someone told me for her it represents choices in life we need to make. From that moment on it became one of my all-time favorites. Still don't know why I did not notice that myself.
I often wonder but never really explored what others feel specifically. Lots of people love my photos, but what does it mean to them? Thank you for this article. I will be asking more questions from now on.
I read recently…. ‘Don’t make a photograph OF something, but instead..ABOUT something
Thank you for this. Very interesting. I nearly always leave my images without context and let the viewer make their own story, but that is probably because that is what I do when I go to a gallery or exhibition. But that is just my personal preference.
I really like your story about the mortuary. It is your story and your memory. And in sharing the context, you are asking others to think about their mud-pile, we all have these memories, and your trigger is a great one. It takes the viewer on a journey down memory lane. Nice!
It's always nice to hear the viewer's thoughts on your work. It might be - no it most likely is - not as you intended because often the viewer misses the context.
Thanks for your comment.
Coming from a background in dreams and dream analysis, there are a lot of parallels. When you share a dream with someone, they often will project their own meaning onto your dream experience. While some things are universal, often there are very personal connections, like your example of playground now mortuary. Still, in the sharing, you might reveal some new awareness for your viewer as much as for yourself.
Right, everyone will give their own 'meaning' to a photo, based on their filter and experiences. Therefor it is so important to hear what they think and feel. It's a symbiosis.
Well... I'm kinda sorta doing what you said above.
I started my substack at the urging of a friend who'd seen some of my work and wanted me to publish it to a wider audience.
He was especially adamant about the story: "What were you feeling when you took that?"
I fall down a lot on the feelings part, but I do try to have a good story in each of my Substack's posts.
Don't quote me on this... I've surmised that the narrative of photographs as they change over time--tend to change from joy (or positive vibes) to the detriment of the original intent of it. I took a photo of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center as a plane passed in the distance behind them. That original photographic story drastically shifted after 9/11. My conscience doesn't to even allow me show it publicly.
In that same vein, have you experienced where a photo's perspective change in due to something more incredibly wonderful occurred in the same spot you took that original photo? LMK
Cheers!
Wow, yes that happens as well. I've once taken a photo of two paths dividing. To me it was just a great scene. Then someone told me for her it represents choices in life we need to make. From that moment on it became one of my all-time favorites. Still don't know why I did not notice that myself.
I often wonder but never really explored what others feel specifically. Lots of people love my photos, but what does it mean to them? Thank you for this article. I will be asking more questions from now on.
You should do that. Let me know the reactions you get and if they surprise you.
Sounds like a plan!