Photo Narration

Just for the fun of it....

 

The 50 Worst Photos Ever Taken By Professional Photographers (GALLERY)

Good titles are highly desirable for gallery photos, e.g., "Moon Over Hernandez, New Mexico." The difference between a title and a narrative is a matter of degree, rather than kind.

"Moon Over Hernandez, New Mexico."

So, in your mind, lack of location caption would make a difference in viewer appreciation / value of the image? I guess...or not so much, or not at all.

I don't interpret Adams' title as a location identifier. It is an expression of his mood and aesthetics, especially considering the off-the-cuff manner in which it was captured. There is a narrative, of course, but usually not printed with the photo.

 

For my part, I'm happy with "AWR_0379," or nothing at all. But I'm not Ansel Adams ;)

Edited August 12, 2018 by Ed_Ingold

Whatever...

a picture is worth a thousand words. if you have to add another thousand, you should have taken a second picture!

“need to” “have to” “should” strange how many people think in commands what about “want” frank wanted kerouac to write an intro to the americans the intro doesn’t justify the photos doesn’t make bad photos good and doesn’t leave them standing on their own. by design. frank and kerouac were of an era frank thought it would be cool to have some of kerouacs words be part of the photo book a little reading and knowledge about photography gives many good example of pictures and text important to appreciate the cases of the negative and text supporting each other along with all the negative judgments

Photo narration in an exhibition, I ment. Not the narration for a story in a magazine or blog. Just to be clear.

I usually skip reading the little index cards and just look at the photos. However, sometimes I;m interested in the background of the photo or artist and read the description. I don;t see the conflict in quality or art. The photo still stands on it's own.

Oops...

I think the photo should stand on its own. Having said that, since I also write poetry, sometimes the urge to add some words that somehow enhance a shot, or the shot enhances the poem. If it works both ways, even better...

 

Edited August 13, 2018 by William Kahn

Many great photographs have come through print media such as National Geographic, Life, and others. Many of those photographs stand on their own and amazing pieces of art. Others make sense only as illustrations to the text. Overall, the photos and text, at their best, create a synergy that multiplies the purpose and success of each over what they would be independent of the other. Not every photo can be enhanced (or salvaged) by the addition of words, and not every written statement needs (or wants) a photo to illustrate. But, there is much in human thought, perception, and communications which benefits from the synergy of the written word and graphic illustration.

Overall, the photos and text, at their best, create a synergy that multiplies the purpose and success of each over what they would be independent of the other. Not every photo can be enhanced (or salvaged) by the addition of words, and not every written statement needs (or wants) a photo to illustrate. But, there is much in human thought, perception, and communications which benefits from the synergy of the written word and graphic illustration.

 

Very well said, David.

What about music accompanying a slide show?

“What about music accompanying a slide show?”

 

That is great for class reunions and family get togethers.

I’ve done it and invariably everyone wants a DVD of it.

I think with care and musical faithfulness to the time frame of the photos, and audience, magic. Most Narration, Muzak, not so much, IMO, those often bordering on torture.

You got it. When you get it right, it’s magic.

Gotta know your audience and the subjects in the photos.

Certain groups identified with certain songs.

Mate ‘em up and it works great.

Shots taken from a 20 or 30 year old annual work well.

 

Gave parents pictures of myself and siblings from our infancy through marriage set to something as simple as Paul Anka’s “Times of Your Life” on a DVD.

Short and sweet. 1 song.

Not a dry eye in the room......

 

Pictures of my wife from High School years through several decades of marriage set to “Brown Eyed Girl”.

Edited August 16, 2018 by Moving On

In the movie The Martian, the musical theme was totally disconnected from the time frame, but it worked very well IMO. In fact, the music became both an integral part of the story, provided character development, and was culturally accessible to a broad spectrum of the audience. (1970's disco, anyone?) It added a sub-theme of lighthearted tongue-in-cheek that successfully offset the very dire and catastrophic subject of the story. So music or text can be successfully and effectively used as point, counterpoint, sub-text, or primary message in relation to the graphic arts.

By way of counterpoint, Castaway had no musical track once Tom Hanks was stranded. The absence of music reinforced for the audience the sense of loneliness and abandonment his character was experiencing. Music, and a sense of human connection, returned following his rescue.

That’s great for those intimately involved. But I think you also have to find a way to convert that specific thing or energy into something that’s more universal.

Uh yeah, that’s why I pointed out that you have to know your audience.

The three examples were:

A wider audience, class reunion.

A bit narrower, immediate family.

And still narrower, two people who know each other very well.

Edited August 16, 2018 by Moving On

Recent photos of Mars and Holst's "The Planets," DaDaDa.Da...Da...Da.Da.Da..., ad infinitum.

By way of counterpoint, Castaway had no musical track once Tom Hanks was stranded. The absence of music reinforced for the audience the sense of loneliness and abandonment his character was experiencing. Music, and a sense of human connection, returned following his rescue.

There was a lot of surf and wind as I recall it when he was stranded on the island. I do a lot of video slide shows from get togethers and vacations. I try to match music to the locale of the trip. Here's one with me and my daughter from a father's day we were together in Coney Island and a baseball game and Nathan's hot dog lunch.