Storytelling

87 Year-old Iva is a Fourth Generation Straw Weaver

Iva making one of her famous baskets

Iva and her sister Rose support their family with sales from their weaving

A  few days ago I touched on the subject of using a photograph to tell a story.  I’m a big believer that a well crafted photo can tell a story in a single frame. However,  in many cases it’s a series of well framed photographs that come together to communicate our vision of the story at hand. Often times when I’m photographing  people it becomes obvious that the story is as much about them as it is about how I relate to them.   My emotions – or lack thereof – have the ability to affect the subject in such a way that might influence the final outcome of the photos.  In general,  I have a very keen interest in understanding human dynamics and our relationship to one another,  so my approach is often born out of genuine curiosity. I find that when I’m sincere it provokes the most honest of human emotions.   My goal isn’t simply to get the shot, but to  connect on some level  with the subject in order to get the most genuine of responses. When I’m photographing for a story I typically think of creating a triptych with a beginning, middle and ending. This form helps me establish some basic guidelines. But keep in mind not all stories lend themselves to this form.  A wedding photographer might be able to boil down a wedding into three photos, but my guess is they would have some unhappy clients.  When it comes time to select your photos keep in mind what story you’re trying to convey.  Pick photos that make a connection and are purposeful.  Don’t be too clever.  A photograph should be obvious on some levels.  Remember to take notes and jot down people’s names, places…etc.  Most importantly, be true to your story. A sincere portrayal always stands the test of time – it’s a never-ending story.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, June 18th, 2009 at 9:56 am. It is filed under General, Philosophy, Travel and tagged with Cat Island, Storytelling. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.