(narrative)

(narrative)
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Hello,

We had a debate about photography:

does the narrative come before the photograph is taken or does the narrative develop from the photograph taken?

Your thoughts? I am more inclined towards the latter.

1ove, ides.

10h00 Sunday
12, July
2009
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moon, tent, jojo, water tent, ko nine, marapyane, mpumalanga, south africa
  • Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
    2009
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10 Comments
 
  1. ntsasa

    i think i remember you asking this before.
    It really depends on your frame of mind.
    Personally, sometimes i have words playing in y head that I'd love to share. So I go into all my photos and hunt for one that is most suitable. Sometimes the photo comes first, and then i have to either find some smart narrative, or make do with my own simple words.

  2. lebogang nkoane

    Hmmm,,, I hear that.

    Although, I have rarely found a photograph that can capture what I want to say --- or rather, I don't quite like 'easy to understand' photographs, if that makes sense.

  3. Daz

    For me, its simple.

    Almost always, when the narrative precedes the photograph, there is a project in mind. A series of pictures and images then does justice to the project.

    But individual images lend themselves to developing their own narrative even in the context of a story, or a project.

    1. Narrative informs stories. Informs projects.
    2. Images then lend themselves to their own narrative. Chapters in the story. Or paragraphs within a chapter. Words within a paragraph.

  4. twiggle stix

    Great shot!

  5. Khumbelo

    captured!

  6. Uno

    Great image, Great theme for debate.
    My thoughts: There's no "right way" to do photography, I really get upset when I hear some well respected professionals defending formulas or processes that are "right" and others that are "wrong". I use photography as much to illustrate some ideas I have (what Daz calls the project) or just as formal explorations that will create their own thoughts, ideas or even to develop a new project.
    So narrative can be either the source, a result of the photograph(s) being taken or both at the same time.
    From this we can start another paralel debate:
    - Can a photo/image be a result or create more than on narrative at the same time by its author?

  7. lebogang nkoane

    I think it should, well, that's because I am biased.

    I asked a similar question on the next shot ---

    I suppose, my fear, is: if the author 'tells' us the story, it tends to imply we are incapable of 'imagining' our own stories.

    and that, I am not happy with --- i think the magic in photograph is imagining your own narrative,,,

    I suppose, I'd like to think, we create, the viewer translates into whatever they wish/desire/fear/loath/love,,,

  8. NguJaz

    i don't know if narrative comes before or after, but this image under a different narrative would read differently -- i think you also have to consider what the audience also brings to the piece.
    for example this looks to me like, "the circus comes into town". and that might not necessarily be the case (with this series), but it seems awfully cheerful/joyful

  9. Di1

    Great image!!

  10. zee

    I think the idea that every photograph carries a narrative is a huge assumption.
    I don't tell stories I illustrate a state of mind.
    There are no characters, no beginning no end, just a flash of the human condition.

    P.S Love ur work

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