Reading Photographs – An Introduction
The objective of any picture is to be seen and photography, like cinema, is a visual language that has its own vocabulary and grammar.
The technical aspects involved in photography: focal length of lens, aperture, shutter speed, implies a series of limitations that have direct influence in the physical look of the picture: depth of field, bokeh, noise, etc. All this is the vocabulary of photography that the photographer has to use, with the same dexterity as an author uses a pen, when we wants to produce a picture.
The rules of composition, colour theories etc are the grammar rules of photography; the photographer has to compose their scene following (or breaking them) these basic principles in order to ensure that the content of their picture works as intended.
The photographer behind the camera takes the picture, capturing the moment, capturing reality. They then present it so as a faithful representation of what the photographer saw or thought about the scene. By processing the images either digitally or in the darkroom, the photographer is adding their subjective interpretation of the reality.
Viewing the picture the viewer will react to it depending on their own perspective and cultural background. No matter what the photographer’s original message or point of view was authorial control is lost by the photographer to the viewer. The view my see what the photographer sees, they may see something wildly different.
All photographic genres, be it photojournalism, fashion, abstract, nudes, this relationship always exists, between the reality, the photographer, and the viewer. Each genre of photography has its own rules and looks to convey their messages just as each genre of cinema has. In photojournalism, the intention of the photographer is to present the facts as they happened i.e. ‘warts and all” whereas in commercial photography (practically product photography) tries to hid the true nature of it subject by using a series of complex method to show things at it absolute best.
There it is practically impossible for any photograph not to used as a means of expression or communication – there are times when what the photographer is trying to convey is not obvious or even downright obscure but just because we cannot see it does mean it not there. I used the analogy of an author earlier. The vocabulary and grammar of photography give the photographer the tools to compose a photograph just actual words and grammar rules gave/give Shakespeare and Dan Brown the tools to write a book.
Both of these authors are considered brilliant – not normally by the same people…