Telling a story through a photograph

I suggested to my good mate @Ewaade_3A that her journey in photography had come to the point that it was time to forget about composition and level up by telling a story in the photo. Do I really mean ignore the hard earned rules of composition? No of course not, I mean for those to have become automatic so that you don’t think about them so much anymore.

The next level of telling a story, means you now need to think about in one single frame telling what a person is or isn’t thinking or perhaps what they’re doing. While its possible to tell stories about inanimate objects it is most poignant to tell stories about people. When you’re doing this its vital to completely respectful - you are photographing a person candidly and they are defenceless because they likely are not even aware that you are there.

The story frame sparks the viewers imagination and often emotion and no two viewers will see and feel the image the same way.

As an example, there would be many ways to interpret this image, in my mind the foreground person who has formed part of the scenery of this shot has for some reason attracted the ire of the person behind them. There are many thoughts that could be coursing through the mind of the person who is the focal point of the image and by the expression they’re unlikely to be nice. What cause those thoughts? We’ll never know but from the image you can see a story and your imagination does the rest.

I know the story of what went on here because, well obviously I was there.

When I look at the image am I seeing two friends, one who is sharing a cigarette with her mate or am I seeing a person who just took out a cigarette and when just about to light it was approached by a random person who said “Can I bot a ciggie mate?”.

You could interpret from her expression that she doesn’t really want to hand this over, perhaps she’s thinking that cigarettes aren’t cheap and this person is delaying her need.

But then you look deeper into his hand and you see he’s got a lighter, but she does not, perhaps she was about to light up but she could not find her lighter when this stranger approached and exchanged a cigarette for a light. She still clearly doesn’t want to give him one, but now there is some quid pro quo that makes the deal seem more attractive.

My final example is an older man in a New York diner in Little Italy. Fantastic food there by the way ;).

Now, we look at the man and we think he’s there alone, his stature is hunched over like he is bearing the weight of the world. He is wearing chinos and a short sleeved business style shirt both of which are incongruous with the sneakers on his feet.

Is he there waiting for friends? Is he having a quiet drink at his local bar while he watches the football? What is his story - again I know because I was there and I also know its nothing like what I portray in this photograph but that doesn’t matter, I’m telling A story not THE story.

Telling a story is what you’re doing with photography when you impose your own world view onto someone else and portray a thing. You make an image that evokes the viewer and makes them think. Perhaps it makes them empathic. Perhaps it makes them sad. Perhaps it makes them disgusted.

So go on then, go next level tell a story. Lets see your stories below on this post.

Paul

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Now, that was fast! I am intensely satisfied. Glad to read this.

Now, let me settle down to it.

Nothing beats hearing you 'talk about it during aMeet’ though :smirk: not like watching a video on YouTube o but being in a session and watching you share. Your slides have very few details and are legible, good for people with eyes like mine @PaulPavlinovich

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@PaulPavlinovich

This second comment is reserved for my 'note taking

  • In the first photo, the girl behind looks jealous of the second girl :rofl: :face_with_hand_over_mouth: I know that may not be the case though like; “what’s wrong with her, what’s she feeling like?” :smirk: :relieved: I know many girls like that, but I won’t say :smirk: or on looking at it a second time, more like; "how I wish I was like her :thinking: " while the other girl is totally oblivious to it. We call the second girl’s pose the ‘unlooking pose’ here.
  • In the second photo, while the guy seems to be asking for the ciggie, his eyes are elsewhere, they are roaming, so, who knows what he really wants. The girl has a stance that say; “yo, you can have it, but keep your distance please”

Now, I understand clearly, Paul. Thank you. :blush: and even from this I finally understand what it is about composition you have been talking about. I have some of these I can think of. I will show you one;

That’s to tell you; I understand the story in this story lesson (pun intended) :stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes: @PaulPavlinovich

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Nicely done @Ewaade_3A I wasn’t going to mention where his eyes were on Connect. We’re a little more family friendly here.

I can imagine a story for your image @Ewaade_3A he knows he’s been caught with roving eyes by the person behind who has the classic stare down pose going on.

Paul

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Stop it! Paul :grinning: :grinning: :rofl:

Not today, not this morning please. :grinning: @PaulPavlinovich

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Hi @PaulPavlinovich !

I really like watching people and trying to interpret their emotions in an image imprinted in the blink of an eye (in this case in a photo)!

If I can try my hand too, here are my stories about your photos:

First photo: two friends who are discussing something, and obviously the person in focus disagrees or thinks negatively about the subject of the discussion. That he is dealing with a negative thought / speech I think is undeniable. And I don’t know if the person in the foreground has anything to do with her current feeling: from a photo I can’t know and affirm it.

Second photo: given their proximity and that both seem to be placed on the wall, it gives me the feeling of a couple who have been standing there for a while, I don’t have the feeling that one of them is passing through. They exchange what looks like a cigarette reluctantly, but it could be anything: from their looks and attitudes we can understand that for them it is not the day, boredom seems all they have in common in this photo.

Third photo: the place is empty, and the owner has nothing left but to sit on the other side of the counter and watch the game on TV … just to pass the time, looking forward to closing or serving the next customer!

These are the first impressions looking at your photos dear Paul!

Bye,

David

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Each photo is a photograph especially the one which have some actions captured @PaulPavlinovich

It’s fun how all interpretation can be different.

This post reminds me of @AdamGT 's post with a picture of old women.

It’s interesting how some subjects add more to the story of the picture :blush:

The first photo : seems the person in the background worried maybe see saw something she doesn’t like.

The person is foreground seems to be rushing somewhere yet having a quick galnce at something that’s happening or maybe they are trying to cross a busy street.

The second photo : the woman is sharing her ciggies with the man, the woman looks seems like she is not happy the man is taking time to hold it.

The third photo: the man seems like he is staying upto late hours at the bar ejoying his drinks by himself and maybe a little chit-chat with the bartender.

Sharing my picture which I captured recently at a fast food place.

I captured this while I was trying to capture storefront photo.

I loved to see them walk sorry the picture quality is low as it was too dark.

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Hi Paul,

yes, photos can tell a lot of stories, but sometimes they are needed to remember.

This was a hard Meetup in 2019, as the weekend was full of yellow drinks :wink:

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@PaulPavlinovich I like your post.

When I look on this picture that I took few yeas ago in north of India I see the elders of the village… the 2 people on the right side a bit tired, the middle one thinking and the 2 on the left side wondering.

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Hi @PaulPavlinovich ,

nice post and nice photos of course! You know I like taking photos as well, and besides selfies :sweat_smile: , it often occurs I try to shot other people when they seek me a special feeling, a story.

I just picked up a random shot, I was sitting behind this table I was looking at the special feeling between those two persons (married? just a couple?), and the special moment was when they were served with a bottle of champagne, I tried to capture that moment with the sunset on the background, there was a special magic … perhaps he was asking her to marry? Or they were celebrating 20 years of marriage? Or maybe they simple won a very important business case and they were simply colleagues? He seems to be very happy from the picture, or maybe they were simply enjoying the sunset without a special reason… stories.

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@PaulPavlinovich

That is nice idea.

Photos and story excellent. Candid :+1: .

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@PaulPavlinovich . Nice pictures.

1st picture: it tells me the girl with red is so tired and she wants to go to rest. Both of them are waiting for transportation or someone. The girl in front is relaxed. Maybe she has a date with her boyfriend who is coming late and it doesn’t bother her but the red girl is so bored to get home.

2nd picture: the girl broke up with her boyfriend and she’s with her best friend. He tried to calm her down. She’s broke and she was asking him to give her a cigarette.

3rd picture: No wife, children, no friends. He tries to enjoy his dinner in his favorite restaurant. The place where he used to come with defunct wife.

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It’s beautiful concept to tell a stories by seeing the picture but I guess the fact is that it depends on individual personality.

Like if you ask a positive person to tell a story he will tell about all the positive stuff that he can see in that picture even though the reality might be something else and same goes with negative people too.

I always think pictures are illusion!! And In this digital world pictures are playing major role in our lives some might not be same as it seems to be.

Thank you for writing your perspective about those pictures @PaulPavlinovich :grinning:

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@davidhyno yes! one of the really interesting things about this concept is we all see very different stories -

  • Story 1 - there was a little more to this one - if I showed the before and after frames you’d know for sure
  • Story 2 - you’re not far off reality there I think - they were watching a street performance in a popular graffiti lane in Melbourne - I’m pretty sure they were not together, but they were watching the same thing
  • Story 3 - you’re pretty close - it’s not the owner, it’s the greeter / bar tender

@FalguniP definitely yes

  • Story 1 - that is certainly possible - there was a little more to this one - if I showed the before and after frames you’d know for sure
  • Story 2 - the slowness and deliberate movements could have lead to some grumpiness
  • Story 3 - certainly possible, although in this case had he wanted a drink he would have gone to the other side of the bar himself I suspect

Now for your photos

  • Falguni 1 - Two of the people are in earnest conversation, probably discussing their review, but the third on the right is wondering why you are taking her picture - she’s looking right at you :wink:
  • Falguni 2 - There are two stories here I think with the two different people but I’m going to take some poetic license - the person out the front is texting their friends saying are you sure you’ve ordered because they don’t know about it while the man inside is guarding the premises from the excited person outside who as far as he’s concerned is trying to get free food
  • Falguni 3 - The baby is practicing to be a mountain climber, or more likely has been restless at home and baby and dad are going for a walk because mum needs a break

@TorM I hope the yellow drinks were limoncello or beer :slightly_smiling_face:

@Niv1234 I think the guy 2nd from left has turned to the first one on the left and is saying quietly, can you see this guy behind me? He’s no where near old enough to sit here. I think he should go.

@LuigiZ I think the guy is laughing at the man bun on the waiter, I know I would be

thanks @abhishekpatk

Nice interpretations @SunshineNY

Absolutely yes @Arati it is totally subjective and you are correct that most pictures are illusions, they are a slice of reality disconnected from the moment.

Paul

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Estoy todavia varias cuidarás detrás de ti @PaulPavlinovich , hacer fotos con personas, es una tarea en la cual me cuesta realizar. Por el momento estoy en la etapa de los paisajes y contar historias con esos paisajes.

Comparto contigo lo que comentas sobre contar la historia de la fotografía con personas, son más expresivas y dicen mucho mas y generalmente hay un detrás de ella que no esta expresado, pero nuestra imaginación lo completa .

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Love this thought provoking article.

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@PaulPavlinovich , you forever are a true catalyst of deep thought and vision when it comes to our photography - your expertise and knowledge knows no bounds and I’m thankful for you in always providing us with an alternate way of thinking about our photos; thinking beyond the lens in terms of what we’re capturing. As I read through your post and examples and the others shared as well, I immediately thought of my trip to Los Angeles in 2013; so these photos are dated, but I remember going through these photos after, even years later, and thinking about the subjects and the scenes and the different stories. I’d like to share some of mine from then and the stories within:

This photo was taken on the Hollywood Walk of Fame , and while it wasn’t my first time visiting, I paid more attention to the “characters” and other acts on this stretch and how they interacted with the visitors flocking here. In this photo, the Minnie Mouse may seem to be acting in character and simply trying to interact with the passer-by, but from my memory of being there (as you said), I explicitly remember this particular character almost begging for attention and tips from anyone who passed by, which of course, despite it not being Disney World (lol), was completely out of character. And that was pretty representative of the other similar characters on that strip at the time. Eventually when I finally visited NYC, I saw the same in Times Square. :joy:

This scene is from the Venice Beach Boardwalk, and I remember being astonished at the myriad of people here of all types and backgrounds and interests. In the most respectful sense, it was quite the circus, but it made me think of how representative of Los Angeles this actually was - how a mix of different people can all be amongst each other, not really judging anyone, and taking in the sights and sounds.

The photo that this story tells off the bat may seem very straightforward, as this was a scene from the LA Marathon. However, this was merely a few weeks after the Boston Marathon bombing, and while the memory of that was still fresh, the story here (IMO) shows strength and resiliency against terrorism in keeping those dedicated to traditions away from celebrating and living their lives. The streets were far more desolate than other marathons, but you had the runners and supporters still show up in droves to celebrate this yearly tradition.

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What a wow :clap: @SP31

You got my attention, I read word for word and I couldn’t agree more.

@Arati I like how you always look at things from a whole different perspective and force one to think even deeper.

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Hola @PaulPavlinovich es un ejercicio muy interesante, es verdad que todo cambia según el ojo que lo mire.

Mis historias:

Número 1: La chica de rojo está enojada, triste y angustiada y no puede disimularlo. Fue demasiado para ella enterarse que su amiga (la chica de adelante) está muy enferma, que su vida pende de un hilo. Trata de animarla llevándola de paseo, pero quién la consuela a ella?

Número 2: ellos tuvieron una relación hace un tiempo y no terminó nada bien, pero ella lo quiere aún y volver a verlo removió algo dormido en ella. Pero sabe que no tiene que caer, ya una vez la engaño y no podría soportarlo de nuevo.

Número 3: el volvió a su casa después de un día de trabajo y su esposa le preguntó: compraste la comida para Tom (el gato)? Y ahí él supo que estaba en problemas, “No” respondió. Y después de escuchar la recriminación de su mujer por éste hecho partió hacia el Supermarket para comprar la comida del gato. Claro antes de volver a casa se detuvo en el bar por una cerveza y un poco de buen fútbol.

Ahora me toca a mí compartir una foto para que pienses una historia

Saludos.

Silvy.

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You can certainly tell a story without people @FaridTDF images such as a river choked with plastic or a turtle with a plastic bag wrapped around its neck tell a very powerful story about human waste and neglect.

Thanks @Kenaitze

@SP31 Mini Mouse for the win. There is a an old couple who dress as mini and mickey and wait alongside the line for when the Puffing Billy trains pass by them. Wearing the costume tells a story of a hopeful who came to Hollywood with stars in their eyes but in reality will take any job to make ends meet.

You might this funny, in 2003 I visited Los Angeles and got lost trying to find Venice Beach. I got the wrong bus and ended up quite lost.

The lack of supporters along the sides of the roads speaks to the fears of the people, but the runners speak to the resiliency.

@SilvyC I love your interpretations of the images. For you image, I can imagine that the front two people are a couple and had started to take a selfie and just as he hit the button on his phone the other lady jumped between and hugged them smiling to be in the photo and he is thinking who are you?

Paul

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