This month’s challenge is to have your image tell a story or evoke an emotion. The goal is to create images that are more meaningful, by first formulating an underlying narrative, a story or feeling, behind our photographs, creating an image with intent.
The saying we’ve heard many times, “A picture is worth 100 words”, is the ability to capture an image that tells a story or evokes a feeling or emotion for the viewer. With this in mind it requires us to slow down when something catches our attention, then think of what the subject is, which elements we want to include, and think of the narrative before you capture the moment.
This image of the dying leaf, titled “Rest in Peace”, is positioned within a frame shaped as a coffin. The framing and the placement of the leaf reinforces the underlying narrative.
First when looking at the scene in front of you, think of an Image Title and then don’t capture an image of something but rather capture an image about something. To simplify, a successful image to Tell a Story or Evoke an Emotion requires;
■ An interesting Subject
■ Good Light
■ A Special Moment
■ Good Composition, subject positioning
■ Requires Proper Technique
■ Creativity (how you combine the elements within the frame, with perspective )
■ Exclude elements that do not support your narrative
We encourage you to get out to spend the time enjoying your surroundings, put in the time, be patient, and you will be rewarded with images that you will be proud of.
Environmental Portraits
As described in our July 2023 Theme Challenge – Environmental Portraits we can tell a story about someone by taking their portrait in the environment or with a prop that shows what they do, whether it be a photographer, a musician, an entrepreneur, or an athlete as shown in the images below.
Long Exposure
Long exposures during sunsets can be a great combination for evoking an emotion with your photographs. Using a wide angle lens and getting close to the action provides a feeling for the viewer being there which also helps make the image more dramatic and interesting. The key to getting the flow of the water is to be using a wired remote with a slow shutter speed typically between 1/2 to 2 seconds. Wait for the wave to come in and then push the shutter when the water is receding. This type of image contains a high dynamic range which may require the use of bracketing exposures and post-processing. The dynamic range becomes less as the direct light from the sun passes the horizon.
Wildlife
With wildlife it’s usually a matter of noticing something special that the animal does and then waiting for the right moment to capture it. In the case of the porcupine it’s a matter of getting safely close enough, laying down for the intimate perspective, and then talking quietly and calmly to get the porcupines attention to have it sit and turn toward you to see who or what you are. In the case of the Gray Seal image titled “The Call of The Wild, it’s a matter of getting low to the waters edge and then waiting for the seal to yawn, this one took about 45 minutes.
Image Series
Shooting a series of images can provide more insight to your Story. In this case it’s about trying to capture an Island, that has a busy background, in different conditions and perspectives. The position of this subject is difficult to isolate, so I made use of; in the first image titled “Out of the Mist” the morning mist to help separate the island from the background, the second image titled “Out of the Fog”using the fog to also separate the island from the background, and finally the third image titled “Brain on Ice” using a drone in the winter to show the island from a birds eye view surrounded by the ice.
Peggy’s Cove is one of Nova Scotia’s Iconic locations where many come to see the Lighthouse at Sunset. In this case you see in the first image some Tourists taking photos during the sunset and then the second image showing what the tourists are taking photos of, the Lighthouse with the sunset and moon.
Adding Elements
Adding a supporting element to your photo can help re-enforce the story. In the case of the decayed dandelion with morning water droplets can be re-enforced by adding a rain effect which can be added using Photoscape X ( Edit -> Light -> Nature -> Rain3 ) with the settings shown in the middle image. Adjust the settings keeping in mind the direction and positioning to complement the image.
Leaves & Trees
The stories here vary, as the images leave, pardon the pun, a bit of wonder to the viewer. The first image may make the viewer wonder what happened to the tree. Then the second image shows a maple leaf on a cut tree trunk showing not only the decay of the leaf but also a tree that once was. The maple leaves against the tree trunk shows the juxtaposition of life (the tree trunk) and death (the decaying leaves). The window decaying image shows the darkness beyond embraced by the vines of a living bush helping it hold on. Finally the image of the dying leaf framed within a coffin shape near the position of where ones heart would be, helps tell the story of the image title “Rest in Peace”.
Concept to Fruition
The first image of the Super Hero socks. The groom and groomsmen were all Super Hero enthusiasts and we took the photo highlighting their socks on a cement walkway, and then by adding a digital background using the flame from a Superhero Sparkler Digital Backdrop it enhanced the image by adding some motion supporting the narrative. With the Spiderman images, as discussed in the July Theme Challenge “Street Photography”, in June 2024, there was a lot of activity on the Halifax waterfront; your friendly neighbourhood spidey was out posing with kids and families for candid photos which also provided an opportunity to tell a Super Hero story by placing them within an AsheDesign Super Hero Movie Poster.
Interesting Subjects
A interesting or different subject gives the viewer a reason to pause to think a bout the image a bit more by wondering for example; what are those cars with how old are they, and then in the next mage what happened to the lamp posts.
Additional Resources
As always with our monthly theme challenges we try to seek out an instructional resource, below are some YouTube video links to help with some important tips, hints and ideas.
Fall Colour Photography instructional aids:
■ How to tell Stories with your Photos: by James Popsys (20min 7sec)
■ The Art of Storytelling Through Photography: by Scott Edwards (10min 17sec)
■ How to Improve Your Photography Through Storytelling: by Adorama (16min 27sec)
You’re encouraged to develop the ability to “tell a story or invoke an emotion“, as well as learn to plan and troubleshoot while creating images.
- It’s important to not only create an image but to also include a “Title”, this process helps with; determining your subject or story, and composition.
- Try writing a short paragraph about; how you came up with the idea, any interesting back ground that compelled you to make the image, and describe any techniques how you overcame any obstacles.
- Do some research and include any relevant information behind the subject of your image. This helps with planning and your approach for a story
An important part of improving your photography is practice, practice, practice which is one important aspect of the monthly theme challenge, in addition you have an opportunity to learn about different genres, techniques and tips that you are not familiar with.
Share your images and stories experienced this month
Even though this website is not setup to directly upload your images, you can achieve something similar by commenting on this post; firstly pasting your social media link to your image in the comment, then type any additional message you’d like to share. Everyone who visits will be able to visit your link. Note comments are moderated so it will not show up right away. We do get notifications when any comment is posted, so it won’t take long to get approved and subsequently show up. By pasting your social media link in your comment, it gives everyone visiting the bog a chance to click the link to see your image for the challenge and also the ability to look at your other work by viewing your social media through your pasted link. We want sharing to be a positive experience and we hope you have fun with this month’s dual photo challenge.
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