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TIP
START WITH
DECIDE HOW MUCH OF A A PLAN
You’ll get much better
STORY YOU NEED TO TELL results if you make a plan
of what you want your
images to say before
you start.
N CREATING A is looking at the image tends
narrative, it’s up to you to fill the narrative based on LORDN
to decide how much their own experience. Take an
information you want example of someone with an
Ito give your viewer. To anxious look on their face
create that real engagement, staring at a computer screen
you should always be thinking – if you can’t see the screen,
how to give enough for a the reason for their stress is
viewer to understand what’s unclear and the viewer can fill
going on, but not so much as that reason with whatever
to confuse things or dilute makes most sense to them.
the story you’re trying to tell. There will be multiple ways to
There is a lot of scope interpret the image, and each
within those bounds to craft one will feel more personal to
your story, and a couple of the viewer. It’s ideal for more
different approaches to complex themes that might
consider. Which one you otherwise lead to a busy or
choose is personal preference, cluttered image.
but can be influenced by FLAMINGO IMAGES
your subject matter and the Close the approach
complexity of the idea you Here you would provide
want to convey. You can everything the viewer needs
either give the viewer all to understand what’s going
the information they need to on in your frame. This can
understand the story you are sometimes result in a less
trying to tell, or you can leave engaging image, but one
it open to interpretation. that’s easier to understand.
This method gives a much
more accurate portrayal of
Leave it open
Taking this approach, you the story you want to tell.
deliberately leave out some Take a beach scene with
elements of the story and the people enjoying themselves
viewer then has to fill in the in the sun and tropical drinks Above The top image leaves important information out for you
blanks themselves. It creates – there are no questions as to to fill in yourself, whereas the bottom gives you all the info you
more engagement as whoever what is going on. need to understand the story.
SHOOT WITH YOUR KARN SAMANVORAWONG
AUDIENCE IN MIND
While some themes are fairly universal, not all things translate
equally the world over. Not everyone has the same experiences
and shared cultural knowledge to understand your images the
way you had intended. Try and think about the audience that
will be looking at your images. An image that references an
‘in joke’ between you and your friends will be viewed without
context if uploaded to an image-sharing website and the
meaning behind it will be lost. This isn’t an issue if your friends
are your intended audience, but it does cause problems if the
image is intended for a photo competition as the judges will
miss the meaning. Think about who will be seeing your images
and what they will understand from them.
Left Specific cultural or religious images will be understood
in different ways across the globe, so bear that in mind.
42 PRACTICAL PHOTOGRAPHY
