It's a very interesting problem, the question of stories. I'm a writer as well as an on-and-off photographer, so I've got a big part of me that wants to fill out stories around pieces, at least when I'm constructing something rather than just catching cool sights.
That said, I've also noticed a LOT of illustrators doing...well, the word that comes to mind is *scenes.* Not quite whole stories, but repeated windows into the lives and events around given characters. Building up these recurring casts who get seen again and again, never quite forming a beginning-middle-end but instead existing in an eternal Now. It feels like there might well be some inspiration that could be taken from that for work with recurring characters, especially in the realm of LEGO mini figs where design is so strong.
Scenes is a word I use to talk about my photos. And I love D&D character illustrations so that might be influencing what I create in my photos (not just the subject but the framing).
I love to read and occasionally write but I don't feel like every art form has to say anything at all.
This is also probably pushback against storytelling as a marketing buzzword too. Suddenly everyone is a storyteller and everything needs a story.
I've always seen my pictures as little stories. Without introduction, main part and conclusion. For ME there was a story in the pictures. I didn't care if this story was visible and meaningful to others.
Eventually my own stories were told and my photography faltered. I was getting bored making up STORIES that didn't mean anything to me. When it dawned on me, I started a photo break.
Your article reminds me of my love for custom minifigs. Maybe it's enough for me to stage my characters! 😊
You mystically formulate what I think again. I don't know how you do it, but please don't stop! Thank you!
I often come up with a concept, a visual, and overlay text on a finished photo. Sometimes I just can't put into words what I want to do. I just want the light to lay on the shapes in a certain way and try to achieve the intended mood and emotion.
Sometimes I look at my images as a viewer, look at the details, invent a story. It may not be consistent or even weird, but it's my process. I almost never have a finished story before the shooting, it is formed in the process or after the end.
And yes, the Playmobil examples are great! Thank you!
That was an enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this topic. Sometimes I feel like I have to write something about a photo that I share because if I don’t I feel lazy. But I think sometimes not expressing intentions/stories about a photo can lead to more wondering inside the viewers head where they can create their own story.
I write captions because I enjoy doing it. Again, anyone else's enjoyment is secondary to me.
I also have different behaviors on different social platforms: I'm much more reserved on Flickr, for example, because there, I feel the photos must speak for themselves.
I hadn't really thought about this, but in looking back I realize that I do both. Not evenly, though, and I definitely don't fit stories into a single shot. But the multi-shot stories are uncommon for me; I lean toward the single-shot, slice of "life" moments. Are there stories in my head? Usually not. Most often, there's just a hint, an idea or two about the characters involved. a rough idea of why they are where they are.
I find this article interesting. I've have always enjoyed reading and writing though I have never completed a story (life often is too hectic is my excuse). I'm fairly new to toy (lego) photography and over the last three months or so I've started including little 'scenes' with my story. A quick written snap-shot to go along with my photo. It combines my interest in written story telling with the visual representation.
What I may do that is probably different from most is that I almost never have a story/scene/vignette idea in my head to write down. I shoot a pic because I want to try something different, or I like the minifigs, etc. But it's usually a couple of days later when I am ready to actually post the pic that the scene/story/vignette pops in my mind.
A picture that I think really conveys the difference is my Yabani Knight pic. I originally shot the pic because I finally got the shield to match the minfiig torso, and I wanted to play with warmer colors coming through windows to create a more "cozy" type look. I utterly failed at the "cozy" look, but what I came away with when I was ready to post a few days later was a building on fire.
It's a very interesting problem, the question of stories. I'm a writer as well as an on-and-off photographer, so I've got a big part of me that wants to fill out stories around pieces, at least when I'm constructing something rather than just catching cool sights.
That said, I've also noticed a LOT of illustrators doing...well, the word that comes to mind is *scenes.* Not quite whole stories, but repeated windows into the lives and events around given characters. Building up these recurring casts who get seen again and again, never quite forming a beginning-middle-end but instead existing in an eternal Now. It feels like there might well be some inspiration that could be taken from that for work with recurring characters, especially in the realm of LEGO mini figs where design is so strong.
Scenes is a word I use to talk about my photos. And I love D&D character illustrations so that might be influencing what I create in my photos (not just the subject but the framing).
I love to read and occasionally write but I don't feel like every art form has to say anything at all.
This is also probably pushback against storytelling as a marketing buzzword too. Suddenly everyone is a storyteller and everything needs a story.
This is a really interesting article! Your statements make me reconsider my own point of view. Exciting! Let's see what comes out of it
Thanks! What's your POV about it? I think part of the reason for this article is also how "storytelling" is a marketing buzzword and I'm pushing back
I've always seen my pictures as little stories. Without introduction, main part and conclusion. For ME there was a story in the pictures. I didn't care if this story was visible and meaningful to others.
Eventually my own stories were told and my photography faltered. I was getting bored making up STORIES that didn't mean anything to me. When it dawned on me, I started a photo break.
Your article reminds me of my love for custom minifigs. Maybe it's enough for me to stage my characters! 😊
I think the most important takeaway from this is just don't force anything, cut out boring parts, and amplify the parts you love.
You mystically formulate what I think again. I don't know how you do it, but please don't stop! Thank you!
I often come up with a concept, a visual, and overlay text on a finished photo. Sometimes I just can't put into words what I want to do. I just want the light to lay on the shapes in a certain way and try to achieve the intended mood and emotion.
Sometimes I look at my images as a viewer, look at the details, invent a story. It may not be consistent or even weird, but it's my process. I almost never have a finished story before the shooting, it is formed in the process or after the end.
And yes, the Playmobil examples are great! Thank you!
Thanks Yuri! I think you're gifted with creating mood and emotion in your photos, and that you always knew that this was the goal.
That was an enjoyable read. Thanks for sharing your perspective on this topic. Sometimes I feel like I have to write something about a photo that I share because if I don’t I feel lazy. But I think sometimes not expressing intentions/stories about a photo can lead to more wondering inside the viewers head where they can create their own story.
Also I very much relate to the quote you shared in the beginning! Sometimes I just want to see what something looks like in a photograph.
Luckily, most people don't read captions anyway 😂
I write captions because I enjoy doing it. Again, anyone else's enjoyment is secondary to me.
I also have different behaviors on different social platforms: I'm much more reserved on Flickr, for example, because there, I feel the photos must speak for themselves.
Really love how you put forward you points here in such a considered way. Definitely thought provoking 😉
I find it very helpful to rant at my friends first, then come back to my writing to see where I am being too one-sided. Thanks John!
I hadn't really thought about this, but in looking back I realize that I do both. Not evenly, though, and I definitely don't fit stories into a single shot. But the multi-shot stories are uncommon for me; I lean toward the single-shot, slice of "life" moments. Are there stories in my head? Usually not. Most often, there's just a hint, an idea or two about the characters involved. a rough idea of why they are where they are.
I find this article interesting. I've have always enjoyed reading and writing though I have never completed a story (life often is too hectic is my excuse). I'm fairly new to toy (lego) photography and over the last three months or so I've started including little 'scenes' with my story. A quick written snap-shot to go along with my photo. It combines my interest in written story telling with the visual representation.
What I may do that is probably different from most is that I almost never have a story/scene/vignette idea in my head to write down. I shoot a pic because I want to try something different, or I like the minifigs, etc. But it's usually a couple of days later when I am ready to actually post the pic that the scene/story/vignette pops in my mind.
A picture that I think really conveys the difference is my Yabani Knight pic. I originally shot the pic because I finally got the shield to match the minfiig torso, and I wanted to play with warmer colors coming through windows to create a more "cozy" type look. I utterly failed at the "cozy" look, but what I came away with when I was ready to post a few days later was a building on fire.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02dmkahHRTCNiaw6YFJFNZQnkm6pcuUGXXZMQj3ZphDQgFFzgsYZCXURbseoBvQ7nbl&id=100088791474969&mibextid=Nif5oz