story

All posts tagged story

What’s The Subject of This Photograph?

Posted by scottbourne on May 31, 2010
Posted in: Technique & Tutorials. Tagged: .

Copyright Scott Bourne 2010 - All Rights Reserved

Sorry to beat a dead horse – (no pun intended) but I want to show you this photo one more time because it gave me an idea for a teachable moment.

I get lots of questions at Photofocus about story. People hear me say – “Make photographs that tell a story” and end up being confused. “What do you mean tell a story?” they will ask – or “How do you know when your photos tell a story?”

This may help clear up some confusion. The simple answer is that you have to know what you’re subject is. You have to know what the picture is about. You have to decide what story you want to tell. You have to know what it is you’re photographing.

What is the subject of the above photograph? Is it the barn? You might be tempted to say it’s the horses. Well actually, the subject is simple – companionship. Look at the next photo shot a mere few seconds after the one at the top of the post.

Copyright Scott Bourne 2010 - All Rights Reserved

This is a picture of the same two horses but now the subject is no longer companionship – it’s just two horses.

Now look at the third photo. It was taken just a few seconds later. Now the subject is loneliness.

Copyright Scott Bourne 2010 - All Rights Reserved

Look at each photo opportunity as a chance to tell a story. As the photographer, the story is up to you. You get to decide what story you want to tell. Just remember, when you look at the photograph, make sure you can identify the appropriate subject/story.

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This post sponsored by X-Rite Color and the ColorChecker Passport

What if a Picture Really Is Worth One Thousand Words?

Posted by scottbourne on May 7, 2010
Posted in: Technique & Tutorials. Tagged: , .
Cranes in the Fire Mist Photograph by Scott Bourne

Copyright Scott Bourne 2009 - All Rights Reserved

The old saying goes; “A picture is worth 1000 words.” If that’s true, what words are your picture saying?

And if you think of your picture as a “story,” something I strongly advocate here regularly, it might help to PRE-construct the story and THEN get the picture.

Let’s start at the beginning. What is your story’s headline? What message does it scream? I like to think of this as caption or title first, shot second. It’s a technique I’ve used for years to great effect. I knew I was going to call my photograph “Cranes in the Fire Mist” more than ten years before I made it.

Next, what is the idea or the purpose of your story? Is it to impart wisdom, evoke emotion, share beauty, preserve posterity? Whatever the main idea is – it should be simple and easy to grasp. Photographically, that will translate to a clearly identifiable subject, etc.

You should also think of your audience. Is this story for the mother of the bride? Is it for the history museum or the textbooks? The audience for any given photograph should be factored into the story before you press the shutter. This will certainly help move the story to a successful resolution – and get you your 1000 words.

This is of course, just an exercise. But it’s an exercise that made me a better photographer and I hope it has that impact on you as well. When you’re stuck trying to figure out the next great photograph, give this a try. Send these ideas flashing through your mind before you press the shutter. Maybe then people really will be talking about your image long after you’re gone.

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This post sponsored by the Digital SLR Store

Four Little Words – Tell Me Your Story

Posted by scottbourne on September 25, 2009
Posted in: Technique & Tutorials. Tagged: .
Copyright Scott Bourne 1997 - All Rights Reserved

Copyright Scott Bourne 1997 - All Rights Reserved

I love working with new photographers. I recently had the honor of working with several high school students. They were excited, energetic, full of enthusiasm and willing to learn. They also brought a fresh perspective to photography that amazed me.

Talking with all of them I was struck by the similarity of their questions – most having to do with gear. What camera should I buy? How many lenses do I need? Etc. These were followed by questions like – “What should I photograph?”

To each of these questions I answered in a way that I am afraid might have frustrated some of them. Nonetheless – I thought it important to gently guide them down the right path from the start.

In each case, I responded with four little words:

“Tell me your story!”

You see ALL communications and ALL media – whether they be centered around radio, television, motion pictures, blogs, podcasts or photography – revolve around story. Story is everything. If you get that, you’ll be a better photographer.

Both the photographer’s story and the subject’s story impact a photograph. The photographer’s story is important because it’s about what they have to say. Great photographers NEED to tell their story or someone else’s story. And the story of your subject is what makes people care about your images.

So remember….don’t focus on gear, or technique – focus on storytelling. The rest will take care of itself.
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This post sponsored by the Digital SLR Store

Happy Thanksgiving – Don’t Forget the Camera

Posted by scottbourne on November 27, 2008
Posted in: Technique & Tutorials. Tagged: , . Leave a Comment
Photo by Scott Bourne

Photo by Scott Bourne

I have to admit, I am not much of a holiday kind of guy. To me, most holidays are days that I can’t get mail, deposit checks at my bank or get people to answer their phone when I need something.

But one thing I do like about holidays is the chance to make images that matter. To those of you with families, this is the time to show them that your gear investment can pay off in ways they’ll appreciate. Take lots of photos. Lots of em’. And make sure to take this chance to tell a story. Tell the story of your family with pictures. Pretend that you had to explain your family and its history to a stranger, but you couldn’t use any words – only pictures to do it. Telling the story with the camera will prove to be a powerful exercise that leaves you with lots of memories – and great pictures.

And while on the subject of memories, remember that one of the primary “jobs” of a photographer is to protect and preserve memories. They can be your memories, or someone else’s memories. Whatever the case, the photograph acts as a record. It serves to remind all who see it what was happening at that moment in time.

Lastly, moments in time are the real power behind photography. Photography is all about capturing that defining moment. You want to find that one look or expression that’s priceless.

My Thanksgiving tradition is to go make memories at Bosque del Apache. I’ll be eating turkey with Artie Morris and dozens of other photographers who come to celebrate this amazing migratory bird event here in New Mexico. Then, the next day – if not that evening, we’ll join more than 100 other photographers who make this annual trek to document the migration of the Snow Geese.

See you on the flight line.

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This post sponsored by the Digital SLR Store