You like that image? Ok, why?
Posted by Tim Gruber | Filed under Uncategorized
One of the many valuable things I’ve taken away from grad school at Ohio University is the ability to articulate why an image works beyond, “Oh that’s pretty.” Stan Alost, one of my professors, has completely eliminated the word like from my vocab when it comes to talking about images. You like that picture? That’s great, but why? It’s key for us as visual journalists to articulate why an image works for our readers beyond the graphic. The visuals need to reinforce what we’re trying to say. A pretty picture without editorial relevance is just that, a pretty picture.
On Saturday I photographed a family reunion that took place at the family’s childhood home. At one time the home was also used as a slave cabin.
In the image above Kailie leaves the darkness of one room as she enters the light of another. This all while she’s looking back to the “past.” In many ways it speaks to the dark, but rich past of both the house and her ancestors. It also highlights the forward progress she represents for her and her family.
Further Reading:
Tags: internship, journalism, photojournalism
July 12th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
“Oh that’s pretty.”
But really, nice work. Your thoughts really add a lot.
Peace