Image and Text

My perception and admiration of photography is showing the world through your own eyes, documenting your point of view to others. A photograph however is a still image, and is open to interpretation of what it is, and what its showing. Without text (either on the actual photograph, or a short explanation alongside) the message behind the photograph may not be clear to the viewer, meaning they are free to guess. Different people will have different views and opinions on the same photograph due to several personal aspects. It also depends on how well the photograph works, or how easy it is to read alone. The format of writing is also up to the photographer, whether they are writing to inform, describe, explain etc. This depends on the genre of photography, whether the photo is of people or a landscape, still life or documentary. There are many different ways of expressing your view through text, and making it work with the photo.

The amount of text depends on how much you want to give away, whether the artist wants to leave the photo for the viewer to question, or make a statement. A photograph may just have a title, with no explanatory text. The title of a photograph is usually only one or two words, and could give the first clue as to the intention. Unless of course the title is factual, stating the place in the photo or name of the person. It may also be in the artists’ intention to have text on, or as part of the photograph. This is rarely seen in professionals work however.

Artist Gillian Wearing has used text to allow the people in her portraits to speak. Each portrait shows a person holding up a note which they have written, giving the viewer an insight into their life and/or opinion on something. This is a unique and interesting way of using text, allowing people to speak in a photo. Some of the quotes might contradict the viewers’ thoughts of the person. Text allows the photographer to direct the way the viewer sees the photograph.