I start in the middle of a sentence & move both directions at once (John Coltrane)by
mcaldoComment by mcaldo: Thanks everybody for the nice comments!
That's what I was after, that's what I have got, V happy :)
Challenges provide a very specific context and opportunities.
It's interesting how some find that this is best met by images that obviously evoke in most viewers the idea of 'music', 'love', 'strangeness', 'giant marshmallows', whatever the challenge is about. That is, images that could work well without a title and challenge context, by evoking a concept the viewer is very familiar with and can readily recognize, and fill with their own meaning.
You need a pretty generic description to evoke in most people the illusion of a complexity which only exist in their specific experience. Family and love are very simple concepts, they become complex when you think of your own family, and of your own loved ones.
Make an image that very precisely depicts your love feelings, or your family relations, and show that to people.
You are more likely to challenge their personal idea of love and family than t evoke it.
Others see the challenge context as a springboard to illustrating even fairly complex concepts related to the theme, remarking how different people will feel differently about the same concept, even trying to introduce the viewer to something very specific.
This normally involves presenting viewers with something they are at least partially unfamiliar with. It's the prize of adding to the viewers knowledge, rather than evoking what the viewer already knows.
A musician might be able to encapsulate what he does in a single phrase, but it takes years and years for an excellent musician to understand fully what their style should be and get there, about that time most will also want to change it :)
I guess most people have a preference in one sense or the other, but have tried their hand at both approaches.
Most people like and admire images which can works without a title and a context. They are a great achievement, but in which type of challenges they really fit the bill?
Normal challenges or Free Studies? Opinions might differ..
I'd love to be a better photographer, so to convey more fully what I wish to convey. But often what I'd like to convey is not a one liner or an assist for the viewer to slam dunk their own way, not completely.
Perhaps I'll manage to put the two things together, and make photos which can at the same time evoke a simple concept and illustrate a very specific one for those who like to dig. Otherwise, I guess most people will still look at my images and find nothing.
Either ways I shall enjoy the trip :D
Photographer found comment helpful.
