Table of Contents
From its earliest days, photography has been viewed as a means of supplementing memory, enhancing recollections, sharing travel experiences, and bringing articles to life. While these functions continue to be relevant today, the evolution of society and a growing demand for aesthetics have expanded the scope of photography in intriguing ways.
Images provide a slice of reality through the lens by displaying clear details. However, this clarity can become monotonous over time, leaving both viewers and professionals desiring greater intrigue and mystery in their images. By introducing an ideal or element of ambiguity into the image, a more compelling impression can be created. Ultimately, photographs enhance the public’s experience of life in much the same way as art.
Similar to capturing images, accessing a photograph involves using one’s vision to identify details and observe events taking place in the picture. For this reason, when facing one or more works of photography, there are five critical factors that the audience should pay attention to while appreciating photographs:
- Subjects
- Details
- Framing
- Timing
- Point of view
Subjects
The essence of photography is different from familiar forms of art. In painting, the artist is the center of the creation process and produces objects, people, and landscapes. On the other hand, in photography, what happens in the photo goes through a selection process based on the surrounding factors. When contained within a frame, simple and small things in life attract the curiosity of viewers, who ask questions and make comments. This makes them, even just for a moment whether short or long, significant in our minds.
For those who work in the field, they gradually realize that photography is related to realities such as objects and events. These factors serve as the basis for their creativity. The world is full of wonders, and they can discover countless possibilities with their cameras.
However, photographers also understand that photographs and reality are not identical. They capture a slice of reality rather than the entirety of what they see. Therefore, we look at events in a photograph through the lens of the photographer, influenced by their unique perspective. Yet, we can also discern what the photographer wants us to focus on, allowing us to better understand the world and experience things that we may have missed in the frenzy of life.
When faced with a scene, photographers need to look beyond the surface reality and uncover possibilities that extend beyond what is immediately visible. By doing so, their images can forge a connection with the viewer – which is ultimately the goal of every photographer.
Details
When taking photos, we can only capture what is happening in front of us. That is the limitation of this field. Therefore, while individual photos may appear as disconnected moments, they also contain symbols that invite the viewer’s attention.
Photography’s ability to highlight details and magnify them draws our attention towards simple things in life that are often overlooked. Through the lens of a camera, these details become clearer and more apparent.
Each photo is a starting point for us to understand more about the world around us and connect with the emotions that life brings.
Framing
The four edges of a film or camera sensor serve as both the starting and ending points of a photo.
The process of photography involves selection and cropping. The photographer selects what is important to them and frames it in a way that makes it significant to the viewer through the magnifying nature of photography. Although a single photo may not fully capture a subject, it can convey certain aspects and introduce new perspectives on the subject. Additionally, photos can create connections between subjects within the frame that we may not have considered before.
Photographers divide the world around them into cutouts. A part of the sky or a part of a tree may only remind us of the entity as a whole, but they are elements that contribute to a balanced image in terms of color or composition. When photographing a crowd, for instance, having only two people in the frame creates intrigue and leads us to question whether there is any connection between them.
Timing
If there is one element that can stop time, it is photography. With the advancement of camera technology, every movement of humans, objects, and society can now be captured when the shutter closes and the image becomes clear. It transforms motion into a static state, making it possible to preserve moments indefinitely. A photograph is a convergence of balance between lines and shapes that emerge from the flow of life.
The audience viewing the photos are reminded of a period, an event, or a state that they have experienced or recognize that the place where they live has had a different appearance than now. Those memories are for us to remember and carry with us emotional weight, making them an essential part of our personal history.
When using a camera, photographers realize that what they capture is a moment in time. As a result, they preserve a glimpse of something that has passed and will disappear someday.
Point of view
The advancement of technology has led to greater flexibility in photography, primarily due to the compact design of modern cameras. This portability allows photographers to capture images from new and unique angles by moving their equipment around. As a result, shooting at eye level is no longer the only option.
When shooting in open and wide environments, such as streets, hills, or beaches, photographers have the most freedom regarding their point of view. If they cannot alter the landscape, they can opt to stand closer or farther away, capture a high or low angle, or experiment with other angles. These varied perspectives reveal new insights into the world around us. They make us realize that the scenery we observe with our eyes is much richer and diverse than we initially thought.
A photograph has the ability to clarify and complement an object or event. Additionally, it can blur or crop certain parts of the image to create a new shape. This can introduce a novel understanding or perspective, offering viewers a unique way of seeing the subject at hand.
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Nguyễn Quang Bách written for Hoa Ta
Editor: BB Trương
