Subject matter versus meaning

Merely capturing a subject does not automatically convey its meaning, or content.

For example, a photographer who claims to "like photographing people," is saying very little specific about what they are really trying to communicate. Yes they are showing something, but they are communicating little.

The clearer the idea you have about what you hope to communicate, the more clearly your photographs will communicate this idea meaningfully.

If this photographer who "likes photographing people" instead asks him or herself the following questions:

• Who are these people?
• What are they doing?
• Where are they?
• Why?
• What difference does it make?
• What story do they/I have to share? 
• How can this be shown/created/expressed?

...they will have a much better experience with creating and communicating meaning.

Assignment:

1. Select a subject that you are commonly drawn to. Person, place, thing. No animals or pets, for now. 
2. Apply the above questions
3. Create images that answer the questions, visually

For Monday, 9/15.