EX38 Titles and Captions
Starry Night over the Mountain Ranges, Fitzroy River National Park, Western Australia
Titles and Captions…
When you add words, ideas and thoughts to your work they change the viewers perception. Including words within your work also changes the meaning of the work, because we can not, not read them. We are compelled to read the titles. We are drawn to the words and their meanings. Walker Evans knew this and spent many years photographing old signs. His students would find them and bring them to him, as well as his huge collection of found signs. He was fascinated by how the words changed the meaning of his photographs.
Have you ever titled your artistic photographs?
Have you ever thought of changing the meanings of your work with an interesting title. Consider how the title will change your work? You can even go on to include an extended caption, that explains in more detail what you are interested in exploring.
Firstly look at my included photographs, trying not to read the captions, and notice how they make you feel. Now, as you read through my captions notice how they change the meanings of the photographs for you.
Eric and the Monolith - Flesh and Stone Series. In this series I am exploring the fragile soft and fleeting nature of human bodies and contrasting them with the hard and seemingly eternal nature of stone. As humans we are on the planet for such a short period of time, while geologically the stone lasts for millions of years. Our lives are a mere moment in their lifetime.
Dancers and Trees Series from our forthcoming book ‘Our Love Affair with Trees’ - Georgia and Morton Bay Fig. We are exploring our esoteric emotional response to trees and our deep physiological dependence on them for our survival. Playing with feelings, impressions and searching for meaning and emotions. Trees are connected with us spiritually, physically and emotionally.
Study in Blue VIII - Exploring non representational abstract and colour field fine art photography. A subject I am passionate about. I am intrigued by the fact that art work that has its sole basis in colour and composition moves me so emotionally. Trying to create these works has been hard, and a bit of a stumbling block for me. Yet, once I got one, then slowly along came the next one, then the next… The body of work grows slowly, but exponentially.
Drops of Death - This tiny carnivorous plant waits for its protein meal to land or walk onto it. Caught in the sticky glue like substance seen as drops in this photograph. The insect is slowly absorbed into the plant providing nutrients as it slowly rots. Each beautiful star usually only ever traps one insect. Once it has fed the plant it withers and dies. Looking closely I could see the various stages of decay with each of the trapped insects. Species unidentified. Albany, Western Australia.
Rheia watches - Rheia is the mother of the gods. Here she is watching over the flow of time in her rock. From the Flesh and Stone Series.
Some thoughts about titles and captions:
Reference other artists work that influenced you, or that inspire you. My example here is Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh.
Introduce a new concept or idea to the viewer.
Identify a subject, person or place
Tell a story
Explain a feeling or an intention
Take the viewer on a journey into your thoughts
Add an extra layer of meaning
Steer the viewer in a different or specific direction
Add humour
Personalise the artwork
Add depth
Invoke emotion
Ok… so now it is your turn. Post three photographs, that you feel you can expand with well thought out captions. See if you can change the viewers perception. Introduce a new concept or idea or even emotion through your words. Take some time with this exercise. Your photographs will speak to you and your titles and captions will come. Add a title and a caption to each photograph you post.
Personally, I sometimes find it easier to work with another person. When I started naming my Flesh and Stone Series with ancient gods, I sat with a dear friend, Kitty, whom offered many great ideas and helped me with the words.
