Image: Su Leslie 2019
I think of simplicity in photography (Mies van der Rohe’s famous “less is more”) as more than the limiting of elements or a paring back of visual noise. I think it is also about creating space for the viewer to make their own story from the image.
What do you think? How much do you like (or loath) ambiguity in an image?
Thank you to Debbie at Travel with Intent for reminding me of Ansel Adams’ statement that “There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”
And thanks also to Amy at The World is a Book for hosting this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge | less is more.
Zimmerbitch 
Neat photos, Su.
Leslie
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Thanks Leslie
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🙂
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Both appeal to me, but the first one is more intriguing.
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Thanks. It’s one of those shots that makes perfect sense in a series, but on its own, not so much.
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Absolutely love your opening image Su – the juxtaposition of the 2 elements is perfect and your choice of aperture makes the shot. Terrific!!
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Thanks so much Tina. Sorry for the delay in replying. I found your comment in the Spam folder. Grrrr.
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I always make up stories about photos! Especially with people. And then I’ll ask the photographer for the back story. Mostly I am wrong, but, oh, it is fun! The first photo is really intriguing, but I love the blue in the second photo.
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Love it. I have been known to imagine Detailed back-stories for people I see on the street. I am probably wrong about them too (almost certainly in fact), but since I’m too chicken to start a conversation with them, I’ll never know.
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Your pictures could be excellent story starters. As a teacher I used very vague images to let the students practice their imagination. The results were astounding.
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You sound like my kind of teacher!!!
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I am still chewing on the topic of stories with pics and was just chatting with BB about it too – ahhhh
And here – that second image spoke to me – makes ya wonder
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🙂
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I love these pictures, Su. And I love ambiguity too, but I also like it if people can “get” the story I’m trying to tell and then build on it.
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Thanks Tracy. I struggle with that desire to tell my story, without spoon-feeding or shutting down other stories. I guess we never really know what will resonate with viewers/readers and spark their imaginations.
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That is true, Su. I’m often surprised. 🙂
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Both photos are lovely. I always like ambiguity, giving the viewer a chance to interpret and analyze and feel. I guess that’s why I love macro so much. Great quote.
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Thanks Desley. That’s a really good point about macro photography; built-in ambiguity.
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I like ambiguity. As a law professor, I was often talking about the ambiguity in language, but it holds for images as well. We bring to it all our own preconceptions, values, and concerns.
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🙂 That’s so true. I guess witness testimony is an excellent example of how we all see “the same thing” differently.
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Or try to resolve a dispute between two parties to a contract about what the contract language means!
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And people wonder why legal documents are so wordy!
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Exactly!!
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Love all of this post!
I’m myself someone who always posts not only a photo but tells a story – OR I leave the viewer with a silent question/a wonderment/an assumption…. Photos DO tell stories, always, and a certain ambiguity is part of it.
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Thanks so much. I love ambiguity too, in all art forms. 🙂
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Both of these images are lovely, Su. And both leave a question in the viewers’ mind. For me, that means pondering them long after I’ve viewed them. But the COLOR in the second one is AMAZING! Color always draws me in so that I become almost wrapped in it, if it’s done well.
And I find the wording of “making room for the viewer” a slightly different way of expressing what I try to do with both my writing and my photography. I try to invite them in to see the beauty, or in some cases the pain, in the world, to be drawn in and then surrounded by it. But the of idea of a picture that can invite the viewer to make their own story from the image is a new way of looking at how I might compose a shot. Wonderfully fascinating.
Thank you!!
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I’m learning this in my own photography. As in writing, I think leaving things out gives the reader or viewer an opportunity to come to it in their own time and their own way.
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It’s a great lesson to learn. Most people aren’t natural editors, but it is worth the effort and practice.
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I think that space is important in every piece of art, be it a photo, a painting, a film or a song. Especially with the latter comes to mind those tiny pauses in say a piano play where you’re anticipating the next note but also enjoy the silence in between. At least that’s how it is for me when listening to classical music.
And I love that Adams quote!
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I hadn’t thought about that, but you are absolutely right. 😀
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