3 photographic contemplations #2

Can photographs be playful?

There is some beauty in a photograph that has ambiguity in it. I have always felt that some of the best photographs are those that are open to interpretations. They feed into the curiosity and the imagination of the viewer. Photos such as these are an invitation to a more multilayered experience.

I like the fact that a photograph can be playful, it can reveal and conceal. If one looks hard, one can make sense of the parts that don’t immediately call out for our attention but are significant in themselves. This could be one of the reasons a photograph remains relevant much after it has been taken since it allows for a diversity of interpretations.

Is there something like a perfect photo?

I don’t think so. In any case who decides this?! I am not even thinking of making a perfect one while I photograph. I compose it in the best way I think I should. Also, many a times, I catch myself celebrating the act of photography rather than the photograph itself. In the context of the question, I am reminded of the caution that is oft repeated: Seeking perfection can lead to procrastination. It’s true!

Everything around us changes and so does the way we create over the years. The value of a photograph is in its flaws. It extends the journey of photography. The end is nowhere in sight because there is no perfect photo! This I think is a gift. In fact, I don’t want a perfect photo. I want a perfect day where I can go and spend some time doing what I love. Happy with the imperfections they are more interesting.

How does photography writing help?

I think writing about our photography practice feeds into the overall art of making images. Words add some depth to the photos. I don’t mean directly but they do contribute to the back stories of how we think and create. Personally, writing helps me understand my world view and my own work. Writing acts like a spine for our photographic work.

Writing around photos has given me some insights about how I think and the patterns in my work. While photos are capable of being stand-alone works of art, I feel writing on photography for over two years now has given me a glimpse of how I have evolved, the arc of my journey and how my perceptions have changed with time.

Thanks very much for engaging with this post. It means a lot to me.