Art work by Doug O'Dell |
CG 44331 - Umpqua River - Circa 1974 |
Art work by Doug O'Dell |
CG 44331 - Umpqua River - Circa 1974 |
In the world of writing there are seven basic story archetypes:
Overcoming
Rags To Riches
The Quest
Voyage
Comedy
Tragedy
Rebirth
Every successful written story will follow a format that uses one of these formulas. A photograph also tells a story, although, the visual photo story often is far more complex and more difficult to define and create because of the wide variety of visual opportunities. Factor in the photographers personal preferences and the numbers increase even more. But, not surprisingly, a visual story will often fit within one of the seven basic story archetypes.
Discovering how to accomplish this comes with not only experience but a basic understanding of story telling techniques. If I could always define how this is done...well, I probably could write my own ticket as a photographer. As this has not happened yet speaks loudly, however, when I look back on some of my best photographs, I can often see how they begin to fit inside one of these story types.
Interpretation of the visual signals is, of course, very subjective and open to the individuals personal experiences. Most of the time, visualizing the story within a photograph just happens, sort of subconsciously. You just know it and see it without really thinking about it. I suppose that is what separates a so-so photo from a good photo...and a good photo from a great photo. Images with powerful visual stories simply jump out at you like a slap in the face "wham!, demanding renewed and closer attention. A weak photo just sits there mumbling to itself and the viewer quickly loses interest and moves on.
Compositional techniques contribute to the overall impact, along with the use of color or Black and White, angles, lens selection, timing, and of course the big one, the effective use of light. Composition is what builds the structure of a photograph, Light is what builds the story. What narrates the story is the effective application of both. I'm going out on a limb here to take a chance, but I'd like to use a few of my favorite images and break them down to define what I perceive the story they have to tell.
Another one of my favorite photo's is this one taken on Shanty Hollow Lake just before sunrise. I do believe Voyage is the obvious choice of archetype although elements of The Quest can be seen. There is something compelling about this photo. Compositionally, it retains a powerful symmetry. The tops of the ridgeline are purposely cropped from view, yet allowed to flow as a reflection on the mirrored surface of the lake. Fog floating on silent currents of air drift low across the water and the soon to rise sun can just be identified by the reflective glow of clouds just above and behind the hidden horizon. The photo at once strikes a sense of adventure toward some unknown rendezvous, rekindling emotions from a distant past not unlike what Lewis and Clark must have felt during their Voyage of Discovery. Along with the adventure theme, there resides a layer of calmness, a serenity of purpose where the viewer hopefully becomes captured within the larger story that emanates from within their own dreams.
Black and white is a favorite format of mine as it removes the distraction of color and focuses almost entirely on story through composition, shape and form. This image of the gravel road leading to a farmhouse strikes at the heart of what story telling in a photograph is all about. The graphic use of leading lines and dramatic light draws the eye inward into the story. In this photo, I would interject another archetype theme: Coming Home. To me it is one of the great story lines of all time. Coming home and what it takes to get there. It could be tragic circumstances, it could be rebirth, it could be a voyage or a quest. The viewer gazing at this image might interject all of them based on their own experiences. The fence posts, the highlights across the tall grasses along the edge of the road, the farmhouse nestled amongst the trees, the dark texture of the overcast sky all contribute to the story. One can almost hear the crunching of the gravel underfoot as you walk down the road and feel the brisk nature of the wind as it shoves the clouds along. There is an element of anticipation, maybe even dread knowing just how close home is, yet it is somehow still far away. How long has it been? Continue? Turnaround? What to expect, only time will tell.
People convey a multitude of story telling opportunities within a photograph. Combine them with dramatic light and weather conditions, they will often provide some of the most compelling of visual stories. In the photo on the left, a homeless man strikes a reflective pose as he contemplates his situation. Rain had fallen, dark rolling clouds were boiling low across the sky, and street lights cast a reflective glare across the compound, all aiding the story of lost dreams, lost hopes. Taken from a lower perspective, the use a small aperture created the star-like reflective glow around the street lights. In a way, that starry glare casts a kind of hopeful atmosphere amongst the gloom of the situation. Sitting with a forward lean, he retains an element of contemplative defiance, a proudness of self where in spite of his circumstances, he knows he has value and is not yet beaten. This is a powerful image of the plight of a single person facing uncertain circumstances, yet someone who still clings to a deeper understanding of who he is and who he can become.Cedar is a marvelously hardy wood and when a large cedar tree fell in the wooded area behind my place after a storm a few years ago it must have sat there for a good number of years before I paid much attention to it. It had fallen across the deer trail path blocking the way so one day I took my chain saw out there to clean up the path for easier walking. A few cuts later and I realized just how hardy that tree was. It's branches had kept the main trunk off the ground so it remained mostly dry and the years had seasoned it. Cedar is probably the most aromatic of all trees and this one still retained its distinctive woodsy aroma. For the past couple of years I have continued to cut small pieces ( and a few larger ones ) from the trunk. It seems none the worse for wear. A few of the larger pieces I cut into round slabs and used them as bushcraft projects making small campfire tables that can also double as a stool.
In this video you will see how I used ordinary tools to build these. I also used the collapsible DIY bow saw I recently made and you can see how it assembles and is used. I've made a couple of bushcraft spoons recently along with a spatula, but I wanted to make a set of camp cooking tongs. You'll see how I managed to do that in this video as well.
I've learned the hard way how dangerous a dull knife, or any cutting tool, can be. Sharpening a knife to a razors edge can be time consuming and there are differing ways to accomplish this. Seems everyone has their own tried and true, and some not so effective, methods to sharpen a knife. Through trial and error I've learned what works for me and in this video you will see how I manage this process.
Hope you enjoy this short bushcraft video. It was a lot of fun making it and doing all the crafty things in the process.