Once upon a Time (Narrative)

Narrative, (The story within an image)

In photography, narrative is related to the idea of context. No matter how complete or comprehensive a narrative appears it will always be the product of including some elements and excluding others.

http://www.adammarelliphoto.com/2012/08/from-the-front-robert-capa/

Robert Capa D-Day

The narrative of a photograph can be formed by a viewer through a number of means, for example Knowing where an image was taken and what it is of may relate the image to the story, for example knowing this photograph is of soldiers on a beach during D-Day, allows the view to relate what they are seeing to what they know about the event.

Narrative can also be suggested through connotations that may be related to by the viewer, for example, military uniforms in the image could suggest war which in turn could relay something else to the viewer.

Narrative can be portrayed as either liner or non linier, when the photograph is an image of an event, it seems a linier narrative is more easily portrayed.

http://nancycdibenedetto.wordpress.com/2010/10/12/documentary-photographer-2-eddie-adams-and-workshop-information/

Eddie Adams

As the view can see clearly what is happening within the photograph in this case ( an execution )  the viewer can easily conclude the basic narrative, therefore persive the story in the image. As well as the primary narrative a secondary conclusion may be made through connotations, such as Fear, War, Violence this then widens the narrative within the image.

http://weheartit.com/entry/24048339

Surrealist photography, such as this image by Philippe Halsman often attempts to portray the subconscious, there for relaying a non liner narrative to its viewer. A narrative can still be concluded through what is being portrayed and connotations the viewer may make to what they see and the narrative is likely to vary amongst viewers.

Reflection

For this assignment we were asked to look in to the narrative of various images. I found this intresting as a photograph can portray both a straight forward narrative as well as a more complex indepth narrative through its connotations. I also found it intresting how the narrative portrayed through a photograph can vary between its viewers.