I have seen assertions in the photography world that state that pictures should stand alone. The belief says that if the picture is strong–no words should be needed. I guess it goes along with the ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ saying.
But for me? I fell in love with the marriage of words and pictures a long time ago. I can remember back when I was a little girl and I would put pictures into albums and scrapbooks and add quotes or storytelling words. When Chad and I worked as youth pastors I used to love to pair pictures and music with meaningful lyrics to draw out feeling and emotions. Pairing pictures and words has always been a natural expression for me–even when I didn’t know what I was doing.
When I learned that ‘pictures should stand alone’, I felt a bit insecure–like I was doing something wrong. I can’t help it, though. I see a picture and often words form in my mind. Similarly, when I hear words, so often, a picture comes to mind. Maybe I will be ousted from the photography community–but I’m making a declaration. . .
I think pictures and words go together like peanut butter and jelly or sweet and salty or rainbows and unicorns.
Take me or leave me–that’s where I stand.
Several years ago I read a beautiful quote by (yep, my favorite) Story People. As soon as I heard it, I knew the picture I wanted to take. It took years to happen, but finally the opportunity presented itself.
Oh, how I love Story People.
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the night sky & she told me about stars called blue squares &
red swirls & I told her I’d never heard of them. Of course not, she
said, the really important stuff they never tell you. You have to
imagine it on your own.
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Have a beautiful day, Friends.
Beautiful! I think pictures can speak for themselves, but I also feel that pictures are sometimes stronger WITH words. I like stories. And I think photos bring out emotion in those stories.
i'm right there with you, summer. pictures always bring to mind something that happened in the past for me. something in a photo might trigger a long ago memory of my childhood. like the one here makes me think of running around with my big brother, big sister and favorite cousins playing "spotlight" in the front yard of my great aunt's place while all the grown ups are visiting quietly after supper under the big oak tree. yes, definitely words and photographs belong together.
I'm with you, Summer. I like to tell the stories that go along with my pictures … as you do. Your blog is one of the few I actually really follow anymore. Sorry I don't comment more often. I've lost my momentum since I got a job. Maybe I just need a break.