An image can stand on their own, but half of photography is capturing a moment in time, so that somoene else can experience it. but the photo doesn't necessarily do that on it's own, a title will usually put it into context.
A photograph on it's own could be boring, but if it was about some important event, in a certain place, in a certain time, etc.. the title can "fill in the blank" and give the photo that much more meaning.
Of course, taken in the context of this site, a title can certainly be "made up" to fit a challenge, but most meaning full photographs i dont think would have the same impact without a title. Just like you give a painting a title, you give a photograph a title. There is a reasoning behind this. Taking away the title for a contest might be interesting, but we're going to end up with very *obvious* photos, things that dont need more background information, less depth, and probably less interesting photos as a result. If you have to cummincate the whole idea in the photograph, you cant try for subtilty, we all know that hardly works with the 5 second most people put into voting on a picture. With the speed most people probably vote, the title is half the challenge.
I think long and hard when i choose a title.. sometimes i hit on exactly i want to mean.. sometimes not... Part of the challenge for me here is actually naming the photo. I hadn't really thought of it before actually joining this. My personal website still just has pictures without names in my gallery. But now, after having to come up with titles for my photos here, i'll have to dedicate quite some time into naming the photos on my site one day.. Looking at my gallery now and it looks rather boring without being able to associate each photo with a name, a feeling, a story..
Of course this is just my opinion :)
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