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DPChallenge Forums >> Current Challenge >> Symbolic Still Life
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Showing posts 1 - 25 of 59, (reverse)
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 06/08/2011 05:19:30 AM · #1
I have trouble with Still Life photography without being Symbolic about it. Much help is needed here.
Any clues?
 06/08/2011 05:25:28 AM · #2
None at all. I gave up on Leo's topics.
 06/08/2011 05:48:22 AM · #3
This may help > Newberry Gallery - Symbolic Still Life
 06/08/2011 07:36:26 AM · #4
My brain is not wired this way. I'll avoid this challenge. Good look to all participants.
 06/08/2011 07:43:15 AM · #5
I think it's an incredibly cool idea -- however, I think it's going to be difficult. In looking through the examples listed, some were incredibly cool and I loved the symbolism. But I didn't understand it until reading their descriptions. Most things were symbolic because of their own experiences that others couldn't understand by seeing.

However, I think it's a cool idea that is worth exploring.
 06/08/2011 07:46:07 AM · #6
Originally posted by hahn23:
My brain is not wired this way. I'll avoid this challenge. Good look to all participants.

Good luck to them.
 06/08/2011 07:48:42 AM · #7
Originally posted by vawendy:
I think it's an incredibly cool idea -- however, I think it's going to be difficult. In looking through the examples listed, some were incredibly cool and I loved the symbolism. But I didn't understand it until reading their descriptions. Most things were symbolic because of their own experiences that others couldn't understand by seeing.

However, I think it's a cool idea that is worth exploring.


That's what I'm seeing. Basically, it's a still life that has a personal meaning and the voters have no way of knowing what that meaning is until you tell them. I foresee another 4.8. ;D
 06/08/2011 07:51:08 AM · #8
I can already see the comments...

This doesn't send me a message. DNMC
I don't like your message. DNMC
Your message says you need psychiatric help. DNMC
Don't you ever say that to me again. DNMC
 06/08/2011 07:54:58 AM · #9
Originally posted by Kelli:
I can already see the comments...

This doesn't send me a message. DNMC
I don't like your message. DNMC
Your message says you need psychiatric help. DNMC
Don't you ever say that to me again. DNMC


hahah!! I love it!
 06/08/2011 08:08:09 AM · #10
I think a less daunting way to create symbolism in a still life is to get a selection of items that, when put next to one another, tell a story. IMO, that's basically what symbolism is/does, and "tell a story" sounds less intimidating than "be symbolic."
 06/08/2011 08:13:10 AM · #11
Maybe this might help.
My interpretation is just that, Symbolic still life photography/artistry often means something to the artist and needs to be explored to find the true meaning.
I see alot of DNMC's as this is only going to mean something to the image photographer and no one else.
I can see this being a challenge where the voters (guilty as charged!) will need to look and look again and again, then maybe read the image title and look again before voting.
What I have in mind means alot to me but it will only become apparent when people get to read the description.
I hope this is a fair challenge and it gets what it deserves, in theory it is brilliant, but as this is a competition this might not do so well, maybe as a side challenge it would be better as peeps can explain their submission.
x

Edit:
I think a less daunting way to create symbolism in a still life is to get a selection of items that, when put next to one another, tell a story. IMO, that's basically what symbolism is/does, and "tell a story" sounds less intimidating than "be symbolic."
What she said!

Message edited by author 2011-06-08 08:15:49.
 06/08/2011 08:34:07 AM · #12
Here's something I did in a previous still life challenge. Almost everything in the scene connects for me and has meaning and and/or connection to someone else in my life.


Not something that carries across the the viewer, however. I think this challenge will be difficult to convey meaning to the viewer and I also would expect to see a lot of people crying DNMC because they don't get how it fits.

Message edited by author 2011-06-08 08:34:59.
 06/08/2011 08:38:35 AM · #13
Here's a good example

Symbolic Still Life Photography
 06/08/2011 09:42:16 AM · #14
Originally posted by keenon:
Here's a good example

Symbolic Still Life Photography


From that link: "The highly symbolic still life paintings associated with Flanders and the Netherlands in the 16th and 17th centuries are the inspiration behind Justine Reyes’s photography in her Vanitas project at The Center for Photography at Woodstock. Historically, “Vanitas” as an art genre utilized morbid images layered with symbolism through objects such as skulls, wilting flowers and rotting fruit—dealing with the awareness of life’s impermanence and the inevitability of death. Personal artifacts and everyday objects help to define Justine Reyes’s photographic interpretation of the genre."

I had forgotten how obsequious & clairvoyant the art world can be. Do "objects such as skulls, wilting flowers and rotting fruit" make me think of life's impermanence? Nope. Makes me think I should maybe take out the garbage.

I agree with geinafets idea of arranging objects in a still life to tell a story. Or even suggest that there might be a story, or an event, that placed the objects there. Not easy to do, but much more do-able (& more interesting) than symbolism. Because symbolism, even at its most accessible, is always just out of reach of the logical mind.
 06/08/2011 11:07:36 AM · #15
Originally posted by vawendy:
I think it's an incredibly cool idea -- however, I think it's going to be difficult. In looking through the examples listed, some were incredibly cool and I loved the symbolism. But I didn't understand it until reading their descriptions. Most things were symbolic because of their own experiences that others couldn't understand by seeing.

However, I think it's a cool idea that is worth exploring.


But we may need a refresher course on what it means by exploring first. We have too many good technicians that never seem to step out of their box. I suspect it'll be business as usual. If the voters start seeing a bunch of simple concepts devoid with any substance but technically solid it'll quickly devolve into another stock photography challenge.
 06/08/2011 11:22:26 AM · #16
Originally posted by vawendy:
I think it's an incredibly cool idea -- however, I think it's going to be difficult. In looking through the examples listed, some were incredibly cool and I loved the symbolism. But I didn't understand it until reading their descriptions. Most things were symbolic because of their own experiences that others couldn't understand by seeing.


I don't think you NEED to see to understand. Art can not be appreciated by limiting ourselves to just the visual experience.
 06/08/2011 11:25:52 AM · #17
It's a good challenge but the only way I can see to spread the vision of your meaning is to be able to have a paragraph explaining it to everyone who views your photo. Such vision statements are often posted next to a collection of an artists photographs hanging in galleries. I predict titles are going to be big in this challenge.
 06/08/2011 11:32:43 AM · #18
Originally posted by geinafets:
I think a less daunting way to create symbolism in a still life is to get a selection of items that, when put next to one another, tell a story. IMO, that's basically what symbolism is/does, and "tell a story" sounds less intimidating than "be symbolic."


+1
 06/08/2011 11:33:31 AM · #19
Originally posted by yanko:
Originally posted by vawendy:
I think it's an incredibly cool idea -- however, I think it's going to be difficult. In looking through the examples listed, some were incredibly cool and I loved the symbolism. But I didn't understand it until reading their descriptions. Most things were symbolic because of their own experiences that others couldn't understand by seeing.

However, I think it's a cool idea that is worth exploring.


But we may need a refresher course on what it means by exploring first. We have too many good technicians that never seem to step out of their box. I suspect it'll be business as usual. If the voters start seeing a bunch of simple concepts devoid with any substance but technically solid it'll quickly devolve into another stock photography challenge.


I'm all for that. How do we start? I think it would be a worthwhile experiment.
 06/08/2011 11:38:07 AM · #20
Originally posted by bspurgeon:
Originally posted by vawendy:
I think it's an incredibly cool idea -- however, I think it's going to be difficult. In looking through the examples listed, some were incredibly cool and I loved the symbolism. But I didn't understand it until reading their descriptions. Most things were symbolic because of their own experiences that others couldn't understand by seeing.


I don't think you NEED to see to understand. Art can not be appreciated by limiting ourselves to just the visual experience.


No... But I want this to be different, somehow, than a normal still life challenge.

I could enter something like this, and say it was an allegory for marriage. The one pear in the lime (pear?) light, and the other pushed behind.



But it's not. It's two pears. Somehow the image needs to speak to us, and I'm finding it interesting wondering how you do that...

Message edited by author 2011-06-08 11:38:30.
 06/08/2011 11:39:12 AM · #21
Originally posted by EL-ROI:
It's a good challenge but the only way I can see to spread the vision of your meaning is to be able to have a paragraph explaining it to everyone who views your photo. Such vision statements are often posted next to a collection of an artists photographs hanging in galleries. I predict titles are going to be big in this challenge.


Have you ever seen or heard something and then immediately thought I bet there's a story or some history behind it? What gives that away? You don't have to know the exact details or even understand the piece to be able to tell whether it carries authenticity or not.
 06/08/2011 11:42:59 AM · #22
Originally posted by vawendy:
Originally posted by yanko:
Originally posted by vawendy:
I think it's an incredibly cool idea -- however, I think it's going to be difficult. In looking through the examples listed, some were incredibly cool and I loved the symbolism. But I didn't understand it until reading their descriptions. Most things were symbolic because of their own experiences that others couldn't understand by seeing.

However, I think it's a cool idea that is worth exploring.


But we may need a refresher course on what it means by exploring first. We have too many good technicians that never seem to step out of their box. I suspect it'll be business as usual. If the voters start seeing a bunch of simple concepts devoid with any substance but technically solid it'll quickly devolve into another stock photography challenge.


I'm all for that. How do we start? I think it would be a worthwhile experiment.


Well for starters I would suggest don't look at any prior still life challenge results and don't open Google and resist the urge to hollow out an egg and make it look like a chick walked out. That isn't symbolic of life. That's symbolic of a ribbon grab.
 06/08/2011 11:56:40 AM · #23
Originally posted by vawendy:
Somehow the image needs to speak to us, and I'm finding it interesting wondering how you do that...


Yes, I agree. It will be difficult, and I can't imagine more than a handfull of entries hitting the mark. I'm looking forward to those images, and I will likely enjoy the process as well.

I like Richard's last post, solid advice, although I think studying the manipulation/use of available light will be worth the effort.
 06/08/2011 12:06:20 PM · #24
The problem is: I think in cliches. I'm not quite sure how to break out of the mold. I know what theme I want to do.

I miss DPL for this sort of thing. This is the type of challenge where it would be incredibly helpful to have a small group of people throwing ideas around. I have my theme. I have a couple of ideas, and I know they're all trite. Yet I'd love to do my theme. It would be nice to sit down and discuss how to move more out of the box. How to get edgier and avoid the cliches. That's the type of learning I need to do. Yet, I'm not sure how to get there. If your mind doesn't work that way -- how do you force it to?
 06/08/2011 12:41:52 PM · #25
Originally posted by vawendy:
The problem is: I think in cliches. I'm not quite sure how to break out of the mold. I know what theme I want to do.

I miss DPL for this sort of thing. This is the type of challenge where it would be incredibly helpful to have a small group of people throwing ideas around. I have my theme. I have a couple of ideas, and I know they're all trite. Yet I'd love to do my theme. It would be nice to sit down and discuss how to move more out of the box. How to get edgier and avoid the cliches. That's the type of learning I need to do. Yet, I'm not sure how to get there. If your mind doesn't work that way -- how do you force it to?


Move away from the need to impress and just give us something that is real and symbolic of who you are. I don't know you personally but if I was tasked to display a still life symbolic of Wendy my first instinct would be to gather all of the things you use or wear when you go outside and shoot squirrels or birds along with something symbilic of your subjects and then try and arrange those things into a composition. If you have a passion for the subjects you shoot it'll reveal itself in the fine details and in the effort you put into it.
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