“To create the world from scratch was God’s deed but to make it better to live in is yours.” Not a very perturbing fact or a genius revelation however, it is something we vehemently ignore and are too lazy to work towards for – namely making this world a better place to live in; correction! Making the world a better place to live in, for ALL.
Recent happenings all around the world, stories of massacres and hardships, stories of orphaned toddlers and denied rights force us to think “Are we really looking forward to a better future with such an unconscious citizenry?” Absolutely not!
Not everyone has a ginormous bank balance or a popular support, but my friend unfortunately that is a ridiculous excuse to turning heads away from a catastrophe!
You have the power of information, the power of virtual intelligence and power of creating a difference and using that to demolish that ignorance. You have the power of creating that difference along with 1.8 billion others! Yes, that is the number of people you can connect with using Facebook! You have the command to make 630 million people more aware just by using your photographs (Instagram). How to go about it is exactly what I will try to explain using an example or multiple in the coming articles. Photography is not just a form of art or a profession it is a pathway to deliver a strong message to the world on how we as a community can take baby steps to bring huge changes to people’s lives!
We as photographers and as human beings often see a variety of issues around the globe for which we want to stand up for and what better way to do that than using our talent and proficiency. An amazing route to do it is through the medium of photo stories or photo essays and poetry which combine photos and text to portray situations and the messages in a visual and artistic manner. So go ahead pick up your camera and spread some good vibes along with an intense and deep tenor.
Before you get into the diegesis here is a brief on how you execute your photo-story from inception till the final product!
THEME
To start with a photo story namely a few (say eight to as many as want) photos and revolving a story around it, select a theme. Not to be very subtle about it, there are many grave problems in the world that need to be highlighted. Discrimination of people on the basis of caste, creed and color, sexist comments, bomb attacks, scarcity of basic resources, denying of fundamental rights, homosexuality, lack of sensitivity, crimes against women, climate change & poverty to name a few.
The depiction need not always be pessimistic. It should not be monotonous and general. The heartfelt message should be significant enough to force people to think about it.
For this article I am taking an example of poverty and the dichotomy of the idea of poverty. In other words how such a grave issue of concern- poverty can also have a positive side to it!
PHOTOGRAPHS
This is the core of your photo story and here is your most vital role. The photographs need to convey your idea to the readers such a manner that even a layman can get the crux of the depth of the topic with just the visuals. They should signify the correct emotions to make the reader pause and ponder over the topic.
The photographs can be similar like a chain series so that all the photos are linked to one another. The other option is to spin your story with random yet linked pictures which join together to deliver the conceptualization. Some brilliant photo stories that have been created recently on LGBT rights and the life of women after marriage have gone viral with simple photographs yet beautiful tones that hit the right nerves.
Two of them are linked down below
- http://www.pride.com/
identities/2015/09/08/ powerful-photo-story- following-young-lesbian- couple-love-will-break-your- heart - http://m.indiatimes.com/
culture/who-we-are/this- stunning-photo-story-reveals- the-ugly-truth-of-life-as-an- indian-woman-in-a-patriarchal- society-251259.html
What I have created here is a combination of monochrome and colored photos which in a sublime way depict the innocence behind the dark world of poverty. What better way to do it than capturing children. The photographs have been submitted to World Photography Club by some extremely talented photographers for a competition under the vertical –‘KIDS PHOTOGRAPHY’
CREATING A STORY
This adds the extra magic to the series of photographs you have conceived. Spin a yarn, throw in your writer self some glitter and start writing. It need not be a Shakespearean novel but some of the most creative photographers of the world are highly colorful storytellers as well. Sew your pictures together using your words and let your photographs gain depth as you add a hidden meaning to each.
A photograph is demonically open ended but only when you add the implicit theory behind them the spectators get the original perspective and that is exactly how you can use your power to put the abstraction on the reader's plate!
THEME/SUBJECT: THE YING YANG OF POVERTY
Melancholy is not the melodious song you hear when you are afraid, it is fear itself that tunes you along with it. Millions go without bread everyday and millions still strive to survive. what is left of these little souls except a smile to stay alive!
BY ATANU PAL
A Little Gap it might seem to block the plight but a little gap it is to break through light!
BY SATYAM
Do not fall prey to the lonely dark world, seep through it, break it and make it as if around you it swirled...
BY ILA MAURYA
BY ammu
BY SUJAN
What defines peace is not your fame and substance, it is not holy therefore to speak of it unless it is peace you find in your mother's smile...
BY SUBIR DUTTA
Hello, sadness my old friend hold me strong so that I can mourn my existence yet live on to meet your divergent tomorrow!
BY SHAMS
ENOUGH OF HOLLOWNESS, ENOUGH OF PROWLS, LETS ALL GET TOGETHER TO SHOW THEM HOW WE REAP OUR SWEAT AND GRIND OUR BODIES TO LIVE A SIMPLER LIFE LESS OF FOULS... OBSERVE, LEARN AND PREACH HERE ON!
BY narayan
BY narayan
WE ARE GLEE AND WE ARE GAY, WATCH US AS WE SEIZE THE DAY! SMILE ONCE FOR IT IS LIFE WE CELEBRATE, MORE OF LOVE AND LESS OF HATE!
BY CHINMOY
by CK
by AMIT
BY narayan
YOU SHALL RISE, KEEP HEART AND KEEP HOPE! COLLECT YOUR DREAMS AND LET THEM LOPE!
by vidhu
So, that was my version of the duality of poverty via some excellent images. I hope it inspired you enough to pick up your gear and take a step with me to make our passion change the world in whatever little amount we can.
HAPPY CLICKING!
Written by SHRADDHA GHOSH for WorldPhotographersClub.com
