Context and Narrative in Photography: (Basics Creative Photography)

However beautiful or technically dazzling your photographs might be, if they don't tell a story, convey an idea or make your viewer stop and think, they are unlikely to make a lasting impression.Context and Narrative in Photography introduces practical methods to help you plan, develop and present meaningful, communicative images. With dozens of examples from some of the world's most thought-provoking photographers, this is a beautiful introduction to a fascinating aspect of photography.Beginning with an exploration of different narrative techniques, you'll be guided through selecting and developing a compelling concept for your project and how it might be conveyed either through a single image or a series of photographs. You'll also learn ways to incorporate signs, symbols and text into your work and how to present the finished piece to best reach your audience.New to this edition are extended projects, additional exercises and discussion questions, expanded case studies, around 25% of the images and an expanded Chapter 6 on integrating text into photographic projects.

Table of Contents:
Introduction1. The PhotographThe Function of the PhotographThe Photographic BriefContext and the PhotographCase StudyExercises and Summary2. SubjectChoosing Your SubjectConceptEquipment and MaterialsExternal FactorsCase StudyExercises and Summary3. AudienceAudience and IntentionStatement of IntentThe Response of the AudienceIntention, Interpretation and ContextCase StudyExercises and Summary4. Narrative What is Narrative?A Series or Set of PhotographsThe Single ImageCase StudyExercises and Summary5. Signs and Symbols Basic Theory Negotiating Signs and Symbols Enigmas and Truths Practical Techniques Case StudyExercises and summary6. TextUsing TextIntegrated TextText Within the ImageAccompanying InformationCase StudyExercises and summaryConclusionFurther ReadingOnline ResourcesIndex

About the Author :
Maria Short is a Senior Lecturer in Photography at the University of Brighton, UK.Dr Sri-Kartini Leet is Subject Leader for Photography at the University of Northampton.Elisavet Kalpaxi is a Lecturer in Photographic Practice at the University of Northampton.

Review :
Context and Narrative is a really accessible and practical way to tackle some of the more conceptual and non-tangible parts of creating photographs. I really wish I had read it while in college, but no harm, it will benefit me now anyway! If you are interested in learning about how to use photography to tell a story, you can’t go wrong with this book! The deceptively concise style that this book shares with other titles in the Basics series is an excellent example of how to write analytically, which we positively know is one of the greatest challenges for students... It is refreshing to read a book which is concerned with key tenets of photography such as context and narrative, which, regardless of the technology that we use, are crucial for photographs to act as more than just records or evidence. The terms "narrative" and "context" were until recently relegated to the periphery in understanding photographic images. Maria Short’s clearly written and structured book provides a unique convergence point for the study of a wide range of photographers and the events they confront. She combines the insights of the teacher and poet with an astute professional understanding of her craft. A series of well chosen case studies further illuminate photography for readers from all backgrounds.