Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

There are 3 ways to convey your message visually Photographing reality: What is happening NOW. Photographing symbols: Show an idea, concept or a theme. Posing the scene: Photographing an arranged scene. August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

What is ‘reality’ in a photo? August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Reality Reality is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined. How can we show reality in a picture? August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

What do you see in these pictures? To take pictures of things as they actually exist. See next slides for examples. August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Girls on a scooter August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

A cat in front of a shop August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Birds on electric wires August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

The pictures speak for themselves What you see in this picture is happening (or has happened). August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Instead of reality, we can use symbolism in a photo. What is ‘symbolism’? Ask the group what they think symbolism is. On the next slide an answer is provided. Also read the facilitators note in the photovoice manual on symbolism. August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Symbolism A symbol is something that represents, stands for, or points to something else. This means, something we see on a photo might not be the actual meaning of the photo. How do we use symbolism in a picture? See next slide for example August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Example: This is a symbol for….? In the leaf you can see a heart. Mainly participants will respond with ‘love’. Connect this slide to the previous slide and explain the heart represents love, and therefore the heart is a symbol for love. Ask the group if they can come up with more symbols. Make clear symbols can have different meanings in different context (‘Rain’ can for example be happiness but also sadness), so captions with pictures might be needed to provide more explanation August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Let’s practise What do you see? What is the meaning of the next photos, according to you? August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Let the group come up with answers August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Let the group come up with answers August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Let the group come up with answers August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

The pictures do not speak for themselves It is possible that what you see in this picture, is not what is meant with this picture. Optional: do exercise 1 from the photovoice manual in the facilitator’s note to practice with association. August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Furthermore…. An object can symbolize multiple things, depending on the way you photograph and arrange the object. In the following pictures different hands are depicted. The way they are arranged (position, color, context) influences the way you can interpret the picture. August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

When making your choice Mix reality and symbolism. Because using only symbolism can get boring – or just too demanding – for the viewer. Give everyone 10 minutes time to think how they will capture the concepts in a picture. The exercise must be done individually to prevent participants from influencing each other. After everyone has written down their ideas, discuss your answers with your fellow participants. For every concept ask a few participants what they have come up with. When discussing possible answers, stay critical. Mainly ask; ‘Why did you choose that subject in the picture?’ ‘Do you think the viewer will understand?’ and ‘What does it mean?’ Also, make sure the idea is also realistic and possible to photograph (for example: it will be difficult to photograph a butterfly on a flower or rain and sun in the same picture) If the idea is not feasible, try to come up with suggestions for other possibilities. August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Now think for yourself how you would take a picture of A broken heart? A new opportunity in your life? Your relationship with your mother or father? Give everyone 10 minutes time to think how they will capture the concepts in a picture. The exercise must be done individually to prevent participants from influencing each other. After everyone has written down their ideas, discuss your answers with your fellow participants. For every concept ask a few participants what they have come up with. When discussing possible answers, stay critical. Mainly ask; ‘Why did you choose that subject in the picture?’ ‘Do you think the viewer will understand?’ and ‘What does it mean?’ Also, make sure the idea is also realistic and possible to photograph (for example: it will be difficult to photogrpah a butterfly on a flower or rain and sun in the same picture) If the idea is not feasible, try to come up with suggestions for other possibilities. August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Another option is to re-arrange reality to show what you want to tell We call this: an arranged scene August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

The photographer asked one boy to stand up and asked the other boys to look at him. This way it seems like the standing boy is teaching something to the rest of the group. August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

The photographer asked the boy in the middle to kneel down The photographer asked the boy in the middle to kneel down. He asked the boys around to jump up backwards at his mark. The photographer took this picture to show strength and power. Optional: do exercise 2 from the photovoice manual in the facilitator’s note to practice using reality and symbolism. August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

Think of this when arranging your scene Make it believable! If people don’t want their faces in the picture, shoot your picture from the behind or zoom in on body parts (e.g. hands, legs, feet). Arrange a scene when you cannot get consent for a shot in reality (e.g. at a clinic or doctor’s office). Give everyone 10 minutes time to think how they will capture the concepts in a picture. The exercise must be done individually to prevent participants from influencing each other. After everyone has written down their ideas, discuss your answers with your fellow participants. For every concept ask a few participants what they have come up with. When discussing possible answers, stay critical. Mainly ask; ‘Why did you choose that subject in the picture?’ ‘Do you think the viewer will understand?’ and ‘What does it mean?’ Also, make sure the idea is also realistic and possible to photograph (for example: it will be difficult to photogrpah a butterfly on a flower or rain and sun in the same picture) If the idea is not feasible, try to come up with suggestions for other possibilities. August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene

To sum up Both reality and symbolism can be used to show your message in a picture. Reality is the state of things as they actually exist. A symbol is something that represents, stands for, or points to something else. An object can symbolize multiple things, depending on the way you photograph and arrange the object. You can create your own reality by arranging a scene. August 2019 Reality, Symbolism and an Arranged Scene