JUST PhotographIN'

They say “a picture is worth a thousand words,” yet there is still a story behind each picture.

How did the photographer get the shot?  Was it an epic adventure to a remote location where other people rarely visit, or as simple as getting up in the morning and looking out the window?  Was is spur of the moment – grab the camera and hope the picture turns out, or more of a studio shot with better controlled factors – lighting, models, objects, etc.?

Photography is more than just capturing moments!  It is about how the moment will be viewed and remembered.  I may have a completely different response to a picture simply because I know exactly what created the moment.

That is why a picture is worth a thousand words, yet we each have different responses and interest levels in specific pictures.  A viewer is connected to the picture simply by sight.  A photographer spent a moment [or more] of their lives with anticipation that the shot would turn out.  In some cases this means – blood, sweat, tears, adrenaline, fear, joy, gladness, sight, sound, taste, smell, etc. – are also attached to the photo for the persons involved with the moment captured [not literally – but in memory].

I’m in the process of uploading pictures from 2010.  I never realized how important it is to come up with categories, titles and keywords.  However, I am finding it somewhat difficult to categorize, title and keyword some photos.

I am finding that photos fit into more than one category.  For example, a close up of an aspen leaf with fall color doesn’t really fall into landscape [for say], but it wouldn’t make sense to start breaking a gallery of photos into bits and pieces to make each photo fit into a category.  So, the photo of the aspen leaf ends up in a landscape gallery because the majority of the photos are landscapes.  Another example is a photo of an animal within a landscape scene.  I would have a hard time putting that photo into the category “Flora and Fauna” unless the animal is the main subject of the photo.  Therefore, a wildlife shot may end up in a landscape gallery – if you’re following my drift!

Sometimes I like to let the photo speak for itself, and this means leaving it without a title.  However, the importance of placing a caption along with the photo is an important part of making the photo more easily found.  Luckily, I can leave a photo without a caption and add keywords.  I found out the importance of titles and keywords the other day when I had my first photo view from a Google search.  My gallery had words within that search, and therefore was viewed!

So, even though it may be difficult and even somewhat confusing at times, the importance of adding categories, titles and keywords is an important step for getting photos out to the public.