How much attention to y'all pay to the title you give your photograph?
I spend very little time...usually just the first thing that happens to pop into my head, for the purposes of identification. But I'm wondering if I should be more conscious, in order not to emphasize something that I'm not intending to emphasize.
I just thought of this as I was voting on the picture...a good picture that I liked, but the scene in the picture didn't match the title and then didn't seem to be conveying what I assumed the photographer wanted to convey.
i usually don't spend much time on titles, either, mainly because i'm not very imaginative! this time though, my title is a little bit of a departure from my usual ones, but hardly anyone has commented on it.
i often don't look at the title for a photograph, but when i do notice it then, yes, i do contemplate how it fits in with the photo, but it usually doesn't change my vote.
mostly, i think (and i expect to get slammed for this by some, but it is my opinion anyway) that the photo should be able to stand alone, w/out a title. that doesn't mean it shouldn't have a good title, but i don't think just a good title can save a photo.
on a totally different note: go germany go! :)
Originally posted by Kimbly: How much attention to y'all pay to the title you give your photograph?
I spend very little time...usually just the first thing that happens to pop into my head, for the purposes of identification. But I'm wondering if I should be more conscious, in order not to emphasize something that I'm not intending to emphasize.
I just thought of this as I was voting on the picture...a good picture that I liked, but the scene in the picture didn't match the title and then didn't seem to be conveying what I assumed the photographer wanted to convey.
I think the title is a very useful tool. It allows you to try and get into the mind of the viewer and point them in the right direction. Unfortunately, we cannot determine how people view the image or the title or wether they connect the two toghether. A good title can create a good first impression and can be as colourful as the image itself. Have you had a new camera Kimbly?
I wonder how many voters were a bit alienated by the intellectual-sounding-ness of "Pyxis Anablahblahb" and were unconsciously influenced to vote on it differently than if it had been titled "Suitcase" or something. Though I personally really like it for it's sheer obscurity, I think it would definitely change how you looked at that particular photo.
Originally posted by Dogman: Have you had a new camera Kimbly?
yes. 'had' being the operative word. i got a new camera that i'd waiting 2 months for from the time i ordered it, and it turned out to be defective in the first week of using it. so now i'm waiting for another.
Originally posted by Kimbly: How much attention to y'all pay to the title you give your photograph?
I spend very little time...usually just the first thing that happens to pop into my head, for the purposes of identification. But I'm wondering if I should be more conscious, in order not to emphasize something that I'm not intending to emphasize.
I often use "the first thing that happens to pop into my head," but titles are pretty important -- and fun -- to me. I agree that the photo needs to "stand on its own," but the title can be used to offer an alternative interpretation to the most obvious one. I think it would severely limit the range of responses/variety of photos if titles were not displayed on the vote page. (I think the photographer's comments should be there too.)
I also find that if I'm having trouble thinking of a title, it's a signal that the photo may have a less-than compelling subject and needs to be re-thought.
Interestingly, my likely submission for "City Life" will probably have my most mundane/purely descriptive title ever!
Originally posted by Kimbly: How much attention to y'all pay to the title you give your photograph?
I spend very little time...usually just the first thing that happens to pop into my head, for the purposes of identification. But I'm wondering if I should be more conscious, in order not to emphasize something that I'm not intending to emphasize.
I just thought of this as I was voting on the picture...a good picture that I liked, but the scene in the picture didn't match the title and then didn't seem to be conveying what I assumed the photographer wanted to convey.
It's a catch 22... I like to try to give my photo a meaningful title... about the only time anyone has evern paid any attention to my title, or commented on it, is when I have been accused of using the title to 'save' my photo... lol
