During the initial week of study, I was tasked to reflect on the Mirrors and Windows analogy commonly considered within photographic practice.
The window is said to represent a primarily factual image capture – the photographer is choosing what to include and - often more importantly - what to exclude from the viewfinder, presenting a select scene often detached from the presence of emotion.
I almost immediately aligned myself with this analogy of a window photographer. My current motivation as a commercial photographer has been to capture a place, a product, or a life event with a strong focus on following the ‘rules’ of the trade with accurate lighting and 'correct' compositions.
The window analogy can be used to describe both actual and metaphorical windows and is often open to further consideration. There is, of course, the current selfie culture where the subject themselves becomes the image maker by use of a mirror. This technique grants the subject a greater element of control over every element of the scene, they are no longer relying on someone else to present them as they wish to be perceived.
“To photograph people is to violate them, by seeing them as they never see themselves, by having knowledge of them they can never have; it turns people into objects that can be symbolically possessed.” (SONTAG, 1977)
On a figurative level, the mirror analogy can also be used to describe how a photograph can be used to convey emotion by drawing on the personal experiences of the image maker, telling a story and evoking a feeling from the observer.
This simple analogy enabled me to reflect on my current practice. Whilst I initially labelled myself as a ‘window photographer’ it could be argued that I use photography to spark an emotion by evoking desire and demand for a product.
During my MA I hope to become a more accomplished storyteller, using the camera to engage the viewer and present more for them to consider. I am excited to open myself up to outside influences and learn to appreciate the medium of photography on a deeper level.
References
SONTAG, S. (1977). On Photography. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
Comments