Matthew Dols and the use of captions in pictures
April 24, 2008
I like the series by Matthew Dols, "Women w Text". Text added as a caption to the image can provide quite a different feel to the understanding and perception of the photograph, and in this series it works beautifully. The other work of Matthew is very interesting as well. He tends to push the image to the extreme of light, with high contrast, extensive use of dark and highlight areas. It works.
Look also at the Work in Progress, very interesting photo-collages. More pictures with text can be seen here.He prints the images in silver gelatin paper, nice. And if you are interested I found that some of the pictures are for sale [quite inexpensive] at Absolutearts.com.
I am writing this journal as though you might read it. I have this desire for you to read this because it's those things that I mean to say, and never do. It's who I feel I really am, but never show.- Matthew Dols
I personally like a lot when the artist blends an interesting caption with an interesting image, like Matthew does. I am not sure why this is not used more often. Mixing words with pictures actually elicits different reactions from the viewer than just looking at either one alone. There is biological basis for a synergy between both visual and language inputs as the neuronal pathways involved in receiving, processing and integrating the information are different but they can cross-over to generate a different emotional reaction when activated simultaneously. Perhaps one of the best examples of this is the image "This Photograph is my Proof" by Duane Michals. I can repeat enough how much I love that image and the caption.
Here it is a challenge for you to consider. Try to use captions in your existing photographic project, and see if you can engage a different response from the viewer. You have nothing to loose, and lots to gain.
Posted in Photographers, Photography
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April 24th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Make sure to also check out Jeffrey Wolin’s incredible Written in Memory and Jim Goldberg’s memorable Rich and Poor!
April 24th, 2008 at 8:13 am
My last project concentrates on the captions alone. I mean, if we’re going to be reading while viewing photos, why bother with anything but the caption? Click on my name to view my slideshow.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Hi Miguel
I wrote about the same topic today
http://landscapist.squarespace.com/journal/2008/4/24/man-nature-6-quiet-and-mysterious-beauty.html
May 8th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
At one time, and perhaps still today, is the school of thought of not adding any title to a photograph, thus the many “untitled” works. Which I belive is relate to the concept that if you title a work, then you bring in a bias and context to the image. I believe the thinking follows; if you do not title a work, then it allows the viewer to hopefully free associate with a wider context and bring in a broader meaning to the work than prehaps what the phtotographer intended.
So that you then have the two schools of thought, untitled work versus the titled work.
Thus for me, I feel that if I title a work, then I provide an additional personal context to the photograph, in as for me, my photographs are already very personal, thus adding a title does not detract from the image’s meaning, but may in fact add to it.