Out of Frame

Leaving more for the imagination

Portrait photography has always been something I have deeply admired. I could gaze for hours in a gallery or with a coffee over a stack of photobooks. There is something very revealing, naked even, about a human eyes. Every line of a human face can be traced, every shadow sat honestly and still. 

As a very visual learner the face shares not one, but many, many stories about a life being lived. 

A novel on the other hand, gives you words on a page, words which your mind creates a visual scene from and character voices. We are left to our own devices to create and see paint the scene with our own interpretation. 

I like reading, I like being creative and I like pondering. Not being able to see the answers instantaneously encourages curiosity and creativity. Constraint is the birthplace of creatively, right?

In today’s world it feels like always instant is the only means to an end. Frantic acceleration of, quite literally, everything to the point it seems we are not listening, not looking, not sitting with a coffee on a park bench just listening to birds.

This got me thinking, what if there was a photo project that gave less, but could give the viewer more?

What if colour, subject’s eyes or faces or even notable landmarks signifying location were absent or distorted beyond recognition?

Like, what the fruit’n heck is she eating?

What if we sought to compose a scene that gave enough - like a well fitted but not too tight pair of trousers - to leave enough for the imagination. Would the viewer have more license for creating their own narrative?

An Always-Instant Society

The battering ram of content is hitting like a pneumatic drill - surely to pulverise our brains into generic mush. Is it not? If AI doesn’t undermine the legitimacy of human-made art, is the risk posed that we are bludgeoned into almost infinite vanilla-ness recycling itself on the tides made by are stroking thumbs, our brains nothing more than hollowed out cavity walls - filled with air.

Maybe a little dramatic.

Maybe, but when was the last time you sat with a photo book and slowly turned the pages over a G&T (other beverages exist)? Did you finger the edge of the page holding back the turn to just wonder what was going through the photographers mind as they composed the scene?

Time to Consider

Earlier in the calendar year I noticed the movement to switch back to analog; natural I suppose given the human love for nostalgia; rubbing up against an explosion of AI in everyday life.

With film photography undergoing a renaissance it is undoubtedly awesome to see the impact this analog movement had on the industry; more demand is good for everyone.

But then I thought about it.

All that analog creativity is just being added to digital platforms. If it ain’t on Strava it didn’t happen, right? Now, I hear you - you gotta show the produce to the world, otherwise they won’t believe you’re part of the analog movement. It creates community and ultimately art is there to be enjoyed. All these are things I figuratively and literally subscribe to.

But I feel like I’ve reached the point where it doesn’t make me dwell on in wonder.

Time to Think

Thinking about it for more than 1.5 seconds, which is the average time a person looks at a photograph on Instagram before never looking at it again, we mostly like the idea of ‘going analog’ but most of us fail to detach to actually do it.

Raw-dogging - the practice of no exterior stimulants typically during traveling on public transport, but it has to be added to social media to be worth doing.

Analog aesthetic - writing in a notebook, reading in a cosy corner on a wet Sunday morning, or scrapbooking. All great until you need validation of all the above from social media.

Selfies on Film - the medium of photography is important here, but the digital ‘likes’ and ‘shares’ justify the execution.

We feel the need to still create content. Content that is consumed for an average (so guess what, sometimes it’s less) of 1.5 seconds. Just think ab—nope, moving on…

Time to Change

The success of my new project will not be judged by volume of likes - I mean c’mon, low bar anyway - but by the length of time a person takes a gander.

There are my stories behind each of the photos shown, but these are my stories; narratives created in real time whilst taking the shot; something any viewer will never be able to experience.

It is not about replication though, it’s about thinking and creating. As a viewer what is your story? What’s the big deal about the bike?

Subjects Tell Stories

Part of my appeal, and I guess by equal measure, my challenge, is having stories told by subjects without the benefit of their eyes, or in some cases even their faces.

Body language, hand gestures and even attire can sketch the outline of a story arc - much like the first couple of pages in a novel. You’re suspended over fragments of a comprehensive narrative left to assemble like an IKEA flatpack kit.

As photographer, I want to offer you the outline of the story and leave you to fill in the gaps.

Creating Success

Victory will not mean I will become King of the Pirates, although that would be nice. Success will be determined by those who stumble across photos from this project, and hang about for at least 1.6 seconds.

Doing that might just leave enough time for someone to create their own narrative. By doing so, just maybe they’ll zone out from the chaos of the wider world and create something of their own.

Thank you for stopping by to read, I appreciate it. If you have any ideas for new projects, please do reach out - I love a new challenge.