Point of view is an important narrative device to orient the viewer toward the subject, or activity, depicted in the photograph. It places the viewer in the "scene" with varying degrees of distance, participation or complicity implied.
The term "point-of-view" comes directly from literary theory, when it is used to describe the relationship between the narrator and the story line. For instance, when the narrator uses the words "I" and "we," they are usually recounting a story in which they were a participant. "I was reading my phone." This is called first-person.
When they use "he", "she" or "it," they are using a third-person orientation, describing the story from a once-removed perspective. "She was reading her phone." Usually with third person, the information revealed in the story is still limited to what would reasonably be known by someone passing by.
In some cases, much more information is revealed. For example: "While the woman in a pink coat was reading her phone outside the Ferguson Center, a barista in Starbucks knocked over a pitcher of frothed milk. This might be called an omniscient point-of-view, where information is revealed from an privileged all-knowing (or "God's eye") perspective.
Point of view can be explored though many means:
- Distance to subject
- Angle to subject
- Focal length (wide versus zoom)
- Selective focus
- Depth-of-field
- Composition
- Eye contact
- Empathic perspectives (for example, place camera next to subject's head, pointing out, so we witness what the subject sees)
The important question to ask...through who's eyes are we seeing? The subject's? Another participant? A stranger walking by? An all-seeing, all-knowing narrator?
What are the points of view depicted in the examples below? How might this affect the "story" or implied narrative of the photographs?
Due: 2/21
Stage three different scenarios, with a single subject.
- 10-15 images per scenario
- Explore a wide range of view points within these images. Be deliberate... for each image, what point-of-view is being used? Try first, third and omniscient perspectives... see what you discover.
- Bring files to class.
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