Living in a digital age, people used photography as a form of artistic expression. Whether they snapped a photo of a sunset or an aesthetically pleasing meal, the goal of a photo was to capture a moment in time.
However, looking beyond the lens revealed that photography also served as a medium for storytelling. While people often associated storytelling with the written word, photos and their composition conveyed compelling narratives visually instead of verbally.
Audrey Calhoun, junior Christian studies and journalism and new media double major, grew up in a home where photography was always present. Drawing her admiration for photography from her father, Calhoun explained how she united photography and storytelling as she pursued her studies.
“Studying photojournalism meant studying [photography] as storytelling because that’s always our main goal and our main objective. Once I started doing assignments like that, everything just kind of became storytelling,” Calhoun said.
Although photography was a constant in her life, studying photojournalism gave her a new perspective on art.
“I don’t think I was ever able to take another picture that didn’t have a story behind it, or my brain wasn’t processing what was going on and the deeper question of ‘Why am I taking this photo? What’s the purpose?’” Calhoun said. “So, I think photography and storytelling are inseparable, in a way.”
Keeping those curiosities in mind while taking photos often drove the narrative that photographers tried to convey through their work. Christine Smith, lecturer of photography, explained the elements that contributed to a photo’s message to its audience.
“An element that creates a strong narrative in my photography is beginning with a compelling question about life. In my work, these questions often start from within my own lived experiences,” Smith said. “I believe that starting with what we know personally helps us make work that connects with more people.”
Like many great stories derived from lived experiences, some of the best photos carried the photographer’s personal touch. Valeria Ramirez, CBU alumna and current professional photographer, used her work to tell her own story and other people’s stories.
“[In storytelling] I planned ahead, focused on the details, looked at the composition, tried different perspectives, and aimed to capture the impact and movement of the moment,” Ramirez said.
Her senior project, titled “Mí Vida” and featured on her website, captured the essence of her culture through a moving photo story depicting her family and valuable details.
“For my senior project, ‘Mí Vida,’ there was concept formulation, previsualization, observation, and, of course, image capture and postprocessing,” Ramirez said. “It was a three-year procedure. But it does not end there.”
While stories typically had some ending, the story was never truly over. The subjects continued to develop through time in both true stories and fiction. Whether that development was in the hands of the creator or the audience, photography was no exception, and photos held significant scenes in much more prominent stories.
With this, Ramirez offered advice to everyone with the potential to tell stories through photography, regardless of experience.
“Don’t stop taking photos. Experiment as often as possible. Don’t compare your work to other people’s work,” Ramirez said. “Everyone is in a different stage and path. Be you.”
With the ability to capture significant yet short-lived moments in time, photography proved to be a powerful storytelling tool. Anyone with a camera could look through the lens and tell a story with a simple push of a button.
