Happy Saturday everyone - Storytelling is an art. In a great story, there is a balance between the details we use to paint the scene and make the story believable and the overall narrative that keeps the manageable. Too long of a narrative or too many details and the central theme of your story can easily become lost. Storytelling in photography is really no different in this respect. When I have an idea of a story in my head that I want to tell in an image, really the first question I grapple with after the overall concept is sorted out is how much detail do I really need to tell the story. Its a personal preference for me that less is more when it comes to the details within the image. The more details you are offering, the more likely the viewer will focus on a given detail and away from the central focus of your subject or theme. On a particular photowalk in Red Hook, I had this story running through my head. It was a story of life in NYC, but one that is different than the hectic one that seems to dominate everyone's imagination. Life in the city for me, and for many of my friends at the time, was hectic at times, but also filled with quiet, reflective moments. As I was walking and exploring, I came to waterside and saw this individual sitting on a bench and quietly watching the sunset. Far from hustle and bustle, this was far closer to my experience of the city. Being able to watch and observe. To tell this story, I chose to use a silhouette because the specific details of his shirt and shoes were far less important than the idea of him sitting on the bench with NY icons near him (bike and Liberty). I think this photo has just enough details to tell the story and locks in the focus on this idea of a different view of NYC life. It's a more simple telling of this story. Enjoy your Saturday -
Red Hook Brooklyn - A New York Story