the story

[fortunato_uno]

i've been trying to get more story in my pictures.
let me know how i did.
canon Xsi.
f/16
1/200
iso 200
f/length 18mm
modest darkening and slight tweek on saturation

[freezeframe03]

Well, it looks like a flagpole is being erected, but the significance of it is lost for me. Without another suggestion for the reason in the image, I'm left feeling where? why? for what reason?

[dcclark]

I would say that this is more "documentary" than "storytelling". Yes, there is a difference! Documentary is just showing something that happened. Storytelling would involve some sort of ongoing narrative, something with specific significance which the photo shows. I can imagine this being used in a newspaper article about the raising of a new flagpole, but that's about all.

[fortunato_uno]

i was hopping for some good comments like those. i feel i'm on the right path with comments like, it looks like a flagpole is being erected. and that, I can imagine this being used in a newspaper article. these tell me that even though i'm lacking the naritive of a story (who, what, when), the shots have some ability to say whats happening.
i'm trying to bring more to my shots, and with (honest) advice like this i think i'm headed in the right direction.
I'm adding another shot that may be better with what you guys said. i didn't submit it for critique because i didn't get the entire poll. but it (i think) says more (or at leats has more going on). maybe the two of them would have made a good newspaper article. (and told more story).
thanks again for your input.

[davewb]

I like both the shots. All images contain a readable narrative, and therefore a 'story' - one just needs to analyse it more closely. Documentary is also a 'story' from someone's point of view - it could be termed 'fiction' because the author chooses the bits to include/exclude etc. 'Reality' does not exist in image - it is always from someone's subjective perspective.

I would suggest a dSLR camera with a decent zoom. The consumer 18-250mm etc lens are great for these shots. You can stand well back and zoom in on certain details without annoying people. I know some people can be somewhat 'snobby' about those lens (not all of us can afford thousands for brand name 2.8f zooms). But always remember it's the photographer who takes the pic - not the camera or lens. Some of the most famous and well regarded photos in history were taken using the most basic equipment .

But yeah, well done - just try a long zoom lens and take lots of photos!

Dave

[fortunato_uno]

new glass is a must, i have one on the way (it's a 70-300mm that is manual focus (and it cost $50). i do believe that all the lens' and gadets don't make a good photo, but the life you bring to it does.
thanks for your suggestions, and critique. thay (as with the others) are the sort of comments the tell me to keep shooting. o and i have shot 12,000 in the last 3 months.