Requirement
As many images as desired
Purpose
- To consider how symbols convey meaning in photos
Learning
Overview
- Signs and symbols are part of daily life. Some are universally understood (e.g. red for danger). Others require learning to be understood (e.g. deaf sign language)
- Semiotics is the study of signs. It informs linguistics, the sciences and visual arts. Leading figures of relevance to photography are Ferdinand de Saussure (1857 - 1913) and Charles Sanders Peirce (1839 - 1914).
- Important to consider 3 dimensions: the sign itself, what it refers to and how those who see the sign will understand it (using signs to convey meaning must take account of the social, cultural and political values of the audience)
- Photographers may be more or less conscious in their selection of signs in their images depending on their style or circumstances of working
- Signs are of 3 types: (1) icon, (2) index, (3) symbol. The differences between these 3 signs arise from the nature of the connection between them.
- Icon: connects to what it represents by likeness, i.e. it shares some of the qualities (e.g. physical or behavioural) of the original, e.g. signage on toilet doors, a caricature, imitative gestures, a scale model, metaphors
- Index: connects to what it represents directly either physically or by cause, e.g. an arrow used to point towards a building exit, smoke to denote fire hazard, footprints for footsteps. The link is either observed or inferred.
- Symbol: connects to what it represents by interpretative habit, assumption or rule, independently of how or where it appears. The relationship must be learnt like, e.g. Morse Code, language, traffic lights. See separate post: Emma Blaney The Spectre of Impossible Desire.
- For further discussion see: Notes on 'Context and Narrative', Maria Short
Pointers to use of symbols in photography
- Avoid cliché (e.g. use of a shield to signify protection), unless using it in an unusual or interesting way
- Make the symbol recognisable, whilst avoiding the obscure
- Choose a symbol that is practical to shoot
Exercise
Part 1
- Write down 5 examples of symbols that advertising uses to convey meaning indirectly (e.g. a shield for protection to promote insurance products)
Part 2
- Find symbols to show a number of concepts: growth, excess, crime, silence, poverty
- Note briefly how these might used in a photograph
- Shoot, if inspired!
Symbols
Examples:
- Growth - sapling emerging from various contrasting backgrounds, e.g. drought, previous year's decaying leaf fall, snow
- Excess - table with food for a feast, large belly overhanging belt, gold coloured Rolls Royce in the drive, speed camera flashing at blurred car disappearing towards the horizon, a bank note used as a utensil (i.e. other than for buying goods) or simply many notes (say £50 each) floating down after being thrown in the air
- Crime - broken window, knuckle dusters, hoodies looking menacing as old lady walks by, barbed wire or broken glass on top of a wall, black finger prints on an item of value
- Silence - (seemingly) empty landscape, Trappist monks, still water of a lake, mountain top
- Poverty - person sleeping on streets, family in threadbare clothes, farmer in worn clothes standing over field of withered or destroyed crops, queue at a food bank, empty pockets or purse
Images and Review
Some images that symbolise....
Silence
 |
| Lake Cauma, Switzerland |
Poverty
 |
| Corner of Strand and Aldwych. London |
Crime
 |
| Greenwich warehouse gates |
