Express Why a Photograph Matters with Leah Bendavid-Val

It is important for a photographer to be able to express why a photograph matters; viewers can't always be expected to "get it." Knowing what you as the photographer sees, and conveying an understanding of your photographic aspirations, can make the viewer—both the professional viewer and the casual viewer—stop and take a second look. This can make all the difference.
Here is a snippet of a conversation I had with Sam Abell that gave me much to think about:

Me: Your “Woman on the Plaza” is a wonderful photograph, but you have a lot of wonderful photographs. What makes this one so special for you?

Sam: It's the background. The way the light strikes the bare walls. It looks like an Edward Hopper scene to me. Even without the woman I would care about this picture.

Me: That's surprising and interesting. In a way it can be said that the subject of this photograph is the background. Is that true? Why not write about it? People will be intrigued.

Sam: Good idea. I'll do it.

The resulting essay about “Woman on the Plaza” can be read in Sam Abell's book The Life of a Photograph.

Learn more from Leah in her workshop

Writing for Photographers
with Leah Bendavid-Val
October 1 - October 4, 2011



See details on the book Leah co-authored with Sam Abell, The Life of a Photograph