Photo Narrative: Stop Sign
In design class we were instructed to tell the story of our Flash Fiction through the use of two images that are placed directly next to each other; a diptych. These two photos relate the story of a girl who is trapped in her
own inability to break out of her shell.
Click for larger image
The classic introvert, she struggles with being who she is. Her ambivalence and habit of taking everything a little too seriously ultimately leaves her lost and confused. The left photo is of a car at a stop sign. The stop sign, although not prominent in the photo, metaphorically represents the small yet harmful piece of herself that can’t seem to relax, or in that case, figure out what it wants. The car is stopped, not sure which way to turn, and I made the photo black and white in the hope that the saturated colors would translate the feelings nicely. The second photo, shows the after effect, or in terms of a story, resolution. Because of the previous feelings the character harbored, she begins to lose her footing, and, eventually falls. This is represented by the glass on the table caught in a falling motion.
I edited this photo to be black and white as well, and although it took many attempts to catch the glass in motion, I eventually figured it out. Telling a story by means of a diptych has its own ups and downs. For instance, one must be careful to tenderly balance the line of being too literal, or too metaphorical. I liked narrating through photography becuase I had the option of presenting two main parts of the story; the conflict and resolution. However, I also learned that if the photo is not exactly correct, then the audience will have some difficulty discerning meaning.