And I mean really hard. I have to write a 30-second description of my photograph (why I photographed it, what it looks like) for the visually-impaired.
I really am having a great deal of trouble trying to describe what it looks like (the why is easy).
p.s. Info for the Opening Reception on my MySpace page.
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A lonely, lazy mountain stream becomes a small waterfall as it trickles over sheer, wet rocks into a shallow pool, where a single worn chair sits leaning in this haunting black and white photograph that suggests both quiet peace and unexplained loss.
Or something...
OMG, you're my hero.
My writing is going to sound so shitty next to that.
You should hire that fellow...
Not to sound retarded here, but surely photography isn't particularly something for the visually-impaired? No matter how good words are, the best they can do is to inspire someone's imagination to produce an image. Photography involves more of... having an image there already (although it can still be open to interpretation, of course)?
I hope that doesn't somehow cause offense to anyone! But your sentence just got me pondering, that's all =P.
Not to sound retarded here, but surely photography isn't particularly something for the visually-impaired?
I can see your point. I'm not sure if the audio-description is for the totally blind or perhaps someone who has trouble seeing and where a description could help.
That said though, I think it's great that they're doing it. The one thing I like about that photograph though is that I leave it up to interpretation. Some people look at it and see an abandoned chair, some people think the subject just left the scene and they fill in the gaps from there. It's actually great to hear the stories people form in their heads about the photograph.
I think that's why I was having trouble describing it because I didn't want to fill in the gaps necessarily. Does that make sense? But Dave, really you're my hero because I at least have a jumping off place now.
If I had my own show I'd be addressing it in a little different way - but more on that later as I'm swamped before my vacation next week! :)
The one thing I like about that photograph though is that I leave it up to interpretation. Some people look at it and see an abandoned chair, some people think the subject just left the scene and they fill in the gaps from there.
That's pretty much what I was getting at. It's hard to describe something without giving a slight interpretation to it (or I'd find it hard to, at least). And if that happens, then it takes away some of the effect of the photograph, in my opinion.
But I suppose if someone just has, for example, difficulty making out that the chair is a chair or the waterfall is a waterfall, then I can see how a description would be very useful to aid them. It's just a great shame they wouldn't get to "see" the picture without a description!
Just don't give away too much ;).
Just doing my job, ma'am.