Back to School: Give Meaning to your Photography by Studying Theory

One of the most surprising things about my formal photography and film education was the impact of a theory and analysis class. It seems that many institutions emphasize that they have the latest and greatest gear, or that they let students use high-end equipment and studios almost right away. Don’t get me wrong—the practical aspect is very important in our industry, but if you want to develop meaning and create more powerful and effective work, theory should be a critical component of your studies. It will also provide you with the knowledge and experience to better analyze and enjoy the work of others.

The reason theory is so important is that it helps answer the crucial “Why?” questions. Why did someone take a photograph of this? Why did they focus on this subject? Why did they use this style of lighting? The list can go on and on. Sometimes, as with advertising images, the answer is simple. This photo is designed to sell a product, it emphasizes the beauty of the object, and the lighting is designed to be the most flattering. Other times, such as in documentary work, it takes a little bit of detective work to find out the reasoning behind the structural elements in the photograph.

I focused heavily on photojournalism and documentary film work in my studies, which is what led me to first find an interest in theory and analysis. In one of my first documentary theory classes we looked at L'arrivée d'un train en gare de La Ciotat, a famous short created by the Lumière brothers. I like this example because it was a classic and short piece that is easy to find, and hides an amazing amount of information in its simplicity.

The film was created in 1895 (though screened in 1896) and is able to give us a peek at a slice of everyday life from the period. Starting with the train itself, we can learn that trains were a hugely important part of life at the time, thanks to its weight in the frame, compared to the relatively unimportant people off to the sides. Since the film is shot from a single vantage point with a moving subject, viewers are also introduced to three distinct shot types in the sub-minute-long movie, ranging from a long, distant shot to a more analytical close-up once the train has fully consumed the scene. Additionally, since moving images were new to the world at the time, this film is also the center of an urban legend in which audiences would leap from their seats during screenings due to the unfamiliar experience of having such a large moving object seemingly heading right for them. This is just a general taste of what you can learn by just watching a film. And this one is only 50 seconds long.

Once you start looking at films from a more critical perspective, there is a ton of hidden information that you can uncover, which can make you appreciate the work even more. This extends to fiction even more in some cases, because filmmakers are able to have complete control over the scene and characters. For example, studying color theory can give you more insight into the emotions of certain characters or the emotions that you are meant to feel as you watch; by selecting a certain color when creating an image, you are able to affect the mood in which the scene will be viewed, despite what the subject matter may be.

After reading, watching, looking, and absorbing all of this information, when you start creating your own work it will help you make better or more effective decisions when it comes to framing, costumes, editing, and more. All of these choices can help further develop your story or concept to create stronger photographs and films.

What sort of effect has studying theory had on your work? Feel free to tell us in the Comments section, below.