Nour El Refai
(K=12481) - Comment Date 2/17/2005
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For me, i think giving a title to an image has two approaches
first one, giving a name or description: http://www.usefilm.com/image/695180.html
second one, expressing a feeling by the title:
http://www.usefilm.com/image/663432.html
that's only my opinion, one of the two approaches i use, which is more clear to me
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Mihaela Duta
(K=196) - Comment Date 2/17/2005
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Judi Liosatos
(K=34047) - Comment Date 2/19/2005
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Mihaela. I like to think they my images are more from the heart, therefore they have some form of emotion attached to them. A suitable name must be chosen to complete the package. Not everybody is the same therefore names are really an individual choice.
Judi
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Robert Stokes
(K=4509) - Comment Date 2/20/2005
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This may seem a bit strange, but often times while out and about with the camera I see something that grabs my attention and am image title just pops right into my head. From there I usually try to capture the essence of that particular title, if possible. Sometimes it works out, sometimes not, but it makes for an interesting approach either way.
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Mark Beltran
(K=32612) - Comment Date 4/18/2005
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I try and write down data for each photo I make, and a rough title. But when I choose to show a photograph, that same rough title may or may not be used. Sometimes a new and better title comes to mind, and I use that. It's all in the approach and what one is going to do. When I'm photographing, I don't even think about a title; just in the creative process and the documenting of exposure date, etc. When the photo is ready to be shown, the title comes out.
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Dai Hunter
(K=2028) - Comment Date 4/19/2005
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I did a series a while back of close-ups of things with numbers... clocks; road signs; license plates; calculators; the number pad on a computer keyboard...
Each and every image was shot on conventional film. The whole of the series, however, in the end, was called "Digital Photography"
That's how it happens. LOL
Hunter
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Pico diGoliardi
(K=540) - Comment Date 4/20/2005
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After you have made enough images you should find a trend in your choices. There may be many threads, or subjects of consideration. It is helpful to name them so that the threads unite.
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Kurt Pas
(K=2267) - Comment Date 4/25/2005
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For me it is a bit the same as the answer from Nour El Refai.
I try to make a short title that describe the picture, but also enhance the memories and the emotions that I experienced when making the shot.
Sometimes I use the About to explain what I mean with the title (See "typical Belgium politics" in my portfolio.)
Anyway. it isn't that easy all the time to give a nice title. So very often it is just a little description without a story or emotion behind it.
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Rick Mccawley
(K=2878) - Comment Date 5/20/2005
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No Name is best. I have started to use a series name and a # to title photos. Why?
1. A good photograph should be a complete expression so it speaks a 1000 words on it's own.
2. I you give it a name you define it and therefore limit it.
3. Photographs can have more and different meaning to different people. I have listened to comments people make about my pictures, and found out truths about my own images I was not aware of. Images are like children in this way, others find beauty in our children that we have overlooked.
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Aram Gharib
(K=4656) - Comment Date 5/21/2005
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For me the title can (should) be used to complete the picture. It can change a not-so-special photo into expression of an interesting idea.
That's what I try to do when I choose a title for my pictures (here in UseFilm).
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todd schoenbaum
(K=79) - Comment Date 5/31/2005
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I prefer basic descrpitions for my image titles. Most of the time when I see a photograph titled something like "etherial dreams" I just laugh. Trying to push too hard just comes off as pretentious. I feel that the viewer should decide what a photograph means to them, and trying to give an image some lofty meaning does little to change what they will feel about the image, although it usually does effect how they feel about the photographer.
Good photographs dont need a title to tell the viewer what to feel. However, just numbering a photograph makes it difficult for people to talk about an image (imagine refering to Ansel's image number #NM1941-135a or Moonrise Hernandez).
As far as your work is concerned I would look at what the greater photographers throughout time have chosen to name their images. My guess is that you will see trends within different types of photography and eras.
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Paul Paul
(K=5362) - Comment Date 6/12/2005
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Rick, Mihaela,
> I you give it a name you define it and
> therefore limit it.
There is a lot to be said for this.
Yes, a title can tend to have a limiting effect on your appreciation of a picture, particularly if it is (as also mentioned on this page by Todd) rather pretentious or horribly sentimental, or if it crudely instructs viewers to think a specific thought or feel a specific sentiment while looking at the picture.
I find that when I browse through the piccies here and find one I like (and I find loads), I rarely pay much attention to the title chosen... so I generally just ignore the title.
Some pictures invariably make you ask questions, so it is often important if some background information is provided for a photograph.
For example, this photograph from Jurg Wittwer:
http://www.usefilm.com/image/818338.html
Here, the historical data about the photograph would tend to make a title irrelevant and superfluous.
Having said that, I tend to like titles that point to something in the photograph that will not necessarily be noticed immediately, or that just add a novel thought association that takes the viewer away from the immediate subject and location of the photograph.
Here is an example:
http://www.usefilm.com/image/824338.html
"A National Debate On Toll Roads" - An unlikely title, and primarily for my own personal amusement. But this title could be taken to be making a statement about the photo as depicting children at play (on a road) as adults in an involved debate (about roads).
Fun?
For some, maybe.
Another really fabbo title I thought of:
http://www.usefilm.com/image/812996.html
"Ambient Replenishment"
(an inflationary title that has been used as a euphemistic phrase for the job of "shelf stacker" in a supermarket)
The photo is of a pile of snow-covered carrots (which you get in a supermarket). A sort of roundabout link to additional stimulus that takes you away from the subject and location.
Why not just call it "carrots in the snow"?
Er, yes...
Best wishes
Paul
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Ruta
(K=8771) - Comment Date 6/20/2005
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not always title is + for picture. Time ago I was used to give my pictures identic title of some song that I like or I hear, meanwhile I make a pic. As someone already said, the title give some limits to the photograph. That`s why now I give the titles, that say "nothing" about the work " IX Sonata" "Etiud V" etc.. (well, the idea arrive from some painters - one of them I like a lot M.K.Ciurlionis
Fot my last photos that were exposed in finish of May, as title I used termins of music (f.e. andante, berceuse, dettato melodico, retrogrado etc.)
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Glen Converse
(K=2000) - Comment Date 9/3/2005
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I've always thought it strange that we say a picture is worth a thousand words yet we still asign texts to our images.
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Diabo
(K=2080) - Comment Date 9/3/2005
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Sometimes a thousand words is not enough.
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chris autio
(K=92) - Comment Date 9/13/2005
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Whatever you title it, don't call it Untitled. Sheesh
I sometimes go through Poetry Anthologies, Homeric writing, or science journals. .. only for the reason my current work is of nudes with landscapes imbedded. I avoid obscurity or grandiose titles.
For landscapes, I sometimes use placename, but that is a little shortsighted.
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* James *
(K=20200) - Comment Date 10/1/2005
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take a look at my photos. the titles are rather bland..... maybe a reflection on my personality. james
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* James *
(K=20200) - Comment Date 10/1/2005
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oh i did forget to mention, i'm partial to using a bit of latin or other foreign languages that i'm familiar with, to title a photo. depends on the mood i'm in i suppose :>)
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Kambiz K
(K=37420) - Comment Date 2/20/2006
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I always look into my photos and some how meditate on each elements in that particular image, then I decide what I'd like to call it.
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