civilized ku # 519 ~ "... to photograph a rock, have it look like a rock, but be more than a rock." ~ Edward Weston

Restaurant deck ~ in the Adirondack PARK - Lake Placid, NY • click to embiggen

Nobody, I think, ought to read poetry, or look at pictures or statues, who cannot find a great deal more in them than the poet or artist has actually expressed. Their highest merit is suggestiveness. ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

Comments

[Sven W]

That sentiment is expressed by a number of photographers:

"Photographs that transcend but do not deny their literal situation appeal to me."

-- Sam Abell

"Photograph something not for what it is, but for what else is it"

-- Minor White

Mark, I'd be interested to hear what "else" is in your photo?

[Jimmi Nuffin]

I think that Mark can only tell you what it is.
Only "YOU" can decide what else it is.

[Sven W]

@Jimmi: IMHO...

1. For Mark's image, I can only see it's literal interpretation i.e the restaurant deck. If there's more to the image then it eludes me!

2. If there is a non-literal interpretation to an image (the "else") then I would expect the photographer would have it in mind.

3. The viewer of the image would see the literal interpretation and possibly one or more other interpretations - but not necessarily what the photographer had in mind.

4. There's no right or wrong interpretation of an image; everyone views an image from their own perspective.

[Jimmi Nuffin]

@ Sven:
OK, Now I understand what you meant.