A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - Light Writing
This blog is called Light Writing because that’s what photography is. The word literally means “writing with light.” It comes from the Greek. “Phos” means light, and “graphe” means writing or drawing.
The old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words is absolutely true. But I can’t help adding a few words in between my photos - memories I want to share or experiences I want to re-live.
QUESTIONS - This photo was taken just outside Jackson Square in New Orleans’ French Quarter. I have absolutely no idea who these people are or what they are talking about. But I sure want to know.
Photo by Carla Antico.
Sometimes an image asks more than it tells. There is nothing wrong with that. Questions can lead you all sorts of interesting places. A good photo does not need to tell all. Simply asking you to stop and ponder is a conversation.
Telling the Story
I’ve been a journalist for over 25 years. I’ve laid out many a newspaper page, and I know the key to catching a reader’s eye is a good photo. In the newspaper world - whether it be an online newspaper or a real newspaper - the words you put below a photo are called cutlines. A really good photo will need very few words in the cutline. If it takes you more than a sentence or two to explain it, pick a different photo.
THE WALL - A good photo can tell a story. This photo was taken at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Photo by Carla Antico
Great Lake Stories
I take a lot of photos. An awful lot. I see them as the story of my life. While some simply record events or places, many convey their own little chapters. I cherish them.
As I look back through the thousands of photos I have accumulated so far, I realize my life is full of water. I live in Michigan. I’m surrounded by the Great Lakes. So many of my memories are water-logged.
LA BELLE - Some of the Michigan lakes that have surrounded my family’s life include Lac La Belle in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Photo by Carla Antico
BROCKWAY - This photo of my son Andy and daughter Kelly was taken on top of Brockway Mountain just south of Copper Harbor, Michigan.
Photo by Carla Antico
Michigan ranks among the top five states for the most lakes, not even counting four of the five Great Lakes it touches. If you are going to live here, you really should like water. Lucky for us, we do.
We like to fish, kayak and swim. As I look back at some of the photos taken when my kids were young, I realize how often there is water somewhere in the background. Or foreground.
ROCK HOUND - Our family does not mess around when it comes to looking for rocks on Michigan beaches. This is my son Andy looking for agates in Lake Superior.
Photo by Carla Antico.
Relationships
A good photo can tell you a lot - about the people in the photo and their relationship to each other. No matter how many words you might give me to describe my children’s personalities and their relationships with each other, I don’t think I could ever explain things as well as some of my photos do.
SIBLINGS - Each of my two boys (Sam is above and Andy is below) has a unique relationship with their sister Kelly. Do I really need to say anything more? I think these pictures are worth more than a thousand words.
Photos by Carla Antico.
Street Photography - A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
My least favorite photo is a posed photo. It tells you virtually nothing. I think that is why I especially enjoy “street photography.” Capturing a person that is not aware of your presence leaves them as they are. You get to peak in on a fraction of a second in their life.
MOMENT OF REFLECTION - This young lady had a personal moment of discovery at The Bean in Millennium Park in downtown Chicago. I was happy to be there to capture it.
Photo by Carla Antico
Can you take their photo?
If, like me, you like street photography, you need to know what is and is not allowed in terms of capturing images of people you do not know and who are not aware you are photographing them.
I am not a lawyer and in-depth legal issues surrounding photographing people in public places is way beyond my knowledge base. However, because I worked as a journalist for so long, I do know a few basics.
For starters, it is perfectly legal to take photos of people you do not know as long as they are in a public place. They have chosen to be in a public place and have no reasonable expectation of privacy. It is the issue of “privacy” that is important here.
Yes, you can
Anyone in a public place, like “The Bean” in Chicago, is fair game for shutterbugs. But when it comes to kids, use common sense. Don’t make anyone feel uncomfortable.
Photos by Carla Antico
Anyone out in public, where anyone can see them, can be photographed. However, if they are in a particular spot in a public place where privacy is expected (like a bathroom or changing room), you better put your camera down.
What you do with photos of people you do not know and who were not aware you were photographing them is a different story. If you are going to “publish” them, you need to be clear about the purpose of the publication. If the image is being used commercially (for profit or advertising), you need a release. But if the photo is published for “informational” purposes, a release is not required.
As this blog is considered editorial, or “informational,” I can publish photos of strangers here.
“Editorial” photos
These photos were taken at the 2022 Wheatland Music Festival in Remus, Michigan. They are considered “editorial” images - as their purpose is to inform rather than sell anything. I wrote an article about the festival and was able to publish the photos without a release.
Photos by Carla Antico
Think Before You Post
Obviously, most of us have a camera with us everywhere we go. It’s in your cell phone. Many of us post our photos on social media. But we should be aware of how much our photos say about us and the people in our photos. Make sure the words being expressed in your photo are appropriate for the general public.
GO AHEAD - Anyone in public that gives you a face like this as you are taking their picture is gonna be just fine with you posting it. This photo was taken in New Orleans.
Photo by Carla Antico
Final note:
Every photo you post or publish should have one thing - a photo credit. If you are posting an image on your social media, it can be assumed you took the photo. But if you post photos taken by someone else, give them credit.
