A visual dichotomy at work.
Di·chot·o·my
noun \dī-ˈkä-tə-mē
A difference between two opposite things: a division into two opposite groups. A division into two mutually exclusive groups or entities.The dichotomy between theory and practice.The process or practice of making such a division of the population into two opposed classes.
Ok, now that all of you know what a dichotomy is, I can get to the reason why it can be an important part of our thought process when looking for subject matter to photograph.
I’m always telling my online students with the BPSOP and in my “Stretching Your Frame of Mind” workshops I conduct around the planet, to look for that which is un-predictable. Something that conveys more than one idea. It’s all about keeping the viewer interested in what we have to say.
That could be in using Line to move the viewer around the frame, or entertaining him with interesting Patterns, Shapes, and Textures at a location you found; to name just a few. As in the photo above, it could be in an interesting dichotomy that shows an American Flag, a sign that says Tamales for sale, and with a Hispanic woman posing for me in the back of her trailer.
The photo tells a story, and it’s one that the viewer will write himself. He has all the ingredients: An Hispanic woman, an American Flag, a trailer, and a sign that says Tamales for sale.
So when you’re out looking for ideas to shoot, keep a dichotomy in mind. Look for interesting parts of a puzzle that mean something totally different when photographed by themselves, but when added together convey a completely new and different meaning; that often works well together.
Man and his dog.
Here’s another example of a dichotomy at work. This huge bearded tough-looking man with a very small pet.
Visit my website at: www.joebaraban.com, and check out my workshop schedule at the top of this blog.
JoeB
