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Does photography need a theme to be presented together as a series?
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I'm studying A Level photography, and I've taken a dozen of quality photos with a strong sense of composition, but all of them are unrelated to each other. My question is, does photography have to have a theme to be part of a series of photographs? I'm also considering the interesting idea that there are no guidelines to photography and no real rules only the ones that we decide to follow. Some people have self-imposed rules that provide them with creative guidance and/or personal style, but even those rules can be more like guidelines.
Online I've found exhibitions and competitions presenting "open" or "no theme" presentations, but from a range of photographers, not just one persons work.
The only sort of photography I can relate to this in this idea that I've found so far is this gallery by Gerry Dotto.
Online it's hard to find opinions on this so I'm asking a question.
presentation
edited 17 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
asked 14 hours ago
Harry Muir
311
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Harry Muir is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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up vote
6
down vote
favorite
I'm studying A Level photography, and I've taken a dozen of quality photos with a strong sense of composition, but all of them are unrelated to each other. My question is, does photography have to have a theme to be part of a series of photographs? I'm also considering the interesting idea that there are no guidelines to photography and no real rules only the ones that we decide to follow. Some people have self-imposed rules that provide them with creative guidance and/or personal style, but even those rules can be more like guidelines.
Online I've found exhibitions and competitions presenting "open" or "no theme" presentations, but from a range of photographers, not just one persons work.
The only sort of photography I can relate to this in this idea that I've found so far is this gallery by Gerry Dotto.
Online it's hard to find opinions on this so I'm asking a question.
presentation
edited 17 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
asked 14 hours ago
Harry Muir
311
New contributor
Harry Muir is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
I'm not familiar with the A Levels, but there may be more "strict" requirements than if you were just taking photographs for your own creative/artistic purposes. What does your instructor/teacher have to say?
– osullic
13 hours ago
8
Online it's hard to find opinions... lol.
– scottbb
13 hours ago
1
Sorry, just kidding. Welcome to Photo.SE. Interesting question!
– scottbb
13 hours ago
1
A theme in a body of work need not be the content. So, for example, from how you describe your series, could it be that composition is the theme?
– Alexandra
12 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
I'm studying A Level photography, and I've taken a dozen of quality photos with a strong sense of composition, but all of them are unrelated to each other. My question is, does photography have to have a theme to be part of a series of photographs? I'm also considering the interesting idea that there are no guidelines to photography and no real rules only the ones that we decide to follow. Some people have self-imposed rules that provide them with creative guidance and/or personal style, but even those rules can be more like guidelines.
Online I've found exhibitions and competitions presenting "open" or "no theme" presentations, but from a range of photographers, not just one persons work.
The only sort of photography I can relate to this in this idea that I've found so far is this gallery by Gerry Dotto.
Online it's hard to find opinions on this so I'm asking a question.
presentation
edited 17 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
asked 14 hours ago
Harry Muir
311
New contributor
Harry Muir is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'm studying A Level photography, and I've taken a dozen of quality photos with a strong sense of composition, but all of them are unrelated to each other. My question is, does photography have to have a theme to be part of a series of photographs? I'm also considering the interesting idea that there are no guidelines to photography and no real rules only the ones that we decide to follow. Some people have self-imposed rules that provide them with creative guidance and/or personal style, but even those rules can be more like guidelines.
Online I've found exhibitions and competitions presenting "open" or "no theme" presentations, but from a range of photographers, not just one persons work.
The only sort of photography I can relate to this in this idea that I've found so far is this gallery by Gerry Dotto.
Online it's hard to find opinions on this so I'm asking a question.
presentation
presentation
edited 17 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
asked 14 hours ago
Harry Muir
311
New contributor
Harry Muir is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 17 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
asked 14 hours ago
Harry Muir
311
New contributor
Harry Muir is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 17 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
edited 17 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
edited 17 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
117k37339631
asked 14 hours ago
Harry Muir
311
New contributor
Harry Muir is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 14 hours ago
Harry Muir
311
asked 14 hours ago
Harry Muir
311
311
New contributor
Harry Muir is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Harry Muir is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Harry Muir is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
I'm not familiar with the A Levels, but there may be more "strict" requirements than if you were just taking photographs for your own creative/artistic purposes. What does your instructor/teacher have to say?
– osullic
13 hours ago
8
Online it's hard to find opinions... lol.
– scottbb
13 hours ago
1
Sorry, just kidding. Welcome to Photo.SE. Interesting question!
– scottbb
13 hours ago
1
A theme in a body of work need not be the content. So, for example, from how you describe your series, could it be that composition is the theme?
– Alexandra
12 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1
I'm not familiar with the A Levels, but there may be more "strict" requirements than if you were just taking photographs for your own creative/artistic purposes. What does your instructor/teacher have to say?
– osullic
13 hours ago
8
Online it's hard to find opinions... lol.
– scottbb
13 hours ago
1
Sorry, just kidding. Welcome to Photo.SE. Interesting question!
– scottbb
13 hours ago
1
A theme in a body of work need not be the content. So, for example, from how you describe your series, could it be that composition is the theme?
– Alexandra
12 hours ago
1
1
I'm not familiar with the A Levels, but there may be more "strict" requirements than if you were just taking photographs for your own creative/artistic purposes. What does your instructor/teacher have to say?
– osullic
13 hours ago
I'm not familiar with the A Levels, but there may be more "strict" requirements than if you were just taking photographs for your own creative/artistic purposes. What does your instructor/teacher have to say?
– osullic
13 hours ago
8
8
Online it's hard to find opinions... lol.
– scottbb
13 hours ago
Online it's hard to find opinions... lol.
– scottbb
13 hours ago
1
1
Sorry, just kidding. Welcome to Photo.SE. Interesting question!
– scottbb
13 hours ago
Sorry, just kidding. Welcome to Photo.SE. Interesting question!
– scottbb
13 hours ago
1
1
A theme in a body of work need not be the content. So, for example, from how you describe your series, could it be that composition is the theme?
– Alexandra
12 hours ago
A theme in a body of work need not be the content. So, for example, from how you describe your series, could it be that composition is the theme?
– Alexandra
12 hours ago
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
Does Photography Need A Theme To Be Presented Together?
Definitely not. I've been to plenty of exhibitions where the only theme is that the photos were all taken by the same photographer. In other cases, photos shown together were taken by different photographers and of completely unrelated subjects, but all the photographers were in the same class, or the photos were all taken within some time span. When photos (or any pieces of art) are shown together it's usually because they're all related somehow, but that relationship doesn't have to be a common theme.
My question is does photography have to have a theme to be part of a series of photographs.
I think this is a different question from your title question, and when you use the word series with respect to art it does convey that there's a stronger relationship between the pieces than just authorship. If an exhibit promised a series of sculptures, wouldn't you expect the pieces to share a common theme? So I would say yes, if you're presenting the photos as a series they should share some sort of theme.
answered 13 hours ago
Caleb
28.3k551102
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
You don't need our opinions, you need the A-level Photography syllabus. Which examination, specifically, are you taking? Is there a requirement for 'a series of photographs'? Is that ALL it says? A 'series' could be loosely defined as 'I took this one, then I took this one...'
What does your teacher say? He will have experience of what this particular examination requires.
answered 6 hours ago
Laurence Payne
1,25136
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Photography doesn't need anything — the needs are of those who practice it (to be published and recognized) and those who publish or exhibit it (to have their choices validated by audience and critics).
The latter would tell you that a single image from someone who is not already an established name will almost never be considered but rather it is projects, portfolios and other 'bodies of work' that matter and those need to have some kind of context if not an outright 'theme' for them to be able to credibly argue for publication or exhibition merit. And they would rarely be wrong.
edited 16 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
answered 9 hours ago
PixelHalide
263
New contributor
PixelHalide is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
8
down vote
Does Photography Need A Theme To Be Presented Together?
Definitely not. I've been to plenty of exhibitions where the only theme is that the photos were all taken by the same photographer. In other cases, photos shown together were taken by different photographers and of completely unrelated subjects, but all the photographers were in the same class, or the photos were all taken within some time span. When photos (or any pieces of art) are shown together it's usually because they're all related somehow, but that relationship doesn't have to be a common theme.
My question is does photography have to have a theme to be part of a series of photographs.
I think this is a different question from your title question, and when you use the word series with respect to art it does convey that there's a stronger relationship between the pieces than just authorship. If an exhibit promised a series of sculptures, wouldn't you expect the pieces to share a common theme? So I would say yes, if you're presenting the photos as a series they should share some sort of theme.
answered 13 hours ago
Caleb
28.3k551102
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
Does Photography Need A Theme To Be Presented Together?
Definitely not. I've been to plenty of exhibitions where the only theme is that the photos were all taken by the same photographer. In other cases, photos shown together were taken by different photographers and of completely unrelated subjects, but all the photographers were in the same class, or the photos were all taken within some time span. When photos (or any pieces of art) are shown together it's usually because they're all related somehow, but that relationship doesn't have to be a common theme.
My question is does photography have to have a theme to be part of a series of photographs.
I think this is a different question from your title question, and when you use the word series with respect to art it does convey that there's a stronger relationship between the pieces than just authorship. If an exhibit promised a series of sculptures, wouldn't you expect the pieces to share a common theme? So I would say yes, if you're presenting the photos as a series they should share some sort of theme.
answered 13 hours ago
Caleb
28.3k551102
add a comment |Â
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
Does Photography Need A Theme To Be Presented Together?
Definitely not. I've been to plenty of exhibitions where the only theme is that the photos were all taken by the same photographer. In other cases, photos shown together were taken by different photographers and of completely unrelated subjects, but all the photographers were in the same class, or the photos were all taken within some time span. When photos (or any pieces of art) are shown together it's usually because they're all related somehow, but that relationship doesn't have to be a common theme.
My question is does photography have to have a theme to be part of a series of photographs.
I think this is a different question from your title question, and when you use the word series with respect to art it does convey that there's a stronger relationship between the pieces than just authorship. If an exhibit promised a series of sculptures, wouldn't you expect the pieces to share a common theme? So I would say yes, if you're presenting the photos as a series they should share some sort of theme.
answered 13 hours ago
Caleb
28.3k551102
Does Photography Need A Theme To Be Presented Together?
Definitely not. I've been to plenty of exhibitions where the only theme is that the photos were all taken by the same photographer. In other cases, photos shown together were taken by different photographers and of completely unrelated subjects, but all the photographers were in the same class, or the photos were all taken within some time span. When photos (or any pieces of art) are shown together it's usually because they're all related somehow, but that relationship doesn't have to be a common theme.
My question is does photography have to have a theme to be part of a series of photographs.
I think this is a different question from your title question, and when you use the word series with respect to art it does convey that there's a stronger relationship between the pieces than just authorship. If an exhibit promised a series of sculptures, wouldn't you expect the pieces to share a common theme? So I would say yes, if you're presenting the photos as a series they should share some sort of theme.
answered 13 hours ago
Caleb
28.3k551102
edited 10 hours ago
answered 13 hours ago
Caleb
28.3k551102
answered 13 hours ago
Caleb
28.3k551102
answered 13 hours ago
Caleb
28.3k551102
28.3k551102
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
You don't need our opinions, you need the A-level Photography syllabus. Which examination, specifically, are you taking? Is there a requirement for 'a series of photographs'? Is that ALL it says? A 'series' could be loosely defined as 'I took this one, then I took this one...'
What does your teacher say? He will have experience of what this particular examination requires.
answered 6 hours ago
Laurence Payne
1,25136
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
You don't need our opinions, you need the A-level Photography syllabus. Which examination, specifically, are you taking? Is there a requirement for 'a series of photographs'? Is that ALL it says? A 'series' could be loosely defined as 'I took this one, then I took this one...'
What does your teacher say? He will have experience of what this particular examination requires.
answered 6 hours ago
Laurence Payne
1,25136
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
You don't need our opinions, you need the A-level Photography syllabus. Which examination, specifically, are you taking? Is there a requirement for 'a series of photographs'? Is that ALL it says? A 'series' could be loosely defined as 'I took this one, then I took this one...'
What does your teacher say? He will have experience of what this particular examination requires.
answered 6 hours ago
Laurence Payne
1,25136
You don't need our opinions, you need the A-level Photography syllabus. Which examination, specifically, are you taking? Is there a requirement for 'a series of photographs'? Is that ALL it says? A 'series' could be loosely defined as 'I took this one, then I took this one...'
What does your teacher say? He will have experience of what this particular examination requires.
answered 6 hours ago
Laurence Payne
1,25136
answered 6 hours ago
Laurence Payne
1,25136
answered 6 hours ago
Laurence Payne
1,25136
answered 6 hours ago
Laurence Payne
1,25136
1,25136
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Photography doesn't need anything — the needs are of those who practice it (to be published and recognized) and those who publish or exhibit it (to have their choices validated by audience and critics).
The latter would tell you that a single image from someone who is not already an established name will almost never be considered but rather it is projects, portfolios and other 'bodies of work' that matter and those need to have some kind of context if not an outright 'theme' for them to be able to credibly argue for publication or exhibition merit. And they would rarely be wrong.
edited 16 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
answered 9 hours ago
PixelHalide
263
New contributor
PixelHalide is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
Photography doesn't need anything — the needs are of those who practice it (to be published and recognized) and those who publish or exhibit it (to have their choices validated by audience and critics).
The latter would tell you that a single image from someone who is not already an established name will almost never be considered but rather it is projects, portfolios and other 'bodies of work' that matter and those need to have some kind of context if not an outright 'theme' for them to be able to credibly argue for publication or exhibition merit. And they would rarely be wrong.
edited 16 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
answered 9 hours ago
PixelHalide
263
New contributor
PixelHalide is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
Photography doesn't need anything — the needs are of those who practice it (to be published and recognized) and those who publish or exhibit it (to have their choices validated by audience and critics).
The latter would tell you that a single image from someone who is not already an established name will almost never be considered but rather it is projects, portfolios and other 'bodies of work' that matter and those need to have some kind of context if not an outright 'theme' for them to be able to credibly argue for publication or exhibition merit. And they would rarely be wrong.
edited 16 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
answered 9 hours ago
PixelHalide
263
New contributor
PixelHalide is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Photography doesn't need anything — the needs are of those who practice it (to be published and recognized) and those who publish or exhibit it (to have their choices validated by audience and critics).
The latter would tell you that a single image from someone who is not already an established name will almost never be considered but rather it is projects, portfolios and other 'bodies of work' that matter and those need to have some kind of context if not an outright 'theme' for them to be able to credibly argue for publication or exhibition merit. And they would rarely be wrong.
edited 16 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
answered 9 hours ago
PixelHalide
263
New contributor
PixelHalide is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 16 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
edited 16 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
edited 16 mins ago
mattdm
117k37339631
117k37339631
answered 9 hours ago
PixelHalide
263
New contributor
PixelHalide is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 9 hours ago
PixelHalide
263
answered 9 hours ago
PixelHalide
263
263
New contributor
PixelHalide is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
PixelHalide is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
PixelHalide is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
Harry Muir is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Harry Muir is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Harry Muir is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Harry Muir is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
I'm not familiar with the A Levels, but there may be more "strict" requirements than if you were just taking photographs for your own creative/artistic purposes. What does your instructor/teacher have to say?
– osullic
13 hours ago
8
Online it's hard to find opinions... lol.
– scottbb
13 hours ago
1
Sorry, just kidding. Welcome to Photo.SE. Interesting question!
– scottbb
13 hours ago
1
A theme in a body of work need not be the content. So, for example, from how you describe your series, could it be that composition is the theme?
– Alexandra
12 hours ago