As you might read in my previous article The Weirder The Better, I am a person who love to shoot mysterious subject a lot. Main reason is because I like to create image that force audience to use their imagination (and infuse it to reality) to interpret the story in my photo. Feels like create a movie without any fix ending and let audience use their imagination to decide what would happened at the end (Example movie: Inception).
Well, to explain further, I think as human we like to see something unique or unusual. That is why by create visual art in unordinary style will help us to increase the curiosity of audience. It would be such a great photo if anyone who see our image will have questions in their mind:
– What is that? (because at the first glance they did not realize it is human)
– Where was that photo taken?
– How you take that photos?
– What is your camera setting to create that kind of image?
– How can you see that moment would happened?
The more questions people have about our image could be a sign how attractive our photo is. If we just photographed something without any mysterious element inside, people would looked at our photo for less than two seconds then moved on immediately. It is because we can not create any curiosity feels in their mind. Therefore, our photo considered as failed to communicate with viewers.
To photograph mysterious elements in street photography can be in some forms such as:
Silhouette (Read here for more about silhouette)
We simplified information about subject by make it solid black but with information on gesture, shape or geometry around subjects. People have to use their imagination to decide what actually happened inside our photos.
Only show partial information
Want to photograph people’s face? Only show it partially. If we want to focus on eye contact, then make sure we got that strong looks, but without revealed the whole part of their faces.
This way, our audience would paused a bit (even if it is only additional half seconds) when see our photo at the first time. Why? Because most people by reflex will try to translate our mysterious subject with their imagination.
Want to photograph a person? Try to not reveal their faces. It will stimulate audience to think more about our photo. What is that person looks like? It feels like we bait audience to ask about our photo. I think because as human we (almost) always see this world in “full information” way, that is why when people only got partial information, they would think it is something more unique and therefore able to attract more of their attention.
Shadow
Same like silhouette, we simplified our subjects into a deep black objects. Tell more stories only use gesture, form or geometry. In photo above, if I photographed the real person instead of his shadow, I will feel my photo is boring because there is no mystery element inside.
In photo above I use shadow to cover her face and make her become a mysterious subject. Also, shadow become a surreal frame around subject that help this image looks more unique. Always try to include the unusual element to create stronger photo.
Reflection
My favourite way to create surreal image and make my photos look like a painting (read here for Photography is the Art of Painting) or result of digital imaging. Usually I focus more to create reflection by use ordinary things like puddle or shiny wall or shiny floor instead of use a clean mirror as reflective surface.
The textures on floor or wall will help me to get more unique images and create more painting feel compare to a clean mirror. Little tips: To get a reflection from puddle / wall / floor we need strong light to get bold and clear result.
Scale
Ratio between the size of our subjects and objects around them. Create a surreal image that shows how tiny/big the human size compare to any objects around them.
This kind of image will tickle audience’s mind: “Is the object really that big and human is really that small? Or is it only camera effect?”. By able to attract audience questioning about content inside our photo means there is a big chance our image gave them stronger impression.
Moment
It is true that I do not use any visual art element in the photo above (no silhouette, shadow, reflection, etc). However, the moment itself able to create question in audience’s mind. What actually happened there? Why two adults focus on smartphone and their little daughter on stroller need to hold umbrella by herself? Do not they supposed to be have more attention on their daughter?
Photograph a moment that has no fix story line. Like in photo above, I only showed shadow and gesture of subjects. Partial information are there are two person looked above, and one of them use finger to point at something. This image will have so many open stories: Do they in the middle of conversation? Do they even know each other? What was she pointing at? Let our audience decide the fix story with their imagination.
One little tip: To create mysterious feel in moment, focus more on people’s gesture.
That is all about shooting mysterious subjects. Always remember that partial information can give us better result in street photography because it has more artistic feel.
Have fun to find mysterious subjects out there!
Nico Harold