Social Context Photography

Social Context Photography capture states of being at a moment in time.

The other day my son, who normally is not known in our family for showing too much interest in photography, held up his smart phone showing me a horizontal photo of a farmer’s field with light billowy clouds and blue sky in the distance and a plowed field in the foreground with a two trees in the mid-ground. He asked me “is this a good picture?” So while trying to be supportive but also helpfully

critical I pointed out to him that the sky is gorgeous and the plowed field gave the photo some context but I also asked him to tell me what he was trying to capture and did he have a theme in mind when he took it. He said he never thought about it. I indicated that, while the image was nice to look at, it did not tell me anything. I told him images need a story that the viewer will recognize and relate to immediately. I think he understood and went away, I don’t think he was discouraged. I’m hoping he will attempt another image of something and come to me again, but this time telling what the story is.

That is what I try to capture each time I capture an image—a story. With social context photography photographers are again-and-again trying to capture that particular story that says it all. There is the famous saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Since most social context photographers are passionate and driven they are always seeking that one more image that will capture a story better than the previous one.

Some would say that this is street photography but I prefer this style be referred to as social context photography. Whatever it is called, it enquires about the present state of being of individuals within their public environment going about their routines, whatever that may be. This method captures a moment in time of a by-chance activity of individuals or groups (more than one) interacting within their known world. The activity captured is connected to the surroundings creating a story in a social context.

The environment and activity need not occur in a street or city setting. Many small towns or villages provide a unique interaction of human activity. I had most success with this approach in village settings throughout Europe and Latin America.

Although, the expectation with social context photography is that there will be people involved, they are not always required especially if the image captures a story where a human might otherwise be or interact with the environment,, or if the story of the image exhibits human disposition in its positioning or temperament.

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