By: Justine Crowley
They say a picture is worth a thousand words—but without the right words, those thousand can easily be lost in translation. At the recent New Orleans Photo Alliance Member Meeting, we explored how to give photographs a voice through thoughtful, engaging narratives.
Why Narratives Matter
A strong photo can stop someone in their tracks, but a well-crafted narrative invites them to stay. It adds depth, context, and emotional connection, allowing the viewer to understand not just what they’re looking at, but why it matters.
This is especially true when your art is viewed without you present. Whether on a gallery wall, in a competition, or online, the right words can guide the viewer’s experience and create a lasting impression.
The Power of Description
One of the key takeaways from the talk was the “Object / Action / Context” approach:
• Object – What is physically in the frame.
• Action – What’s happening in the moment.
• Context – The setting, environment, or backstory.
• Additional Descriptor – Something unique that gives personality.
For example, instead of “Dog on a sidewalk,” you might say:
A seated dog looks towards a door from a nearly deserted sidewalk. Sprocket and his human Gabriel are well known throughout the French Quarter.
The difference is immediate—it transforms an image into a scene you can step into.
Personal Connection
Another crucial point: tell your story of the photo.
• What drew you to take it?
• Where were you?
• Why was this moment significant?
• How did it make you feel?
When a photographer shared her black and white image of the Pemaquid Bell, she didn’t just note its shape and texture—she spoke of childhood visits, the bell’s towering presence in memory, and the dramatic sky that brought it to life again. That kind of narrative makes the image unforgettable.
Seeing Beyond the Obvious
Sometimes, the story reveals itself only after the shutter clicks. A photograph taken during “Christmas on the Pecos” unexpectedly cropped a familiar phrase into something entirely new, adding an accidental twist of meaning. Another captured a reflection of the Krewe Des Fleurs in a puddle, transforming a casual street moment into an intimate pre-Mardi Gras scene.
These stories remind us that narrative is not just about documentation—it’s about finding the deeper thread that connects viewer to image.
Final Thoughts
Writing a narrative for your photographs isn’t about overexplaining—it’s about creating a bridge between your vision and your audience’s imagination. With the right words, your work can speak even when you’re not there to tell the story yourself.
ARTIST BIO
Justine Crowley has been capturing her vision of the world since she was three years old. She describes herself as a photorealist capturing landscape, architecture, and portrait, coming to realize that theme across all her subjects. Justine synthesizes the abstraction of the every day into shapes and colors and elements, often making the viewer take a second look to process the photograph. She has participated in juried shows across the country. Her last solo show was on Dirty Linen Night 2024 at Salon Diversions. Crowley started shooting in black and white early; and even still has the negatives from her third roll of film. She now shoots with everything from her iPhone to her father’s Yashica RangeFinder to her Canon 6d DSLR and her Hasselblad 500C/M. Justine lives in New Orleans with her dog and two cats.
Follow on Instagram: @roguephotoknitter8
