Photostory Creative Process
Finding Theme Ideas for work is often a headache and time-consuming. However, ideas can arise amid unforeseen conditions and even within limitations.
Denty Piaway Nastitie’s experience, a journalist and photographer for Kompas Group Media, Indonesia, studying in London, UK. Denty speaking in a Webinar entitled P2A (Passage to ASEAN) Ice Cream 2021, International Course on Creative Media (Ice Cream) Inspiring the World with Creative Production, was initiated by the Communication Studies Program, the Islamic University of Indonesia on November 16, 2021.
Denty told his story when she was quarantined in a hotel in England. Several weeks she was tired of not getting out of the hotel. She watches Netflix Apps all day. But over time, he got bored. Just somersault on the bed staring at the hotel ceiling and occasionally looking out the window.
After so many frustrating days, She looked out. She imagined that the windows were screens framing passersby on the streets of London. “I imagine they are models who are waddling like a model who is on a fashion show,” said Denty.
Activating imaginations like Denty’s is one of many ways to help find themes for story photos. In addition, Denty also shared how we found a suitable piece.
Find the story
The first way is to find the story. Here, Denty suggests first finding the story or memory you want to convey. For example, you want to talk about childhood, memorable places, exciting events, natural beauty, painful experiences, and others.
Identify the Audience
When you have found a theme, you also have to think about who this photo will be shown. For yourself, the local community, national media, or international media. This will make the photographer think about what theme or image to take.
Decide the order
A photo story is a story, and we have to think about how this story will begin, how the conflict will build, and end. We have to compose the picture. Is it with a chronological narrative or by associating one story with a particular event that is already known to the public?
In addition to telling about her creative process in taking themes and taking pictures during the quarantine period, Denty also told how he took photos of the life journey of someone with a mental illness. She takes pictures of his daily life, how he struggles with his condition, lives with the surrounding community, the people who support him, and his inner mood.
To describe a person’s inner life with a mental disorder is not easy. Denty wants to show it in a photo; people who see it can feel a complicated psychological condition. “This picture of a person with a black shadow, and this black and white color, I want other people to feel what is in their psychological atmosphere. Humans are angry, happy, sad, disappointed; humans feel different thoughts and feelings. The human psychological atmosphere is like multi-layered.”
