Connotations matter, whether you are aware of them or not. Objects, colors, symbols that appear in photographs, even out of focus in the background, set off responses in viewers. In some cases the responses can be extreme, such as people's reaction to the American flag — very positive in most Americans, but very negative in certain places around the world.
Bottom Line: Make sure you think about the possible connotations of EVERYTHING that appears in your photos.
Extreme connotation story: Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist Bill Mauldin went to war with his southwestern army outfit, all sporting the native american swastika on their uniforms. This didn't work out well in Germany. More about this curious symbol.
Left
Right
Nicole poses in front of some nice friendly jewel weed which is widely considered an antidote for poison ivy rashes.
105mm, f5.6, 1/180
Here Nicole poses in front of poison ivy. Suppose you used this photo without knowing what the plant was?
Fresh local produce poster. People may respond to the colors and message of the poster behind her, and try to form some sort of pleasant story or logic to the photo. Others may be instantly bored by anything that says farming.
180mm, f19, studio flash
By comparison, the 60's rock poster will raise lots of feelings among people who were in their 20s in the 60s. Others may just be put off by the somewhat crass color scheme and "that awful rock and roll stuff."
180mm, f19, studio flash
"Obviously a wonderful, loyal Sox fan who is celebrating the much deserved triumph of her team."
105mm, f16, studio flash
"Clearly another arrogant Yankee fan who assumes that a yearly World Series victory is a god given right for Yankees and their fans."
105mm, f16, studio flash
"This cracked old Gibson flat top guitar has lots of soul, compared to that modern carbon-fiber thing."
105mm, f16, studio flash
"This nice new carbon fiber Rainsong guitar has none of those nasty cracks that the other guitar has."
105mm, f16, studio flash
Nicole poses in front of some nice friendly jewel weed which is widely considered an antidote for poison ivy rashes.
105mm, f5.6, 1/180
Here Nicole poses in front of poison ivy. Suppose you used this photo without knowing what the plant was?
Fresh local produce poster. People may respond to the colors and message of the poster behind her, and try to form some sort of pleasant story or logic to the photo. Others may be instantly bored by anything that says farming.
180mm, f19, studio flash
By comparison, the 60's rock poster will raise lots of feelings among people who were in their 20s in the 60s. Others may just be put off by the somewhat crass color scheme and "that awful rock and roll stuff."
180mm, f19, studio flash
"Obviously a wonderful, loyal Sox fan who is celebrating the much deserved triumph of her team."
105mm, f16, studio flash
"Clearly another arrogant Yankee fan who assumes that a yearly World Series victory is a god given right for Yankees and their fans."
105mm, f16, studio flash
"This cracked old Gibson flat top guitar has lots of soul, compared to that modern carbon-fiber thing."
105mm, f16, studio flash
"This nice new carbon fiber Rainsong guitar has none of those nasty cracks that the other guitar has."
