Photo that tells a story

Something new for me....I'm trying to do a series of photos that look like they could be a scene from a movie. Would love any feedback you might be willing to give. Including whether the title works or not.

Title : Life is a Journey

Well, nine hours and no comments - don't know why. To me, a fantastic job. Yes - a scene I would expect to see in a movie or on a poster. Good work.

No, the title doesn't work for me. To me, my first impression was: car stuck... looking back... something ominous back there, maybe approaching.

At first glance I thought it looked like something from an X-Files, and I would consider the image in that genre.

Kinda reminds me of the movie "The Happening" with Mark Wahlberg. Though I definitely think this tells a story, I personally think it might be more effective if the person or car were closer to the camera so that it's at the bottom 1/3 of the frame. It might then signify a more distant and unknown road (that signifies life) made foreign by the fog.

Not sure how I feel about the telephone pole and wire though....

I don't like the title either but I do like the feeling of hopelessness and I'd title it something more like 'going no where'.

How did you achieve the elevation of the camera?

Also not a big fan of the title. To me the photo doesn't really say "journey".

I also agree that too much space is wasted in the bottom of the photo. I think less road at the bottom and more foggy sky at the top would make it stronger.

That said, I like the idea - both the photo itself and the overall "scene from a movie" idea. This photo does look like it tells a story, and could be a scene from a movie.

So, what happened here (rhetorically)?

Maybe she's had enough.
Maybe he hasn't been treating her the way she deserves.
Maybe she's changed her mind.
Maybe he's not so bad after all.

Maybe she's running from something only she knows exists.
Maybe now she's thinking she should warn the others.
Maybe the fog is the beginning of the worst.
Maybe she's thinking it's too late to go back now.

In either case, why did she pull out her suitcase and put it in the middle of the road?
It's a small suitcase.
Is it small because she won't be gone for long?
Is it small because she was in danger and didn't have time to pack everything?

Or, maybe she just ran out of gas and knows she has to walk back.

Jason

Thanks all....great comments.

Picture North : Got the elevation with a 10 foot ladder, the kind that folds in 4 pieces, just barely fit in the car.

Jason: Your scenarios are exactly what I was going for. I wanted the story to be ambiguous. Where the viewer could come up with several different reasons for her being there in the middle of the road. Running away, longing for something she left, etc. So your scenarios were perfect.

Because of this ambiguous nature I also don't want the title to influence the story one way or the other. I want the title to leave the photo open to interpretation and I've been struggling with what is the correct wording.

RandyMN wrote in post #12482198
I don't like the title either but I do like the feeling of hopelessness and I'd title it something more like 'going no where'.

Hard to say what I would call it.

Looking back!

Kinda reminds me of myself. I look back and everything seems a little hazy.

maybe lost, adrift, or abandoned would work better as a title?

Personally I like the car/person further back. Seems more empty, in the middle of nowhere.

tkerr wrote in post #12483770
Hard to say what I would call it. Looking back!

jmg181 wrote in post #12486422
maybe lost, adrift, or abandoned would work better as a title?

I do like those, but the issue with those is they eliminate half or more of the story possibilities and I was trying to keep it more open ended. Looking back is a little ambiguous but I'm not sure enough.

I really like the photo, but to me the title doesn't work. Honestly, if you're trying to tell a story, sometimes no title works best. Let the viewer see what they see, don't try to manipulate it.

Brainstorming a few titles...

"You are here."
"Headlights."
"Lights are on."
"Door ajar."
"Suitcase."
"By the fence."

Or you could always go with the classic...

"Untitled."

Jason

Irresolute!

Ah, along those lines, "Unresolved.", though that adds a little more "definition" to the story.

Jason

"Where are you..."