Photography and Symbolism.

 

The Search by Graham Burstow

Last Friday I had the pleasure to listen to Graham Burstow talk about Photography and Symbolism at the Cobb & Co Museum where the ICONonICONS exhibition has been on display for the past couple of months.

I’ve had the pleasure of listening to many people talk over the years. Some with touching stories, some genuine, some only for the money and some that have honed their craft so well for a short time they fool you into thinking they love what they do. Only a handful have ever come close to Grahan Burstow. At 83 Graham possessed so much enthusiasm and love of photography, emotion overflowed the room.

Graham Burstow is an award winning and internationally recognised photographer featured in Toowoomba’s Cobb+Co Museum exhibition, Icons on Icons: A lifetime of living with the camera.

Graham’s work has been exhibited in more than 20 countries and he has gained a Fellowship in each of the Australian, British and American Photographic Societies. He was responsible for introducing Social Documentary into Australian National Exhibitions and his prints are in many collections including the Australian National Library.

I’m delighted to say that Graham has given his permission to share his talk with the readers of my blog. Please enjoy …

 

Symbolism                      by G S Burstow

 

There are so many ways that can be used to assist in the understanding of an image.  I have tried to restrict myself to four ways to satisfy my own personal outlook:

Literally, emotionally, narratively, and symbolically.

In some images all these ways are apparent. I will set out to emphasize the use of symbolism. Symbolism is akin to coating an extra layer of icing on an already iced cake. The cake may look great but the extra icing can taste special and can only be tasted by those sensitive to it.

 Some photographers are very sensitive to symbolism. Some are not so sensitive and others will not even try to consider it, believing it to be another art form. Symbolism is used extensively in many arts. If you are not involved in these arts, applying it to photography can take time, but it is there if you have the desire. Images may appear artistic but often there is more.

The Oxford Dictionary says “symbolism – not literal” and from Wikipedia “Symbols take the form of words, sounds, gestures, or visual images and are used to convey ideas and beliefs.”

Clarence A White, a writer on photography, says “Nature, human or otherwise, is a multisided mirror, which, if only we appreciate her, can tell us many things we do not know, in the woods and the fields, she has a reflection for every heart and a mood for every humour.  He, who can translate that meaning of these moods is a great artist, even though he may choose to introduce some ideas of his own.”

While digital photography is often considered the greatest change since roll film, there was a period in the 1970s and 80s where it was said that photography’s window was opened.  Meaning became more important. 

How did this happen? 

The automatic camera was launched.  No longer did photographers need a mathematical knowledge.  Photography was introduced into art course at all levels and students were then studying the meaning of images.  The McGregor Prize for Photography was staged in Toowoomba through this era.

Can we learn Symbolism?

Gerry is a secondary school English teacher.  He can quote excerpts from famous writings. He has no problem with symbolism.

My eldest son, Stephen, moved to Kings College in Brisbane.  This is Stephen, Russell and Elvie.  The space on the right is the symbolic gap he left in our lives. 

Many Fridays over two years he took one of my prints to the high school where the class looked at them symbolically, not literally and write an essay or poem.  He was later awarded a literally award for the best understanding of the English language at U of Q which I relate to the teacher’s sensitivity. 

Stephen wrote a poem to this image, describing a country church building. I included the poem in my book. 

This is my daughter, Narelle. Of all her dolls, this was her favourite. I called this image “Instinctive Love”. The image symbolises the love inherent in women for their children no matter if disabled.

When Narelle finished her schooling all she wanted to do was to teach handicapped children. It is showing in this image.

This is my son Russell. What does this image symbolise? He has an amazing love of animals and birds, and they return this feeling – so many stories to tell.

He even made friends with the Maasai in Kenya. The bird symbolises his desire for freedom.  He sailed his boat around the world.

 

The most accurate meanings of symbolism are in your family images. My years in choral singing where most words are symbolic was a great basis for my interest in symbolism. 

Having sung Handel’s Messiah several times where most the time wording is biblical, I would assume that if you read your bible you would have little difficulty with symbolism. e.g. every valley shall be exalted.

Can anyone learn symbolism from other arts – Yes – from all arts

Baroque art existed before photography. People then were not usually skilled readers but were experts at understanding symbolic drawings and paintings. A person’s life story could be shown in one baroque image whereas now we do it with words.

Impressionism also became popular at that time.

Is there an easy way to learn?

Consider carefully your interests as a basis.  I can suggest trees.  I have spoken about trees as people to one club on the Darling Downs for 28 years.  Discussing trees as a compositional exercise is not very exciting. 

 

  

 I hope you all have some understanding of symbolism from this talk and I wish that you are convinced that it is another layer of icing on the cake. It is not on all images but it is a force and a joy that can’t be ignored.

Remember – the best things in life are free.

 

 

Thank you to Graham Burstow for the kind permission to use his words and his fabulous photographs.