Titles

[aitch]

No, nothing to do with Boris, Nadine et all, but pictures uploaded/linked to this forum. I vaguely remember it being discussed at the old place, but don’t remember if it came to any conclusion. Probably not.

Looking through pics here, they seem to fall into three main categories, where the tile is:
The number assigned in camera,
A sensible, descriptive title
A silly title (mea culpa!)

Any thoughts on which are preferred as most useful or helpful?

[kate]

In most cases I like a description especially of a place. Perhaps a story to go with it.
Obviously some things are self-evident but still, some might not identify a fruit or flower so it is nice to have a name for reference.
Some beg further explanations, so unless you want it to remain obscure, please give us a back-story.

Which brings to mind - has rovingmike deserted us completely?

[El Sid]

Mostly I try to come up with a subject appropriate title which is not necessarily a narrative description - that only happens when I can't manage anything more imaginative.

Mostly I don't mind what type of title a picture has although just the frame number is a bit disappointing.

[zou]

Tangentially, how do we feel about "untitled" as an oxymoronic title?

[El Sid]

Jun 14, 2023 11:34:34 GMT zou said:

Tangentially, how do we feel about "untitled" as an oxymoronic title?

Never really understood the point of titling something 'Untitled' - surely it can't be beyond the ability of most people to make some sort of effort, even if it's just the time & place or something equally prosaic.

I suspect the idea behind it is to not give the observer any notion of what the photographer is trying to say, the irony being that such 'Untitled' images are then often associated with a paragraph or several of pure 'arty' waffle...

[zx9]

Jun 14, 2023 11:34:34 GMT zou said:

Tangentially, how do we feel about "untitled" as an oxymoronic title?

Yes.

[geoffr]

Jun 14, 2023 11:42:56 GMT El Sid said:

Jun 14, 2023 11:34:34 GMT zou said:

Tangentially, how do we feel about "untitled" as an oxymoronic title?

Never really understood the point of titling something 'Untitled' - surely it can't be beyond the ability of most people to make some sort of effort, even if it's just the time & place or something equally prosaic.

I suspect the idea behind it is to not give the observer any notion of what the photographer is trying to say, the irony being that such 'Untitled' images are then often associated with a paragraph or several of pure 'arty' waffle...

The term Untitled is usually associated with a work, possibly in an exhibition, for which the curator has not been provided with a title. It may also apply when the artist has died and the work is being exhibited posthumously with no details having been provided by the artist. You could say that cave paintings are "untitled " as we don't know what the artist/s intended.

[geoffr]

Jun 14, 2023 11:34:34 GMT zou said:

Tangentially, how do we feel about "untitled" as an oxymoronic title?

Friday

[nickr]

It was indeed discussed at Another Place. To be honest, I always hoped the discussion would fizzle out, because the last thing I wanted to have to do as a mod was police titling, especially if it put people off posting.

Here's a different issue:

(a) not my problem in the slightest
(b) it's our forum (well, Martin's), so we don't have the same commercial imperatives.

Personally, I bend like the wind with titles. Sometimes I don't bother, sometimes I try to pick a funny or smartarse one, sometimes I like to give extended background info.

[Kath]

I've been known to give the same image different titles depending on where I've put it as the mood takes me. Sometimes the title might be important if you need to know what you're looking at but often I think they're just an opportunity to have a bit of fun/set a mood.

[geoffr]

A couple of weeks ago we went to Ramster Gardens in Surrey where there was a sculpture exhibition by local artists. One piece was called Stotally different. Yesterday we went to Grays Court in Oxfordshire where there’s was a sculpture exhibition by local artists. One piece was called Stotally different. I compared the one at Grays to a photograph of the one at Ramster, they looked remarkably similar! Where does the artist live to be “local” to both venues?

[Kath]

Jun 14, 2023 13:56:43 GMT geoffr said:

A couple of weeks ago we went to Ramster Gardens in Surrey where there was a sculpture exhibition by local artists. One piece was called Stotally different. Yesterday we went to Grays Court in Oxfordshire where there’s was a sculpture exhibition by local artists. One piece was called Stotally different. I compared the one at Grays to a photograph of the one at Ramster, they looked remarkably similar! Where does the artist live to be “local” to both venues?

Weekender?

[willien]

Jun 14, 2023 13:56:43 GMT geoffr said:

A couple of weeks ago we went to Ramster Gardens in Surrey where there was a sculpture exhibition by local artists. One piece was called Stotally different. Yesterday we went to Grays Court in Oxfordshire where there’s was a sculpture exhibition by local artists. One piece was called Stotally different. I compared the one at Grays to a photograph of the one at Ramster, they looked remarkably similar! Where does the artist live to be “local” to both venues?

He or she might at least have called one or other Weaseley distinguishable.

[zou]

Jun 14, 2023 19:52:38 GMT willien said:

Jun 14, 2023 13:56:43 GMT geoffr said:

A couple of weeks ago we went to Ramster Gardens in Surrey where there was a sculpture exhibition by local artists. One piece was called Stotally different. Yesterday we went to Grays Court in Oxfordshire where there’s was a sculpture exhibition by local artists. One piece was called Stotally different. I compared the one at Grays to a photograph of the one at Ramster, they looked remarkably similar! Where does the artist live to be “local” to both venues?

He or she might at least have called one or other Weaseley distinguishable.

What are the chances the artist's name was Marten?

Whatever, you'd think they'd come up with a good name ferret.

[spinno]

Jun 14, 2023 19:54:27 GMT zou said:

Jun 14, 2023 19:52:38 GMT willien said:

He or she might at least have called one or other Weaseley distinguishable.

What are the chances the artist's name was Marten?

Whatever, you'd think they'd come up with a good name ferret.

Is he pining for something stoatally different?