Rowland Barthes' book, Camera Lucidia, explores some interesting theories regarding the medium of photography. Firstly, he conceptualised the aforementioned studium and punctum terminology. He described them as "two elements whose presence co-established, it seemed, the particular interest [Barthes] took in these photographs" (Barthes, R. and Howard, R., 1981:25). So intense was his fascination with these elements of photographs, he stepped out to identify, name and define them.
His explanation of studium: "What I feel about these photographs derives from an average affect, almost from a certain training." He explains that studium is Latin, meaning "a kind of general, enthusiastic commitment", which is the reason why we can experience an interest in so many photographs, whether the interest is cultural, social, political or even historical (Barthes, R. and Howard, R., 1981:26).
The punctum is explained thus: whilst the attention of the viewer is concentrated on the studium, "it is this element which rises from the scene, shoots out of it like an arrow, and pierces me." (Barthes, R. and Howard, R., 1981:26).
I will employ these concepts in my work, in order to accentuate the mythical characters within the images that I will create. I have found the study of this book enlightening, as it has highlighted features of photography which I have taken for granted, and indicated their significance. From this, I will take the advice that I should focus more upon everything that I do, both when conceptualising my ideas and when putting them into practise, and consider more consciously why I am doing everything that I do. For example, when I frame my photographs, I will consider what I am including in the frame, how I construct the frame, where I will place my character and so on, and consider more particularly why I am doing these things this way.
-Barthes, R. [trans.] Howard, R. (1982) Camera Lucidia: Reflections on Photography. New York: Hill and Wang.
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