Isomorphic Correspondence

We respond to some images very strongly, based on our experiences in the physical world. Sharp, pointed shapes communicate danger or pain because we’ve felt the pain of thorns, broken glass, etc. A picture of a Thanksgiving turkey may stir memories of warm, happy family dinners. In this case, we’re responding to the meaning of the image, associating it with memories we have.

Isomorphic Correspondence simply means that we respond to meaning. When we see an image such as a painting or a photo, we interpret its meaning based upon our experiences and memories.

During Thanksgiving, for many of us, this image has many meanings. It makes us think about the holidays, brings back memories of childhood, and reminds us that, come January, we’ll be on a diet once more. Additionally, it may suggest meanings connected with family or Thanksgiving. It may even make us hungry.

Baby animals are cuddly. Many of us are apt to go, “Ahh,” when we see pictures of a baby rabbit. We can imagine the soft fur and the warmth of the animal in our arms. But, for many of us, the rabbit is also a tasty meal. We may be reminded of a time at Grandma’s when she served fried rabbit for Sunday dinner.

How many of us say, “Yikes!” when we see this image? Many of us have an inherent fear of snakes, based upon primal fear and a culture that uses the snake as a symbol of evil.

Sex sells. Nubile bodies are used to sell everything from exotic vacations to beer. Most of us, especially us men, respond to such images on a visceral level. By associating these images with a product or a sales message, an advertiser hopes to use our memories, experiences, and fantasies to give his/her product or sales message more meaning than it really has.

After all, it was their trip to Borneo, not yours. You didn’t share the experience of buying food from a street vendor or smell the smells of the urban neighborhoods. So, pictures of them don’t mean much to you.

You should keep this exclusivity in mind when editing your own pictures. Ask yourself, “Do I like my images because they have a certain emotional appeal to me alone?” A special vacation shot or a picture of your grandkids, might be an example. Or, do your images convey a more universal meaning that will inspire emotional response in others? It helps to gather feedback from a trusted friend. Remember, that beloved sunset you have–so excellently captured, so expertly printed and framed–may be just another sunset to someone else.

Learn how composition can affect meaning. Placement of the subject within the viewfinder can have profound effects on the meaning. Placing the subject low and surrounded by a large amount of negative space sends a different message than cropping it close. The former may send the message of hopelessness or depression, the latter a message of intimacy or friendship.

It’s a challenge to create images with meaning. It’s what separates a good photographer from a mediocre one. In judging contests and exhibits, I’ve seen many prints that are technically well done, but lack depth of meaning. These may be processed to resist aging in preparation for archival preservation, but they won’t stand the test of time on anyone’s wall except, perhaps, the photographer’s own.

For, without an emotional connection to the image, we’ll grow weary of it. It’ll remain on exhibition for a few months and then be taken down or simply ignored as part of the background blur of our lives. Our ability to connect with an image emotionally entices us to keep coming back to an image over and over again in order to repeat the emotion. Or, what’s even more exciting, we may find new meaning in the image as we grow emotionally and experience it in a fresh, new way.