Adding the Human Element

So, I wanted to blog about something I've often pondered and tried to achieve with my storm photography. That is adding the human element to my frames to make the images more intriguing. To start with, I think the premise behind this is simple... you can have beautiful images of storms regardless, but to really make people think and feel something about the image, it makes a huge difference to include a person, or some kind of human element in the shot. When I post these kind of images on my gallery pages I seem to get a lot of comments where the viewer expresses something about how they would feel if they were in that persons shoes, or what the imagine the person in the shot is thinking. It seems to make the shots a lot more engaging to the viewer. Here's an example:

This image is simply a storm, and incredible storm, but that's really all the image inspires. I see the storm and think it looks incredible but its hard to imagine a story here. Now lets look at it with a subtle addition, a person in the frame:

Now there is a story line, you see a person looking up at the sky in awe. You wonder how they got there, are they a chaser, a person that lives on this dirt road watching the storm? It adds another dimension. A viewer imagines what this person might be feeling, are they awe struck, are they scared? Finally it allows them to wonder what they might do in this situation, a chance to put them into the subjects shoes so to speak. I find this to be one of the most powerful ways, because it leaves the connotation of the image up to the imagination of the viewer. Here's another example:

What do you think he is thinking, what is he feeling as this massive storm lumbers over the Plains above... Here's one last example from this set: 

I think the textures, hair and shirt blowing in the wind really allow a view to imagine what it might be like to stand in front of this gust front and feel the atmosphere change around them as a storm approaches. You can almost encourage physical feelings and create a mood for the viewer, allowing them to feel the scene. This brings me to my next topic, taking advantage of the people in the photo, and utilizing them as a compositional element in the photograph. Here is my first example on this topic:

In a lot of my storm images I try to make the focus the sky, since that is obviously what is putting on the show in most of these photographs. That being said, the human element can be that finishing detail that ties the whole image together. In this image the only thing that crosses the horizon, and the base of the storm, seemingly connecting them together is the person in the frame. This allows the eye to travel from the foreground, up to the looming supercell above and vice versa, tying the whole image together. In yet another example:

The person in the frame is the only thing crossing the flat horizon, connecting Earth and Sky and giving the eye a line to follow up to the amazing display of the storm, and back down to the foreground. Additionally, in this particular shot... it also gives the viewer a tremendous sense of scale with the person dwarfed by the gigantic supercell above. Finally, the last think I will touch on is adding the human element, without having an actual person in the frame. I have plenty of shots of storms over open fields, in nature, and while they are still violent storms. The mood that can be created by including some kind of 'human element' can definitely change the mood of the photograph. Check out this example:

Here a storm lumbers over a farm house near Elkhorn, Nebraska. While there isn't an actual person in this photograph. The 'human element' is still very much there. You wonder if anyone is home in the house, are they taking cover, is it a family, whats going through their minds? These are just some of the questions that come to my mind when I look at this image. It also certainly adds a foreboding atmosphere to the image. Will the house make it through the storm, or will a tornado drop and destroy the lives of the people that live there. Luckily in this case, the storm did produce a tornado, but it passed well south of the home. Here's my last example:

Again, no actual people are in the shot... but, we have vehicles that are obviously occupied, at VERY close range to a violent tornado. The same questions come to mind... why are they so close, are they scared, are they concerned about trying to take cover? The debris flying around the condensation funnel could also potentially be a 'human element.' It could be composed of structures or vehicles that were constructed by people (in this case a semi trailer) and adds that same sense of power and danger to the image. As you can see, adding the human element to these types of images can add a storyline to an image, help make your composition more interesting, and change the entire mood of the image. Its definitely something I want to continue to strive to do with my work to make it more thought provoking for the viewer. I'd definitely be interested in hearing others' thoughts on this... so don't be shy, if you have a thought or comment jot it down below, or if you have images where you have utilized the human element, feel free to think them so we can all check out more examples.

Chris

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Got 4 storm chasing accounts posted from '08-'09 at www.intotherfd.com/images.html. Definitely check them out and let me know what you think! Work continues!

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