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Assignment #39 · Fill The Frame · 5 days left

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Carldf

@carldf27 Jul

How long do you look at a photo?

Whilst we remain in the era of social media and the tendency to scroll through an array of photos, it is I think worth asking oneself how long do we spend looking at a new photo? Do we give sufficent time to absorb what we are presented with? Are we in a hurry to move on and on? If so why? What are we looking for? Are we open minded to what we see?

Yiannis @carrotcherriesphotos27 Jul

Good question.

I avoind instagram, I do upload there as a necessary evil but I do not use it to look at photos as much as flickr (and framelines!).

I do like photobooks, I feel I spent more time on a photo when compated to online experience. I hate the instascroll and like, more scroll, more like, drop a follow etc. :P. But I get it, people need it to assist their income.

Personally unless you are a pro and it is another way to advertise your services, I do not see it having any benefit, at least for the photography that I do and how I see things.

So photos on flickr - under a minute maube. 30secs?
photobooks - minutes per photo? I try to bore my kids as well and ask them what they think about some of the photos that draw my eye
instagram - seconds..... and after 4 adverts I close it

CarldfOP@carldf27 Jul

Thanks for your comment on this discussion Yiannis. I've noticed I spend more moments looking at photos when I view them on a large screen. Small screens just don't have the same impact.

Ken Tanaka @ken_tanaka27 Jul

As a point of reference I can say that the several art museums that have studied visitor linger times generally report an average of 5-7 seconds on a painting or photograph. (They study it to plan flow timings.)

Personally, I try to create images that reward deep viewing and re-viewing. I take my lead from Hieronymous Bosch

Bob Patefield @bobpatefield29 Jul

I think it's the other way around for me. How long does the photo captivate my attention? Usually the duration is directionally proportional to the degree to which the elements within the picture resonate with my life/history. I bet theirs an equation for that. A good picture draws you in like a moth to a flame.

Mark Hall @mjh__photo29 Jul

With insta it's not very long unless unless it's a photo that really interests me or if I don't get why it's popular or famous :). With books and gallerias if a photo is interesting and there is alot to it I sometimes use the process layout here but depends on how much time I have and how tired I am. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/guide-slow-looking

CarldfOP@carldf29 Jul

edited

Thanks Mark for the link. I think for many of us it's become part of our psyche to move on quickly when we look at images. Social media habits have not helped this.