All Content Has Meaning

The readers of your photograph make an assumption. They assume that you know what you are doing, that you meant to say the things you did by including or excluding elements and making certain decisions, whether technical—that is, optics, shutter speed, and aperture—or artistic—that is, your point of view and use of perspective, or your framing. The reader believes you meant to do it. So whether or not the idea of intent works for you, it is assumed by your readers. And because they believe this, all content—whether we intend it or not—has meaning.

Because of this fundamental assumption on the part of the reader, every element implies something. Every decision we make that forms the image, whether in-camera or in the darkroom, implies something. Any meaning that comes from our photographs comes because we allowed it to be there.