A Handbag, a Story: Photography With Purpose

Discover how intentional choices in photography can transform ordinary moments into compelling visual narratives, revealing profound stories hidden within everyday experiences.

Shooting with purpose means that each choice you make as a photographer—from your positioning and composition to your camera settings and the moment you press the shutter—is guided by a clear intention. It involves a commitment to telling a story, evoking a specific emotion, or drawing attention to a situation. This approach transforms the photographer’s role from a passive observer to an active storyteller.

Let’s dive into some examples that demonstrate how intentionality can turn everyday moments into powerful visual narratives.

The Boy and His Handbag

Set in rural Madagascar, this scenario features a young boy, around 8 or 9 years old, whose appearance reveals a poignant story. During a vaccination campaign, our eyes fell on this boy, with a homemade handbag hanging around his neck by a piece of string. The bag itself was a single packet of chicken-flavored seasoning cubes.

The Purpose: Shooting with intention involved framing the composition to highlight that handbag specifically. The aim was not just to document poverty, but to create a compelling commentary through contrast. By isolating this modest item, the photograph juxtaposed the value systems of differing worlds. While designer handbags symbolize status in many cultures, for this child, that single packet represented his entire, immediate world: a fleeting moment of flavor. The deliberately focused image becomes a complex visual commentary on privilege, scarcity, and the vast disparities in global experiences. Its power resides in its ability to prompt viewers to ponder deeper socioeconomic themes.

The Street Vendor’s Journey: Crafting a Comprehensive Narrative Arc

Street photography is often characterized by spontaneous, candid captures. Yet, applying a purposeful approach allows for the development of a rich, multi-layered story. Consider this documentation of a street vendor selling lontar fruit in Jakarta, below.

The Purpose: Instead of capturing a single moment, my intentional aim was to narrate the complete story of the vendor’s work life through a series of carefully crafted images.

Establishing Context (The Wide Shots): I started with a few environmental shots that depicted the vendor in the bustling market. This established his environment and context, laying the groundwork for the narrative.

Exploring Character (The Portraits): Next, I took a few close-ups of his face, capturing his expressions and revealing his age.

Detailing Process (The Close-Up of Hands): My final image focused on his hands and the crucial tool of his trade, i.e., the knife. This detail shot highlights the meticulous nature of his work, showcasing the effort and skill required to prepare the fruit.

Importantly, the purpose here went beyond the technical aspects; it involved building a genuine connection. I took my time to learn the vendor’s name and age, developed a friendship, and even gave him a printed photograph. Looking back, it all added essential layers of respect and authenticity to our interaction.

The Mighty Baobabs at Night: Intentional Lens Choice and Scale

The magnificent baobab trees of Madagascar, especially when photographed against the backdrop of the Milky Way, pose a challenge for capturing their true, vast scale.

The Purpose: When facing such grand subjects, a common mistake is to use the widest available lens, which can diminish their apparent size and create a sense of distance. Although I had a 14mm f/2.8 lens on me, I decided to use a mid-range lens, a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. The goal of this lens choice was to effectively and powerfully portray the scale and majesty. A mid-range lens presents the scene more closely to the way the human eye perceives it, making those impressive baobabs appear genuinely massive and imposing.

To enhance this effect, another crucial element was deliberately incorporated: a human figure. I sat on the ground holding a lamp, which provided a sense of scale. The comparison between the person and the towering trees instantly conveys the subject’s awe-inspiring nature. Every technical and compositional decision was made purposefully to create a visually stunning, engaging, and scale-accurate image.

Conclusion

These were just a few examples of shooting with purpose, or with a clear intention. The idea I am trying to communicate here is that there will be situations that require slowing down and conveying a message through meaningful photographs. The idea is not to suggest that every time you press the shutter, there must be a philosophical theme behind it; simple, casual snapping also fosters creativity.