In Photography, the Punctum Is a Detail that Attracts your Attention
The Punctum
The punctum is a specific point in a photo that imparts meaning without invoking a system of symbolic representation.
It arises from certain details in the photo that are unexpected and beyond the photographer's control.
The punctum disrupts the studium. It is often a detail, something that grabs your attention.
The punctum is the detail that strikes a particular sensibility. It embodies the poetry of uniqueness.
In Latin, punctum means a prick, a point. It comes from pungo, meaning I pierce. It corresponds to an isolated musical note.
For Roland Barthes, the punctum is the small spot, the little cut in a photo. The punctum is also the chance that puts a point in a photo.
The punctum is a detail in a photo. It is both an inevitable and graceful addition. The punctum does not necessarily originate from the photographer.
It does not necessarily attest to the photographer's artistry. What the punctum reveals is that the photographer was present at the scene during the shot.
It also suggests that the photographer could not capture this small entity in close-up but had to integrate it into the overall scene.
For Barthes, this implies that the photographer's insight lies not in seeing but in being there.
Personally, I disagree with him. I believe that indeed, a photographer must be there, but they must know how to look, understand, and immerse themselves in the scene. They must do this to anticipate the decisive moment, known as the "momentum," to freeze the punctum. This will be discussed in the next article.
The Relationship Between Studium and Punctum
The studium is what you feel when you look at a photo. Emotions and kind feelings arise due to your upbringing, personality, and soul.
The punctum is an element of the photo unintentional on the part of the photographer but that catches the eye.
These two concepts may seem unrelated at first glance, yet they complement each other perfectly.
The studium is a slow, almost lazy reflex. We must delve into ourselves to understand and articulate what we feel. It is a passive action.
On the contrary, the punctum is a quick, incongruous analysis. It is an active, rapid reflex. The punctum compels the viewer to look because they are seized by the detail. The punctum is somewhat similar to the technique of off-screen in photographic composition.
How to Use Punctum and Studium to Create Your Photos
Roland Barthes was not a photographer; he was a philosopher, linguist, literary critic, semiotician, sociologist, and literary theorist.
When he defines these concepts of studium and punctum, it is from a theoretical, sometimes abstract standpoint. On initial reading, they may seem obscure.
This book can be challenging to understand. We are far removed from on-field photographic practice. Yet, thorough analysis and detailed note-taking reveal that these concepts are applicable in the field. They can be useful for you as a photographer not only to realize and create your photos but also to establish a new framework for photographic analysis that you can use to study your photos and those of others.
This framework can be compared to one that uses positive and negative spaces, 5 or 10 criteria for analyzing a photo, and photographic elements. Studium and punctum can be highly effective tools for creating interesting photos with meaning and impact.
Using Studium to Create Your Photos
The studium allows you to understand why viewers appreciate your photos. When you take photos, it is generally to showcase them, whether in a family or friendly setting, on social media, in exhibitions, festivals or galleries, in online or print magazines, in books, or on a website.
I have encountered very few photographers who don't share their photos. They exist, but they are exceptions.
Let us assume that the vast majority of photographers want to display their photos. I belong to this group, and you do too if you are reading this article and blog.
The only way to know what viewers think of your photos is to receive written or verbal feedback. That is why we have a comment system on the web pages of our websites, a guestbook at exhibitions, and why we read comments on social media.
What is important in these comments and remarks is that they do not focus on technique. What matters are the emotional, sentimental comments. These are the ones that touch us deeply.
We must pay the utmost attention to them because they show us whether we have succeeded in creating interesting, meaningful photos. This concept of studium enables us to listen carefully and better understand if our photos engage others.
However, the studium is also a concept we can adopt to analyze our photos and those of others. When we take a photo, we must ask ourselves what it evokes for us, what it represents, why it moves us. We must tap into our deep personality to analyze it.
Naturally, we will understand if it is interesting to display and defend. But we can apply the studium to analyze other photographers' photos. This is often what I do.
When I look at photos taken by others, I strive to give an opinion based on what I feel. It is a bit of a like or dislike. This does not mean it's a good or bad photo; it's a subjective analysis. Ultimately, I believe that, to simplify, it is enough to consider the studium as a way of apprehending the meaning of a photo from an emotional, sentimental, and personal perspective.
Using Punctum to Create Your Photos
The punctum is the detail that catches the viewer's eye. It triggers attention.
It is a reflex, a spontaneous attitude. It will not prompt a deep analysis of the photo by the spectator.
Yet, for you, it is an essential concept. Indeed, this detail will make the viewer linger on your photo. Instead of glancing for a second and moving on, they will linger, take their time, analyze, and spend at least 10 seconds contemplating your photo because you have sparked their interest.
The punctum enables you to maintain a viewer's attention and attract them by keeping their focus.
This is what we all seek in showcasing our photos. The problem with the punctum is that it can be easy to incorporate into a studio scene, but it is more complex in nature, as scenes cannot be arranged. This is where patience, dedication, and knowledge of the terrain are crucial.
You must understand the environment, know the habits of animals to capture and show a punctum.
Finally
I hope this article has helped you understand the concepts of studium and punctum developed by Roland Barthes.
These are not just theoretical concepts. You can apply them in the field to create your shots.
The studium allows you to understand yourself and your viewers better.
The punctum enables you to add that touch of originality that will attract attention.
Both concepts are another method to help you build your photos.
Be humble, patient, constant, persevering, and persistent because the road to excellence is long.