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Can I Use Symbols?
IN A PHOTOGRAPH, EVERYTHING MEANS SOMETHING, as all the words in a book mean something. Some mean more than others. Some are just necessary for holding it all together. And some carry impact on a level approaching the spiritual.
When an element in a photograph represents a larger idea or value, it’s symbolic. And using symbols in our photographs offers us a good way to say more with less. When symbols are juxtaposed with contrasting ideas, they can stir deep emotion and imply certain perspectives. The flag is one such symbol in many countries. The crucifix is another. Combine the two, and depending on the rest of the image, you are making a potentially powerful statement, not just about the flag or about the crucifix, but ...
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