Symbolism refers to visual cues that are used to express concepts without directly stating them. Throughout history, various symbols have been used in art to convey deeper meanings. Common symbols include colors, flowers, fruits, vegetables, animals, and objects, which all carry different established meanings that artists can utilize. In modern photography specifically, photographers make use of these symbolic elements to influence the mood they set and the effects they create in their audiences without being explicit.

1. SymbolisminArt
The cardinal rule of storytellingis- show,nottell.So,insteadof usingwordsonapage or dialogue in
a film- symbolismisatool whichisusedto communicate thingsvisually.
Symbolismreferstovisual cueswhichare usedtoexpressvariousconcepts.Thesesymbolscantake
the form of animate andinanimate things.Theyrange fromobjectstocolours,orfrom foodto
animals.Butacross differentcommunities,there are certaincommonsymbolswhichevokeasimilar
feelinginus.

2. Let's try to understandthe historyof these symbols,whattheyare,andhow we perceive them.
Symbolismdatesbacktothe Mayan and Egyptiancivilizations-where the formeradoptedthe jaguar
as a symbol of ferocityandvalour,while the latterusedthe scrabbeetle tosymbolize
transformationandresurrection.
Duringthe Renaissance periodinthe medievaltimes,whenonlyafew peoplewere literate- art
movementsreliedheavilyonsymbolstoconveydeepermeaningtothe masses.Duringthisperiod,
symbolswere inspiredfromreligion,nature andsociety.
Later in
the 19th
century,
Symbolismitself emergedasanart movement.The movementmade use of mutedcolours,dark
angelsandgrotesque figures.ModernartmovementssuchasDadaism, Cubism, andSurrealism

3. embracedsymbologyaswell. All popularpaintersfromLeonardoDaVinci andVincentVanGoghto
FridaKahloand PabloPicassohave all usedsymbolismintheirworkstosetthe tone of the times,
and to emphasize certaindetailsintheirpaintings.
Evenin the earlydaysof the camera,photographersusedtomake theirsubjectsholdbooksor
swordsto make themappearintelligentorbrave respectively.The portraitof a youngNapoleon
Bonaparte- ona horse,or withhishand tuckedinside hissleeve- comestomindaswell.

4. But SymbolisminPhotographyisnota one-waystreet.Insteadof aphotographerusingsymbolsto
create events,sometimeseventsinphotoscreate powerfulsymbolswhichoutlast notonlythe
photographer,butthe eventitself.
In thiscontext,there are multiple
symbolsusedinModernPhotography.These include:
1) Colours
Differentcolourscarrya differentvisual meaning.A colourlike redrepresentsloveandanger,while
one like yellowdenotesjoyandlightheartedness.Greenstandsfornature,while purpleisoftentied
to royalty.Whichcolouryouchoose in yourphotosrepresentswhatkindof moodyouwantto set,

5. or the effectthatyou wantto create on your audience.
2) Flowers
Flowersdefinitelyaddbeautytothe frame inyour photos.Butall flowersdon'tnecessarilyconvey
the same message.Floriography,popularlyknownasthe language of flowers,referstothe meaning
that has beenascribedtoflowerssince thousands of years.Whilearose representslove,alavender
representspurityandhealing.Similarly,whilechrysanthemumsstandforoptimism, liliesare
commonlyassociatedwithmourning.So,that'swhyyoumightsee roses,daisiesandorchidsat
weddings;and liliesandchrysanthemumsatfunerals.
3) Fruitsand Vegetables
Like flowers,fruitsandvegetablesalsosignal apassage of time,andconveydifferentmeanings.An
apple hasa biblical reputationof beingthe forbiddenfruit,whereasalemonrepresentsdifficulties
or obstacles,aspopularizedbythe phrase.Invisual arts,pearsact as a symbol of marital faith;
whereaspumpkinsare associatedwithHalloweenaswell aswell-being.

6. 4) Animals
Differentanimalsadddifferentenergiestoyourpictures.Catsadda layerof mysteriousnessand
sharpnesstoyour pictures, whiledogsportrayloyaltyandfriendship.Onthe otherhand,horses
representvictoryandwar,while birdssignifyfreedomandliberation.
5) Objects
Havingthe presence of certainobjectsinyourpicturesestablishesanunspokenconnectionbetween
the photographerandthe viewer.Havingelementslikeclocks,givesthe vieweradimensionof time
and createsurgency.Instrumentstriggeryourauditorysenses,while picturesof foodactivate your
olfactorysenses.Mirrorsare an objectwhichcreatesa theme of self-reflectionanddoubt.

7. Overtime,symbolismhasbeenusedverycreativelyinvisual formatsaswell.Infilmmakingfor
example,alotof directorsare knownfor givingthe audience subtle cluesaboutwhatisgoingto
happeninthe movie viathe use of thistechnique.
In FrancisFord Copolla’sThe Godfatherforinstance,wheneversomeoneisgoingtodie,we see an
orange in the frame.Similarly,inMartinScorsese’sThe Departed,before the deathof anycharacter,
we see an ‘X’inthe frame.

8. In whatwas presumablythe combinationof afinancial andartisticdecision,everyshotinthe movie
FightClub,hasa Starbuckscup init.By doingthis,DavidFincherlaidemphasisonthe overarching
point- aboutcapitalismandcorporationssellingus stuff we don’tneed- thatthe movie wastryingto
make.
all,symbolismplaysanextremelyimportantrole inanyformof visual art. It notonlycommunicates
the subtexttothe viewer,butalsosetsthe tone andaffectsyourbiases.
So,the nexttime yousee animage lookoutfor the symbolismthatthe artisthastriedto
incorporate;andif you’re an artistyourself- don’tmissoutonusingthisamazingtool!

9. Creditto the Reference Site: https://expertphotography.com/symbolism-in-photography/