PhotoPlay: Framing Art and Attitude

We had more responses to this PhotoPlay prompt than to any of the others.

Interestingly, a personal connection to the concept of framing emerged not only in your images but also in the explanations that accompanied each photograph.

Framing (not the photography kind) is a psychological concept that was established after a series of experiments was conducted by Tversky and Kahneman in the early 1980’s. The experiments were related to the language and structure of phrases and how individuals related to the phrases.

For example, if something is phrased negatively and the outcome is negative, people will most likely not select that choice. They would rather choose a statement that has a negative outcome but is positively expressed. The following medical statements provide a clear example of this, where the first is preferred over the second:

34% of patients who undergo treatment will recover.
76% of patients who undergo treatment will not recover.

This theory has spread into research on negotiation, choice and decision making. The way we frame things – either by words or by actions – matters.

Attitude as a frame

In this context, attitude is an accurate synonym for a frame. It’s the lens through which we view and react to our world. It’s the mechanism by which we define people, objects, places and events.

The following attitudes emerged from your posts:

• Re-evaluation of a present state of being. Amy’s image and post illustrate this:

• Appreciation for a state of being that occurred in the past. Sandra’s shadowed picture evokes an immediate image of events from the day before:

• Attention to that which is most important. This is an attitude that the majority of you wrote and photographed about. There is a need to remove distractions and to focus on that which brings lasting satisfaction. Jessica chose to frame life in silence and she has been surprised by the journey:

• Watchfulness to the needs of our own lives and our families. Kelly and her family needed to get away. An old wooden structure framed light for her, and although she only noticed the frame later, she came to see how the insignificant details count in the outcome of a life:

While you consider the attitudes you display towards others and your circumstances, take a browse through the gallery below. Click on the thumbnails to appreciate them in full size and to read the participants' reflections.

I look forward to seeing you again here in July.

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• Tags:  
• christian attitude
• culture
• framing
• photography
• photoplay

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