Photographer Intent vs. Viewer Interpretation: Lessons from Tolkien

This opinion piece draws parallels between J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" and photography, arguing that a photographer's intent never aligns with a viewer's interpretation. The author, reflecting on a personal drive listening to the BBC dramatization of the novel, notes that just as Tolkien's work is often reduced to a good-versus-evil story, photographs can be misinterpreted due to cultural, historical, and personal biases. The piece cites examples like Nazi-era photos and Jonas Bendiksen's hoax using CGI images of a Macedonian town to illustrate how context primes meaning. It critiques photographic competitions as inherently subjective, since all rules are human constructs. The author concludes that celebrating differing interpretations is valid, just as he and his wife disagree on enjoying Tolkien's story.