I have always had a massive dislike for photographic captions.

I think there’s much more power in an image if it doesn’t have a caption. I mean, let’s face it -when someone says to you “I have something to say to you, but I can’t tell you”, you can’t help but feel a sudden, immediate need to know.

Enigma is a very powerful tool, if used well.

I’d much prefer to work out the puzzle, rather than have it explained to me. Which is why I have always had a massive dislike for photographic captions. Photographs are visual stories, and by that definition, they should be self explanatory.

Resolution: the act of removing any uncertainty in the work, in my view does not help the work. It just allows the viewer to get get off lightly. It does not encourage the viewer to become engrossed. As soon as the explanation is given, the viewer is now free to move on.

So i’d choose enigma every time. I think the work becomes more powerful if the viewer is left guessing.