If you’ve ever questioned the power of an image, consider the current news cycle. The US government has decided it won’t show images of the dead Bin Laden.
If you’re wondering why, the answer is simple. A photograph–an image–is an incredibly powerful thing. It can be a tool, intentionally or incidentally. It can tell an entire story of a month, year, decade, or a generation, captured in perhaps just 1/1000 of a second. An image change a life, end a war, start a riot, bring someone joy, inspire a revolution, open or close a debate. An image can move the world.
My point has nothing to do with the governments treatment, or lack thereof, of the Bin Laden image…should or shouldn’t, left or right in America, good versus evil, or any other debate along political lines. That is not my point, and this is not the forum here for those discussions. Don’t go there. Instead it has everything to do with the proof of the power of an image. Therein lies the only reason that this debate rages on. If it weren’t powerful, there would be nothing to say.
My point is a simple one and specifically this: if you’ve ever doubted if, in this modern era with technology moving a light speed, whether there is still respect and value for the 130 year old concept of a photo, think again. If you’ve ever wondered if the power of a photograph is waning, think again. The power of a photograph is at an all time high. Sometimes we… need these reminders.
Consider this as you go to work with your camera.
I think the power of the still image is stronger than ever. The power to tell a story. It’s not just in a monthly magazine (although there is a place for that). It’s on your desk. It’s in the palm of your hand. It’s the democratization of photography. Do you have something to say. Pick of a camera and say it. At it’s heart the still image is about a story and if anything people want to hear more stories not less.
If I can add to the narrative I’d like to say that images have the power to preserve. There is always someone who will look at a place and see $$$. A forest, a mountain, a river or species as pure profit. Hopefully the people that see the beauty of a Yellowstone or a Yosemite will put more weight on the scale than the profiteer. Your local park, the one you bring your family to for a Sunday picnic, there is someone who wants to see that as a condo development.
I just finished reading Bill Keller’s interview with Joao Silvia and Greg Marinovich at the NY Times blog LENS. They wrestle with photojournalism and the power of the still image. I agree with Chase the power of a singular image is not in doubt.
-Shane
No matter if this image ever comes out or not though, it will still bring on doubt in this time and age. The down side to modern technology ask the question, as powerful as an image can be, are they still credible? Is the shot real? Is it photoshoped? Is it staged?
No longer do we go back to the roll of film we have to show proof.
Well Played.
The strength and power of an image, will drive people to great lengths. What I mean is, somewhere out there, there are people trying desperately to hack into Govt databases to get these Bin Laden images, and release them for whatever political or fame motives that matter to them.
At some point in the future, they will probably succeed, and the power of those images will have an effect, and the ‘finder’ will be recognized.
My point is; The drive to find them, shows the heroin needle need for images of importance, and that within every one of us is a wanton desire to see them, right or wrong.
My question is; Can we learn to let this go? can we one day evolve beyond the need to see images like this?
One of your best posts! (IMO)