A single shot. A single shot is all it takes to freeze time, and create a standstill that will last for generations. A single shot can transport people to a point in time, to let them remember an occasion that they may have otherwise forgotten; not because it is unimportant, but rather in the scheme of life sometimes the small moments may go unnoticed. The brain continues to amaze people day-by-day the fact that an object so easily created, and so easily destroyed. It can resurface every emotion that was present in that moment: in the ice age of time. By looking at photography’s emotional impact, one can see the effect on people’s perspective on life and the world; this is important because it brings attention to the exclusivity of pictures, image use in news events, and the personal memoirs that they create. A picture cannot be measured in words, money, or tangible objects, it is a priceless piece of a person’s history. Nothing in the world compares to a photograph, an authentic view into the past that is only accessible through the lens of a camera. Drawings and paintings are tweaked by an artist’s bias on how they remember a moment, videos take away interpretation, which can keep people from thinking, and cause them to only focus on watching. Snapshots are the only representation that exist in the world that isolate a moment in time and let the mind wander back to the time when it took place. Scott Momaday expresses that, “Photography, at its best, is authentic art, an
It is said that “The true content of a photograph is invisible, for it derives from a play not with form but with time”. This makes me think that the real content of a picture, which is what the photographer tried to express, is not evident to perceive unless an explanatory text is provided. In fact, I believe that our perceptions of pictures changes over time as the historical context do. In addition, our opinions are never fixed as they are influenced by our environment. Therefore, when looking at a particular picture at a given time, it is certain that our perception of it will be different in the future based on what happen between the first time and second time we saw it.
It is truly amazing to see how far photography has come. With practical cameras only being 1800s when they were extremely large to now where everyone has one in their pocket as part of their phone. To make it even more incredible photos taken now can be shared across the world in the matter of seconds with the simple push of a button. There are even social media applications dedicated to only sharing pictures as a quick glimpse into your life. However, what is truly incredible about a picture is the emotions it can evoke, and the change that it can start.
Photography gives you a small sample of reality, but these realities have been changed to what the photographer wants to present. However as Sontag stated, “Of course, photographs fill in the blanks in our mental pictures of the present and the past.” Pictures show proof that all of the history that we learn is true, but although it confirms that, pictures does not show us the entire picture of how people felt about the situation. For example, one might have a picture from WWII and show us the setting, but does that picture really show the feeling of the people? That is why we say that photography only goes as far as to how the photographer wants to show the
A photograph is a powerful tool for life. A single, unchanged image of reality can be utilized for a variety of situations. For one, one photograph could decide the lifestyle in the foreseeable future of a person that committed a crime. Furthermore, one photograph could reveal the horrors of a particular event. On another note, one photograph could hold heartwarming memories forever. In addition, one photograph could stir a controversy that will have people debating whether an entity is real or not. Overall, as Susan Sontag mentions in her book Photograph, “Photographs furnish evidence.”(Sontag); in other words, whether if it is, good, bad, or misinterpreted, one photograph can be used as evidence that something in fact happened or is real.
First, taking pictures is a form of expressiveness that helps liberate the mind from any good or bad emotion. The ability to take pictures can be used as a way to meditate in order to release any anxiety caused by life experiences. Such is the way that I, myself, have used photography as a way to express my anger or my happiness in ways that only a single picture can capture the emotion transmitted through facial expressions. Therefore, photography can serve as a median between emotions and liberation, letting the liberation of emotions express themselves through a lens. Liberation is capable of bringing individuals to
That is almost as if to say that you can only take one photograph your entire life and once the shutter clicks, that’s it. What moment would be worth taking a life lasting picture of? Would it be the first time you rode your bike or the last time your dad carried you on his back? How about your wedding day? Perhaps your beloved family pet who recently passed away? Maybe the family vacation you took to Disney?
The violent markings of the photo album and its images, however, produce an equally powerful message that jars the memory as it disrupts and distorts the photographic chronicle of her life and that of her family and friends. The result is a complex visual experience that addresses the use of images in producing knowledge and making history.
In the world we live in today, anyone can pick up a handheld video camera and record their son’s soccer game or daughter’s school play, but to really capture the beauty of an event takes true talent. It takes the expertise of a cinematographer or director of photography as they are also known, to capture the true essence of an event and scene. Thomas Edison even once said, “By faithfully reproducing and kind or type of movement, it [cinematography] constitutes man’s most astonishing victory to date over forgetfulness. It retains and restores the things memory alone can’t recover, not to mention its auxiliary agencies: the written page, drawing photography. … Like them, cinematography prevents the things of yesterday that are useful to tomorrow’s progress from sinking into oblivion; amongst these one must count moving things, which only a few years ago were considered impossible to fix in an image” (Neale, 54). A picture, whether it be a photographed image or a filmed image is nothing when it has not been looked at with the proper eyes. When expressed through the proper lens and eye an image can really be worth a thousand words.
. I love taking pictures not only because it freezes time, but its also because I believe digital photographs become as material keepsakes. The more I read Picture of Life, Living Pictures by Van-Djick, the more I believe that digital photographs do become material keepsakes because I always collect my best images to one folder on my computer and flash drive. Through taking my own pictures, I create my own archive. Perhaps even, my own museum to document the past to the current moment that I'm living in for all purposes related to my own. Moreover, the author also stated the
Since its inception, photography has been used to capture moments in time all around the world. This wonderful technology has existed since ancient times, and has only improved in recent history, changing society in the process.
During high school, I was a key member of a program that created and edited pictures and videos using identical software. The beauty of capturing the world in a single photograph is unmatched; as is the process of enhancing each image in order to create a one of a kind portrait. A simple photograph often resembles much more than what meets the eye. The capturing of a single moment is often overlooked as the ability to be self-aware and photograph the ultimate display at the perfect moment is not as straightforward as it might seem. Every picture, whether it’s portraying icy tundra, verdant rolling hills, or even a human being, provokes self-reflection while causing the audience to ponder the true significance of the image
Quickly, the men got up. John got a fist and threw a punch at the man. The man’s head spun. He then quickly backfired by giving a punch at John. John quickly ducked and lunged towards the man’s legs. They both fell to the ground and John held his revolver and pointed it at the man. There, the men lay, contemplating what they should do. Finally, the man said, “Go on, take the shot. Life for me has been a series of quick memories and others faded away.”. John wasn’t about ready let him go without asking questions. “Who are you and what do you want?”. The man looked slightly puzzled. He thought for a second and then said, “To be quite frank with you, I’m not sure myself. The earliest memory I have is exiting that contraption into a world that
Back in June I got a text from Ruby creator of Brown Girl With A Camera, asking if I would help her plan a meetup in NYC in August. I jumped at the chance because I’m all about helping and supporting fellow entrepreneurs. I want us all to win! Plus, Brown Girl With A Camera’s mission is awesome read about it here. August is always a busy month for me. Especially this august I had two weddings and my 4 year wedding anniversary. The only date I had available was August 29th. Ruby and I agreed on a date. I got off the phone and got right to work.
Have you ever taken a picture or been looking through a photo album and felt a sudden rush of emotion? Do you wonder what caused that emotion? Many find themselves captivated by a photograph and overwhelmed by the emotions that the photograph arouses. Believe it or not the arousal of emotion from those photographs was not caused by the content of the picture but by certain elements within the photograph. When a photograph is viewed it is not only the subject that triggers the overwhelming emotional response, it is the length of time that the film was exposed to sunlight, the way lighting is used and played with, and the strong detail of colors or lack thereof. While many believe that the subject acts as the primary stimuli to emotions, the
There was a controversy in terms of photography being considered a form of art. Its versatility deriving into diverse areas such as scientific photography and commercial one makes it hard to be considered a medium of its own artistically. Nowadays, photographs are commonly accepted as an art form being exhibited in museums and galleries. However, it wasn't a breeze originally. The time photography first came into public eyes, there were a lot of doubts cast on photographers about whether or not they could be considered as artists.