It’s amazing how I can a picture one way, but you could see
it completely differently. Yet, as the article states, that is exactly what
pictures do. Pictures allow for perspective. That is not to say that words do
not, but pictures are far more up to interpretation. Certainly words can be
open ended as well, but pictures open our imagination to possibility.
As the article states, various factors can influence the way
we see a picture, and I would agree. Where are you seeing the picture? Is it in
somebody’s home? Why do you think they have it there? Is it in their living
room or their bedroom? Is it in an art gallery? What city is the gallery in?
Where was the photo taken? In that city? What section of the gallery is it in? What
is happening in this picture? Is anybody in the picture? Are they happy? Angry?
Are they Americans? Can you tell?
All of these questions are relevant to our understanding of
photography. With words you can ask questions as well, but the list is likely
far shorter. Thus, pictures are powerful too, but in a very different way. They
open our minds to debate and every person in the world could see the image
differently. In all likelihood, this phenomenon would not occur at a Barack
Obama speech.
There’s an old saying, “a picture can say 1,000 words,” and
it is true. A picture can be as powerful, meaningful and provocative as a long
speech, without saying any words at all. A speech can last an hour, yet our
perception of an image can be just as powerful and formulated in just a second.
Thus, the power of pictures cannot be underrated.
Do you think pictures can be as powerful as words?
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