A Never Ending Story

"A picture can tell a thousand words". I couldn't disagree more. I think everyone has heard that famous saying, yet nobody highlights how much it undervalues photography. We live in a world that is oversaturated with pictures and commentary, and we don't take a second to understand how far we have come. Photography comes with an easy swipe of a screen, or a click of a button to most people, which makes us forget a time where it had an unprecedented impact on history. Photography is emotions, memories, evidence, reality, time, and so much more. It is a language that connects us to people we have seen, places we have been, as well as the statement that can be made through it. It can be argued that photography reaches far beyond the sound of words. It can be understood across the whole globe without a translator. And it can emit a powerful reaction.

"Tank Man" by, Jeff Widener

There is a feeling of mystery you get with photography. You don't know what happens next. You don't always get that with film. Photography is often compared to film and rightfully so. However, I believe that there is a certain pleasure that most movies take away. With photography you don’t get the luxury of a continuous frame, so you are left inspecting every edge of a photo.

"V-J Day in Times Square" by, Alfred Eisenstaedt

There is a story in every photo. It is not just a thousand words. There is a before, during, and an after. A photo communicates beyond the description of words. There are things that words cannot describe. For example, the picture seen above titled, “V-J Day in Times Square” was taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt in 1945. A day of celebration of Japan’s Surrender in World War II. It is a photo that will withstand the test of time. It is, in fact, timeless. It would not be the same to express the message, and emotion set by this picture with words. 

Likewise, photography can be a timeline as seen in the work of Charles Moore who documented the Civil Rights Movement through his photography. The fact of the matter is, photography brings us closer to reality. It is a bridge of understanding that connects us to the world we live in, and the nature around us. It is the foundation of the unspoken language. It has transformed the way we view life. And I believe a more fitting saying should be, “Seeing is believing”. It is not just a thousand words, but a never-ending story.

See you next time,

Konstantyn, R