Are Digital Photographs Too Plentiful To Be Meaningful?

www.stepbystepphotography.com

  Randello M. Braga

            It is said that a picture paints a thousand words (Gates. If. BREAD. Elektra, 1971). The thought of bringing back memories from the past may or may not inspire a typical viewer, with respect to how he thinks or feels about it. The connection of an image to both the owner and a passive onlooker may differ in many ways with respect to cognition and empathy.

            Cognition in the sense that different people from all walks of life look at pictures and think of it in many ways. On the other hand, a lot of individuals exude multiple emotions while viewing images as part of reminiscing good old days or just simply looking at a selfie of a dear friend with her cats and dogs rounding up in the living room during a rainy day.

Looking at a different perspective will allow us to make a self-inquiry as to how long will the meaning of these memories will last. When digital photography has not yet taken over pictures produced from miniature films, families would usually keep it in a photo album and from time to time look at it and talk about it in many different ways and or occasions.

            Now that social media has proliferated and advanced digital photography has fleetingly conquered the hearts of the so-called millennials, pictures and images can only be seen when you subscribe to a network for data connection like the Internet or simply, scrolling it over a Wi-Fi connection. Social media behaviors like clicking the like button or typing a comment lose the sincerity and honesty of valuing what is believed to be something that you can’t bring back over time and space. Indeed, technology has overtaken our values for self-worth and acceptance since we express feelings over a connection and not in person. Consequently, the birth of software and numerous applications in manipulating photographs likewise degrades the value of an original and fresh image taken religiously by a dedicated photographer.

Looking at the brighter side of digital photography, expert and or seasoned photographers recommend preparing a shot-list of the images you want to capture during a shoot ( DFlux, Anabel. “How to Manage Your Photography Workflow with a Shot List’ “Expert Photography, Expert Photography Co., undated, https://expertphotography.com/photography-shot-list/.)

            This would entail capturing images with a plan in mind not only for keepsakes but remembering things that money can’t buy which are happy memories and a lasting or eternal replicas from the past towards the future that would bring people closer to nature and understand why advocacy becomes an urgent call to take care of the resources that Mother Earth has bestowed upon us. The thing is that digital photography is not simply a point and shoot activity but a rewarding leisure which not only bring families closer together but also promote peace and progress between nations in conflict with one another.

            Since advancement in technology is now inevitable, let us promote digital photography beyond its purpose and that is to communicate in many different ways using images which will be of significance to each of our lives. The best way to do it is to experiment on your own (Grigonis, Hillary & Schiffner, Bill.”17 Essential Photography Tips for Beginners””Digital Trends, Designtechnica Corporation, July 6, 2018, https://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/best-photography-tips-for-beginners/)