Can photographs tell the truth?
What attracted me to this challenge was the opportunity to investigate whether I can make photographs that can tell the truth or not. We all live in a world where we often rely on photography or pictures as a tool to be able to tell us what really happened. They are seen as a tool that can reproduce the reality or maybe even “the truth”. After the shooting in Ferguson there was a debate in Sweden about putting cameras on police-officers to monitor them. The thought behind the idea was that the camera would give an objective view of any debatable events which involved the police. A photograph, a video or a camera don’t lie.
But I do not think it’s that simple, because I’m not sure there such a thing as a objective truth. And I don’t think that photographs can tell the truth, because they aren’t objective. The pictures is the result of a moment in time, what happens next, the picture don´t show, and it definitely don’t show the elephant outside of the frame. My conclusion is that this is an impossible task, because there is no objectivity.
“Make a short series of purely object photographs.”
Said all that you may think that I didn’t even make an attempt to do a series of pictures that are truly objective… but I did. When I look at them I think they are ultimately subjective in framing, content and perspective choice of location, lens, and so forth. I took the challenge as a possibility to try to depict a scene from different angles, to see if we see the same scene if we look at it from different perspective. And that was fun, but maybe not a solution for the task at hand.
Kristina
Look at Aliceincleveland she took the challenge and made a series of three pictures that show another take on this challenge.
That is a truly beautiful series of photographs that you took Kristina. I love seeing all the angels of this pairing; they become emotionally charged as a group. Well done!
Thank you, I’m looking forward to see your result.
I like your series of photos here and I do think the perspective changes the meaning. So, personally, I would say that, yes, you made an object(ive) series of photos through your choices.
When I look at them though I see different feelings as told through perspective. The top two photos convey curiosity of the child trooper. I think it’s all in the teddybear. The child holding what she knows, while wondering about the unknown. The middle photo gives a more parental aspect. The adult trooper encouraging the child’s curiosity, but also a small hesitation. Then the last two photos give the perspective of hesitation. It is noticeable how the child hides behind the adult’s leg both wanting to explore and stay safe.
We put our perspectives into objectivity in different ways. I’m glad I got to see your point of view!
Thank you for seeing! And telling me about it. Your world made me see at my work in a different way, I saw it clearer and maybe even objective 🙂 Thanks Alice 🙂
What a great series, Kristina! I have to say that last one really hit home with me. As a dad with two young daughters, I see in this a lot of what we go through as parents – encouraging our kids to explore the world, to be courageous enough to do new things and confident that we’re not so far away that we won’t be there when they need us.
Thanks again, Kristina.