In the near future, will video eventually replace photo?

Throughout the years, photography and video have existed alongside each other with their own strengths. However, it seems that video is slowly replacing photos. Read the details here.

Below are some questions that you might like to ask yourself:

• How is this development going to affect my career (as a media professional)?
• How does this change affect/impact the field of journalism?
• What is the future of photojournalism?
• Will there ever be a day where one is able to work as a “videojournalist”? And how do you define the profession of “videojournalism”?
• Should video replace photo, what aspects of photojournalism will be lost?

Dear class, 

During one of our class discussions, some of you have brought up the concept of “Show, do not tell” when it comes to the reports by the media. I figure most of us will interpret this as a neutral, factual reporting of the media and not making any aspects of the report subjective.

Along the same vein, the concept of “Show, do not tell” can also be applied in the field of photography. Photographs often have a strong presence even in the absence of captions. They have the ability to evoke emotions while allowing every one of us to interpret the pictures independently of one another. This might be a bit constraining when it comes to the field of photojournalism (since the pictures are taken primarily to describe an event or a happening), but there’s still space left open for interpretation in this aspect as well. Once again – as mentioned in my previous post – composition is important since this is the most crucial factor when it comes to enabling the viewers to interpret the message of the photograph.

In a world where we are constantly being bombarded by noise, photography grants us that silence that enables us to have peace of mind. However, some advertisers are beginning to use photography as a form of visual attraction to engage our attention (when often we do not wish to). What begins as a form of art has now been turned into a device for consumerism, which is a very regretful development.

Nevertheless, it’s undeniable that the concept of “Show, do not tell” applies well when it comes to photography. If not, advertisers will not maximise the usage of such concept in recent years. Indeed, they are beginning to realise that a picture indeed speaks a thousand words.      

Photographs are most impactful when left alone. It is unbelievable how much we like to add information to photographs, Editors place captions below them, photojournalists adds an article alongside them and image editors edit them often to enhance the photo’s visual appeal.  It’s understandable that all of this is done to align the photographs to the reports that the media wish to make. However, at the same time, the impact of the photo is reduced since adding information in such ways reduces the number of possibilities of interpretations open to the viewers.

Hence, “Show, do not tell” should be the motto of every photographer.

Such is the essence of photography.

Photography is an interesting artistic endeavour.

And I am not referring to candid shots that most of us usually capture with cameras.  I am referring to images that are captured to transmit a message (such as those that are used in photojournalism) or to evoke an emotion (such as the image above).  Photography is indeed an interesting field that we can engage in.

Being an avid portraiture, landscape and nature photographer, I find it a joy to look at a picture and admire the significance of the image.  Besides being a photographer, I am also a writer who takes pride in my writing. However – through personal experiences - I find that words pale in comparison when we place them beside an image. This is because pictures have a way of evoking emotions that words alone are not powerful enough to express.  When it comes to understanding an image, it needs no words. Usually, it takes just a glance to understand the message that the image seeks to express.

While most photographers may emphasise the technical aspects of photography such as the depth of field, ISO setting, aperture adjustments and shutter speed, I feel that the most important component lies with composition (the way that the elements in an image are arranged together to create an impactful message). If one does not master the technique of composition, the rest of the technical aspects of photography do not matter as the photo has already lost its significance.

The photo above illustrates this point perfectly. This image is captured during one of the early evenings. I have deliberately avoided making any technical adjustments to my camera when I capture this image. However, I have taken measures to ensure that the composition is just right. The message that I want this photo to relay is the comparison between meagre man-made structures (i.e. buildings) and the expansive universe (signifying the cosmos). I have deliberately minimised the view of the HDB flats while enhancing the vastness of the sky.  I believe that the message is transmitted to the viewer in a single glance.

Creating powerful and insightful images has always been the dreams of many photographers, and the limitless possibilities are what make photography such endless enjoyment. And with the advancement of digital technology (where images are captured at no cost as compared to traditional films), photography has become possible for all of us. Be it humans, nature or landscapes, mastering composition will turn any of these images into a masterpiece.

So, do pick up a camera and capture some images. Who knows, photography might become an interest that you might like to pursue.

 For a lifetime.