What makes a picture worth 1,000 words?
Often times we hear the old saying “A picture is worth a thousand words”, but what really makes a picture worth so much? Is it the meaning behind the photo? Maybe it’s the words we would use to describe the image? Well I am here to tell you what that means to me.
As a photographer I find that photos are worth whatever weight someone puts behind it. Images taken in the past of historical events can show us what really happened, or tells a narrative we can bring forward to future generations. Family photos can be passed down and show how the family has grown over time or even to look back at who has passed on and to look back at the fun times you had with them.
The picture above is from Nicaragua. When I look at it it reminds me of when I went there on a humanitarian trip in college. I remember all of the singing we did on the bus from location to location. I remember the hotel with the pool, the cabin on stilts in the jungle we stayed at. I also remember the people I had a chance to meet. I remember that even though we couldn’t speak the same language we both shared fun times and great memories together. I also remember sleeping through an earthquake and waking up to everyone in a panic. Only after they calmed down they remembered they left me in the cabin!
Photographs are powerful. I could go on about all of the fond memories I have of Nicaragua, but the point is that just from this one image many stories can be told. To most people this looks like nothing but a beautiful scenic image shot in a city somewhere near a volcano.
To me a photo is worth its weight in words. Not just one thousand words. To those who ask me to be their wedding photographer, I always ask myself what do these photos say? What story does this album tell? How can I tell the story of their day in just one small book or set of images?
Often times I look back and can’t believe I have been so lucky to record the story of people. Show the love, the admiration, the growth and the struggles everyone has been through. Document what should be one of the happiest days of their lives.
A photo or series of photos can tell you almost anything you want to know. This is what makes the visual arts so special. This is what makes photography special.
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