Photographic Perception: The Myth of the Thousand Words

Article #1 Review
Christopher Harris provides a sweeping analysis of a wide spectrum of articles where he delves into the “textual” meaning of photography. To simplify his discussion, he divides his findings into three categories:

1. Studies concerned with the impact of photography on the viewer
   Harris points out that photographs are universal and go beyond language barriers. He also suggests that photographers have the ability to present positive or negative messages and can control their content to result in a predetermined advantage.
2. Studies focused on the viewer’s response to photographs
   Harris refers to “gut feelings” and examines the process of interpreting and expressing a response to a photograph when he quotes A.D. Coleman, “the image provokes me to feel and think and understand” (12). He is saying that our response to images can be an emotional connection.
3. Studies relative to content and the photographer’s intentions
   Harris builds on the idea that photographs are thought to be true. In support, he sums up Sekula’s position and states: “The argument therefore comes back to the basic premise that people will believe what is contained in a photograph because they believe it documents a real occurrence and they can relate its truthful contents to known real-world experiences” (14).

In his final summary, Harris emphasizes the point that believability is the backbone of news imagery and cautions that new technologies must value “this view of a very powerful journalistic craft.” During our class discussion there were mixed opinions regarding the article; some thought it was boring, another felt it expressed viewpoints in a new way. As a wrap-up, it was re-enforced that the photographer has the ability to define reality, holds the responsibility, editorial decision, and the control, to accurately depict the moment.