The Power of Photography

We just started The Power of Photography by Vicki Goldberg in my class, Photography and Society. It's causing me to think some deep thoughts.

One of the things that's been bugging me lately is how photographs are subjective, and how I want the truth as I see it, especially when it's in a picture that's meant to have a message, that it's impossible to create because of this subjectivity. But after today's readings (Chpts 1-5), I don't care as much. I realized that people don't want truly objective photos.

Who wants this

New York Street Cam

over this?

Image by Nitsa

Or this

Security Video Capture

over this?

For 'official' purposes, maybe, but as nice, aesthetically pleasing pictures? No.