The power of the camera

And so I find myself, once again musing over the things that I should decide to incorporate into my diverse blog which will span from the far reaches of philosophy, to the warmer, more accommodating medium of film!

However, this particular blog will be something different. Today, I'm going to muse over images. In-fact, what I really want to dwell on is the camera. Not in its' technical form; and with no particular regard to its status as a moving image camera, or a still image capture device. No, what I wish to discuss delves deeper than that. What I wish to look at is the power of such a device. "The pen is mightier than the sword" is an expression I rather dislike, that is commonly throw about by those who wish either to run away, or seek to hide behind scripture. Of course, most would say words are infinitely more powerful than any other form of communication; words enlighten us - I myself love poetry and thus should be the first person to degrade and discredit the supposed 'truth' of the camera. Yet time and time again, I find myself defending not a device, but a principle; a process, and thus a form of record that is perhaps just as valid as the written word. Remember those holiday snaps, taken on a throw-away 35mm from when you were a child - couldn't quite be trusted with a digital camera! (I already find myself making all of these allusions to childhood, where we were not kids of the digital age - I never had sky or a computer until rather later years; my tape walkman was my best friend) I suppose, what I am alluding to, is a time where a digital camera had the wow factor; but even so, the images that were taken on that holiday remain timeless. The light that passed through the lens that day was the same light that provided you with the photograph, the two are forever entwined together. There is something truly beautiful about the negative, and the way that you can physically 'touch' those moments in your hand. As the celluloid layer of formed silver halide crystals passes through your hands - you are touching an imprint. Not of chemistry, or of technicality. But of life itself, and its' documentation.

Whilst walking with a friend recently, we debated about the intensity of an image; the way in which an image can move you, can bring you to a swift conclusion, and can actually lie to you. The image of death shot by Ronald L. Haeberle, a US army soldier, present at the My Lai massacre in Vietnam during the war, speaks to me in volumes. When with my friend, we debated that the camera was more powerful than the gun, because death was a quick, and brutal action; and with as much respect to those who have fallen through war; death remains a largely anonymous and forgotten entity. Yet with the camera, the deaths of the victims of My Lai were not the same. Their names, we cannot see, and their faces we cannot distinguish or relate to. But what we can say, is that this image has scared millions. It has incited not violence, or hatred, but a different kind of thought provocation. This image could have prevented death, through its own influence.

What is certain, is that the image will live forever, but not in the same way that the memories of those who died will remain with those who live on to remember them. The image is real. It exists in our tactile world. The light went through the lens, and it captured death. However, it also captured life. Because, just like a pane of glass, or perhaps even a mirror, the people who see this image, will see themselves. They will see their own reaction. More importantly, they will feel it. Of course, the deaths of those pictured is terrible, horrific and inexcuseable; they will be remembered by those that knew them. But for me, I look at this image and I see a warning. I can see myself vowing that this will not happen if I can prevent it. If I can prevent war, with my small influence in the world, I will. It is all of us together that work together to stop war. The gun kills, and yes it wins figure wise of photography. Although, if a photo can change the way we think - perhaps its effects will echo further than the sound of a gunshot, which has no face, no humanity and no honesty. An image entertains all of these aspects and more; if it can prevent the need for guns and if it can prevent their use, then it has truly won.

Below, I am hotlinking the My Lai photo which has become one of the world's most defining images. I warn you, it is not a pretty piece of fine art. However, you need to see this to understand my perspective. Through death, is the prospect of saving life. Interesting? Do you view things differently? Comment!

http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/june2006/my_lai.jpg