Why is photography important?

Why is photography important? What’s the point of photography? We have all asked this question at some point in the past. After all, why do we constantly get up at 4:00 AM to capture the sunrise instead of staying warm and cozy in bed?

When we might be watching television or hanging out with friends, why do we spend countless hours perfecting our compositions and understanding the principles of photography?

And yet, even on those days when we lack all creative ability and finding the will to click the shutter button seems impossible, we keep going. Why? Why is photography such an appealing art form? What drives us to continue?

Why is Photography Important?

I’ll list six reasons why I believe photography is important in this piece. Hopefully, these suggestions will give you direction and inspiration, and they’ll inspire you to take pictures even when it seems like nothing is worth it, and you should put the camera down for good.

1. Our photos convey what is significant to us.

One of the most popular responses when you ask people what items they would save from their burning home is a photo album or PC containing all of their digital photos.

It’s fascinating, isn’t it? Even in times of panic, we preferred to grab pictures over expensive jewels.

This strong urge to preserve our captured memories relates to our ongoing drive to capture our most priceless moments in pictures and reveals much about the place of photography in our life.

We keep a record of the significant occasions and persons in our lives. The ceremonies surrounding births, birthdays, marriages, anniversaries, holidays, and the purchase of new homes are all documented because they are significant.

Pictures tell our own stories and serve as a timeline of the people and places we value most in our life. They comprise our narrative, which we might later impart to others. In the end, the countless photos we take combine to tell the story of our lives.

2. Pictures make up a part of our legacy.

I recall riding a train as it passed a playground where kids were posing for the yearly school picture while standing caught my attention. The teachers were seated in the first row, while hundreds of uniformed and well-groomed kids were seated behind them. The entire crowd stopped moving for the tiniest fraction of a second. Just as the photographer pressed the shutter, we passed.

The vast crowd then dispersed as the kids escaped their imposed immobility in what appeared to be slow motion. The orderly rows disintegrated into people huddling with friends or playing balls.

None of those youngsters knew that the image would probably survive them. The school picture might turn up again a few generations later amid old documents in an attic, and someone would look for their grandfather among the youthful, fresh faces.

Photographs are important because they capture fleeting moments in our life that seem to have little significance to us at the time. The importance of a snapshot might not even be for us; rather, it might be for people who are looking for us or the places we once frequented. Each photograph could be a tiny piece of a puzzle that puts our life in perspective.

3. With photos, we may share and communicate

More than just a mere record, images are. The impulse to share what we find beautiful and intriguing with others is our nature’s greatest and most charitable aspect, and photography taps into this.

The myriad photo-sharing websites, where millions of people share their unique, ardent, and occasionally eccentric perspectives on the world around them, are the best examples of this desire. In other words, those who see our photos can learn about our life. How effective is that?

4. Through photography, we become artists.

We can express ourselves through art by using photography. When we see a stunning scene or an elderly man with wrinkles on his face, we want to capture it.

Although every one of us will have a different purpose when taking a picture, we all want to produce something. No matter how mundane our nine to five jobs may be, the act of creating an image qualifies us as artists. It is satisfying.

5. The language of photography is intricate.

Our visual language can convey amazement, awe, joy, and grief. In photography, every human emotion has a place.

I didn’t respect my photos of cloudy landscapes for long since I thought there was no beauty in a place with muted hues and a gloomy sky. I wanted the landscape to be vibrant and alive with color.

However, a landscape devoid of color forces you to look for additional details that are frequently missed in direct sunlight. This could be a tree sticking out in a vast forest or the symmetry of hills.

To elaborate further:

Since I’ve struggled with depression for the majority of my adult life, photography allows me a vocabulary to convey emotions that otherwise go unspoken. While our lexicon for mental illness is woefully inadequate, photography has helped me to create a visual language for some of my most challenging feelings.

6. The ability to be moved by photographs.

Photographs have the power to capture our attention and emotionally engage us. Many potent images can move us, such as Nick Ut’s image of a grieving Vietnamese child whose clothing has been destroyed by napalm.

Photography gives us lessons about a wide spectrum of emotions on a more delicate level. Grief has the capacity to obliterate our life’ vibrancy and color. There isn’t a secret method to repair these. We must exercise patience. But while we wait, we might look for the patterns and shapes that are still visible in the gloom. They will eventually bring us back to color. In times of deep sorrow in my life, I have turned to imagery to convey the possibility of color returning.

Photography is a potent language that speaks to our emotions when done well. It enables us to share our narrative and demonstrates how we see the world.

Improvements in Photography

Photography has evolved and become easier to use throughout time. The cost, speed, and ease of taking and sharing pictures have all decreased. We can now view things throughout the world that we previously couldn’t see with our own eyes. It has significantly altered our world and the way that photographs are made.

• The beginning

The early nineteenth century saw the invention of photography. It astonished everyone and was soon accepted. When it was first created, people sought to comprehend what it should be used for and how pictures should seem. This prompted experiments with various photo formats, textures, tones, and details.

• Small cameras

Kodak was created after extensive testing and technological advancements. The Kodak was a compact, portable camera that widened the appeal of photography. It was no longer a privilege reserved for the upper class but was now made accessible to the middle class.

• Modern photojournalism

Germany was the birthplace of contemporary photojournalism in 1925. When the Leica, the first 35mm camera, was created. Many Germans fled to America at that time because they were being oppressed and persecuted there. Most photographs shot for magazines and newspapers were of World War II.

The 35mm was compact and quick to snap pictures. But not every photographer employed a 35mm camera. Some people used a Rolleiflex camera in the 120-format. Later, the 35mm film camera became more adaptable as it was improved. It could switch between a wide-angle, zoom, and telephoto lens.

• The Polaroid

Edwin H. Land created the Polaroid in the middle of the 20th century. The Polaroid was unique because it could capture a picture and print it out in under a minute.

• Digital cameras

Eastman Kodak invented the first digital camera in 1975. Soon after, other manufacturers started developing digital cameras, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Pentax, and others.

Newspapers and periodicals switched to digital at the turn of the 20th century. Manufacturers started developing mirrorless cameras around this time, which have gained popularity among many photographers.

• Smartphones

In addition to digital and mirrorless cameras, smartphones are now a common tool for taking pictures. Since phone cameras are now capable of taking amazing pictures thanks to technological advancements, many individuals no longer feel the need to carry a separate camera.

A wonderful method to express oneself, preserve memories, and convey a story is through photography. It can be a stunning work of art or a priceless moment captured in time.

Photographs preserve our memories and our most treasured moments. We can reflect on those times in the future and see their significance in our lives. Even when we are gone, we will still be there in those pictures, giving our loved ones a legacy of grins and giggles to cherish. So emerge from the shadows, face the camera, and make memories that your loved ones will cherish forever.

Hopefully, you now have a clearer understanding of the various reasons for photography as well as the significance of the art form.

FAQs on Why Photography is Important

Originally posted on February 8, 2023 @ 9:34 pm