Paul Goldfinger photograph. Bright lights. What do they say? Anything? 2023.
Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net
Photography as art is not usually intended to offer fact-based truths.
In the field of journalism where the goal is to present accurate news, photojournalists can enhance the presentation of truth, while at the same time their work may be appreciated as art.
I have seen shows of that sort of news photography such as the images taken during the Spanish Civil War by photojournalists such as Robert Capa and Gerda Taro. Both these courageous photographers created the finest work, revealing art and truth, derived on the battlefield. She died in Spain during a fire fight at the age of 26. He also died in battle, stepping on a mine.
When the Pulitzer Prizes are awarded for photography, the best are chosen for both truth and art.
Robert Capa Pulitzer winner. He went in with the first wave on D-Day.
But these days the media, which is supposed to provide accurate news, often fails us. And that includes news photos which may offer light but little illumination. The latter will depend on which images are chosen to augment the news.
This is not an original observation. 25 years ago I was involved in a struggle to keep our community hospital open in the face of corporate raiders. Some complained that the doctors were not participating in the protests. So the medical staff agreed to demonstrate one day in front of the hospital; about 30 docs showed up. The local newspaper posted a story and used one photograph—–an image that showed only one doctor at the protest, and he was frowning.
My photo above is a study in light. Hopefully some will find a sort of satisfaction in it. Dare I say “beauty?” Or maybe it will merely ask, “What?”
“Parisian Walkways.” Paul Green