Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/03/31

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Subject: [Leica] What is truth: A photograph was/ is ?
From: kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)
Date: Thu Mar 31 02:28:03 2005
References: <fb.6e009d9f.2f7cbda7@aol.com> <424B6777.7030006@cox.net> <10af8dc7c62edb9b13f99e253a2190cd@pix-that-stimulate.com>

Tarek Charara wrote:
Steve Barbour a ?crit :
>> yes, but unmanipulated or not, it's all about what we chose to show,  
>> or what we chose not to show...

> How true ;^). This is why I don't like the "truth" word as it can be 
> only a part of reality. It's my truth. Something personal about how I 
> "see" reality. It's not a lie, as I'm not voluntarily altering reality, 
> I'm just experiencing part of it. And it cannot be otherwise. Truth is a 
> dangerous word, because we think it has to do with reality. It transmits 
> a feeling of absoluteness. Advertisers, spin doctors and journalists 
> LOVE truth. They even invent it. The government loves truth. Any 
> government!
> Photography or any other means of "reality transcription" is only an 
> interpretation at a certain time and in a certain way, of a tiny part of 
> reality. Magritte's painting "ceci n'est pas une pipe" (this is not a 
> pipe) comes to my mind, it clearly states that the pipe painted is not a 
> pipe, but a painting of a pipe. Not reality, but an image thereof.
> The photographer chooses his point of view and how he's going to tell 
> his story, his truth. Is it going to be an article, a novel, a fantasy, 
> a poem, etc.? As to PJ work, well, sorry to disappoint you, but it has 
> nothing to do with reality either. Only with the photographers choice 
> (or non-choice) of what is being told in pictures, the photographer's 
> truth.
clip***
> The intentions of the photographer can be discussed though. Manipulated 
> photographs have always been used in any kind of propaganda, as have 
> been rewritten history books and fantasy articles.

.... photography always ! reflects a 
point of view, therefore manipulation, 
by the process of selection...cropping 
is done  ! that's the nature of it !  ...
....  something is selected to be 
included, and other things are selected 
to be excluded...

Steve


> photographer can be 100% honest and take pictures of something that is 
> staged (without him knowing). Where is the truth here? Who's lying?

> Tarek


Replies: Reply from daniel.ridings at edd.uio.no (Daniel Ridings) ([Leica] What is truth: A photograph was/ is ?)
In reply to: Message from Afterswift at aol.com (Afterswift@aol.com) ([Leica] What is truth: A photograph was is)
Message from kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour) ([Leica] What is truth: A photograph was is)