Why Take Photographs?

PURPOSE OF PHOTOGRAPHY The purpose of photography is to send a message. The message might evoke an emotion, tell a story, capture a moment, or tell us about the world.

Document a moment in time Fictionalize a moment in time Why Take Photographs? Document a moment in time Fictionalize a moment in time Artistic Expression Technological Exploration Narcissism

Documents a moment in time Capture facts Photojournalism (inform, record, hold accountable, influence, promote change, promote thought) Scientific record Educating, teaching Sell, advertise (e.g. athletic achievements>apparel) What the photo includes is important

Fictionalizes a moment in time News, political rhetoric Excludes facts – remember things as we want them remembered Propaganda, manipulation Artistic Expression with a temporal reference (e.g. Madmen) Sell, advertise (e.g. makeup) What is important may be what the image includes and/or excludes

Artistic Expression Pleasure / personal interest May invoke a response (intellectual, emotional, spiritual) Experimentation (what if) Professional (career / monetization) Manipulation of the visual medium Manipulation of the viewer

Technological Exploration Development of better technology, capabilities Development of improved design/efficiency Part of a larger scientific study (i.e. developing cameras capable of photographing Mars)

Narcissism Pleasure of taking “home pictures” – seeing self and others that we know (identification) Personal memories Not necessarily in negative sense of ‘narcissism’

Document a moment in time Fictionalize a moment in time Why Take Photographs? Document a moment in time Fictionalize a moment in time Artistic Expression Technological Exploration Narcissism