'To live is to be photographed (Sontag 2004). Does photography have a Essay

'To live is to be photographed (Sontag 2004). Does photography have a special role in the mediation of our lives, and how, according to Sontag, is this role changing - Essay Example There is a big role of photography in the conception of the history of the world. Photographs have historically provided an objective record of the events of the real world. They have served as a key in confirming the ravages of the Civil War for the public. â€Å"Roland Barthes, a preeminent theorist of photography, said that photograph is the "sovereign contingency," meaning it is dependent on something else happening† (Huds, 2013). In the earlier times, photography was considered as the domain of only the rich people in the world. The power of photography was spread to the general public’s hands after the invention of the instant camera by the Eastman Kodak company (Huds, 2013). Using this camera and the cheap 35 mm film, it was possible for any individual, rich or poor, to capture an image by clicking the camera, thus making photography evolve as the most popular art form. Photographs do play a special role in the mediation of our lives. There is an insuperable powe r in photographs that helps them determine what can be recalled in the events. Photography brings the memories of childhood back to us. Photographs help us recall a sad or happy moment that we can share with others. The power of picture is that it captures a single moment’s quintessence and makes it permanent so that it can be reviewed over and over again. Photographs help us keep record of our past as well as present. ... r is to convey the actual fear and horror prevailing in the battle-field to the people in an attempt to discourage the occurrence of wars in the future. Once, a photographer said, â€Å"I thought I was going to save the world with my photographs† (The Free Library, 2013). Thousands of photographs of the Vietnam War were taken and almost all of them were viewed by people in different parts of the world within only few days of their being made. Those photographs were basically meant to be seen as soon as possible. The photographs were disturbing and affected people emotionally and psychologically. They made the audiences feel sickened. It is a fact that some photographs, particularly those of the war, are intentionally taken to shock the audience because the images recalled are the ones that are the most horrifying and compelling. Such photographs are imprinted on the minds of the audience. A memorable photograph is one that has an impact. It is a form of a visual impression tha t awakens the individual looking at it in a positive or a negative way. A horrifying photograph spurs anger and frustration in the audience. It evokes an emotional response that makes the audience think upon the context that reflects from the photograph. A photographer making a documentary focuses the camera at the real world to capture the drama of life, death, and all that lies in between the two. The audiences have been brought quite close to the important events of the world by the photojournalists. They have helped the audiences see the world as it is in reality rather than the way it is projected in the news. The medium of photography has even made the armchair participants completely aware citizens of this world. In the present age, the importance of photographs cannot be overestimated.