bookguy on Nostr: Thanks again for sharing Matthew. For historically important photographs, Paul ...
Thanks again for sharing Matthew. For historically important photographs, Paul Salmons’ usage of Barthes and Sontag to develop a framework for the exploration and revealing of truth is important. The impact of these documentary photographs is more pronounced when we begin to imagine the framing of the photo, and question the photographer’s intent while also analyzing the finer details of the scenes pictured. As viewers held captive by the photographer’s gaze, we are assaulted with the sheer depravity and horror of what Auschwitz was.
In context, this all makes sense. We know these images were taken by a Nazi photographer, and we know of the horrors of Auschwitz and other camps. For a casual viewer it does not take much effort to understand exactly what is going on. It is explicitly stated. I enjoy Paul as a guide for the viewer to dig for deeper meanings, within what is known and discovered, through thoughtful study of these images. With this process the viewer is able to question their own humanity as they connect more deeply to the victims of the holocaust as well as their capturers. We cringe at the sight of those who helped in murdering millions appearing so similar to us.
I wonder how Barthes and Sontag would view the world of photography today. Sontag was around for digital, but I am only familiar with her essays in ‘On Photography’. She was never able to witness what AI is doing today. While there have been techniques to composite photographs in the darkroom, modern digital compositing techniques and the advent of AI generated images further blur the line between reality and fiction. We all know of deepfakes. This tech is only improving.
The ability to separate what is representative of truth against an image makers subjectivity requires a keen eye, imaginative mind, and greater understanding of the technical aspects of digital imaging. I know there is software out there to help us recognize digitally constructed images, but what is a casual scroller through the digital realm supposed to do? Algorithms which target users for specific content take us even farther from truth. I am doubtful that most individuals even have the attention span and desire for this kind of exploration in effort to have greater understanding of the content they consume.
I could go on, but I digress. I will note that this also brings up issues in the archiving of digital information, the digital artifact vs. the physical, but I’ll save that for another time.
In context, this all makes sense. We know these images were taken by a Nazi photographer, and we know of the horrors of Auschwitz and other camps. For a casual viewer it does not take much effort to understand exactly what is going on. It is explicitly stated. I enjoy Paul as a guide for the viewer to dig for deeper meanings, within what is known and discovered, through thoughtful study of these images. With this process the viewer is able to question their own humanity as they connect more deeply to the victims of the holocaust as well as their capturers. We cringe at the sight of those who helped in murdering millions appearing so similar to us.
I wonder how Barthes and Sontag would view the world of photography today. Sontag was around for digital, but I am only familiar with her essays in ‘On Photography’. She was never able to witness what AI is doing today. While there have been techniques to composite photographs in the darkroom, modern digital compositing techniques and the advent of AI generated images further blur the line between reality and fiction. We all know of deepfakes. This tech is only improving.
The ability to separate what is representative of truth against an image makers subjectivity requires a keen eye, imaginative mind, and greater understanding of the technical aspects of digital imaging. I know there is software out there to help us recognize digitally constructed images, but what is a casual scroller through the digital realm supposed to do? Algorithms which target users for specific content take us even farther from truth. I am doubtful that most individuals even have the attention span and desire for this kind of exploration in effort to have greater understanding of the content they consume.
I could go on, but I digress. I will note that this also brings up issues in the archiving of digital information, the digital artifact vs. the physical, but I’ll save that for another time.