Images sometimes speak louder than words when it comes to the media. Earlier this week, CNN.com featured a slideshow of photographs and a short article on renowned photojournalist Steve McCurry in which writer Elizabeth I. Johnson commented on the inspiration behind McCurry’s iconic photos. His photos, featuring everything from conflicts to portraits, are based in McCurry’s curiosity of people from all across the world. McCurry relies heavily on translators and relationships in order to connect with these people from different cultures and varying customs. The article portrayed his commitment to traveling to places and working with the locals in order to show the true story of what is happening there. McCurry was quoted saying, “As they explore, photographers are responsible for witnessing events and informing the greater public and for telling the stories of those without a voice.” His hope for global change through an informed public motivates McCurry’s dedication to his work and his responsibility to telling the truth through his photography.
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| Afghan girl, Peshawar, Pakistan (Steve McCurry/Magnum Photos) |
In a world with increasing access to new technologies and journalistic methods, photojournalism has been under heightened pressure and criticism in regards to the use of photoshop and the editing of photos. With these new technologies, photographers have more and more methods of manipulating photos and videos to present news events in a certain, and sometimes untruthful, light, which contributes to societal stereotypes or popular opinions. These systems have given photographers increased power in the media, but they also have much more responsibility to present the truth. Because writers can provide certain angles in their writing, the public relies heavily on photos to show them the events, in addition to their reading about them, so that they can form their own opinions. We, as the public, must be able to trust photographers to show world news and situations in a truthful light and not force certain opinions or stereotypes on the audience. Therefore, though this article, it was encouraging to see a renowned photojournalist committed to telling the truth and showing the whole scene through photography.
Click here for a slideshow of photographs by Steve McCurry.
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