Pictures and words

“If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can’t I paint you,” says a classic love song. Truly, a single photograph is that powerful to transcend a million words.

I believe in the power of pictures and the ripple effect it creates. Its messages plucked from still moments transcends to a million translations.

I too, am a fan of photographs. I grew up holding a camera that used film, making sure the film would not be exposed to light or else my shots will all go to waste. I remember the thrill of waiting for my shots to be developed and making the best out of the 24 or 36 shots given. Don’t get me wrong. I love to capture memories, nature’s sceneries and the mere reality of life. Before, big bulky photo albums had hideous hardbound covers. Now we have digital folders and nobody cares what your album cover is.

There are over a hundred avenues for one to share the passion of photography, one of which is instagram. This photo editing application which specializes in highly contrasted and saturated photos was bought by multi-millionaire website Facebook. Since then the application rose to prominence with more than a million users. If you have an iOs or Android powered phone, instagram is within your reach.

I have nothing against the application as I have an account myself but I was irked by one gentleman who got into a motorcycle accident along the high way of Mandaue City. Despite the police hovering over him and his damaged motorcycle, he still had the guts to take out his smartphone and upload a photo of his bleeding knee to the said application.

It made me question the purpose of photo sharing sites. Is it to contribute to the ever growing number of photo artists on the internet? Or is it an avenue of vanity where every action is documented and boasted to the world?

What is a photo for then?

How I wish there is not a stain of vanity but I guess reality has answered my question. My news feed is flooded with head shots of people with the same face yet different angles. For some vanity has taken over photography. Not to condemn everybody’s freedom on the internet but bleeds and wounds must be shared on an appropriate channel, that which is of a personal basis.

In the internet era, the concept of privacy becomes very vague. This is because almost everybody waives their right to privacy by the mere action of uploading a very personal photo on the internet. But once it is out, it is very difficult for one to take it down.

If there are photos worth sharing to the world, these are those that uplift the souls. Not those that depress us even more. Everyday we are faced with images on the news about death, murder, theft and the bad list goes on and on. It wouldn’t hurt to restrain yourself from the vanity monster inside of us when we choose what and what not to upload.

Certainly, the internet tempts us in ways that we do not even notice. It takes advantage of our personal lives so that it may become an avenue for praise or bullying. The biggest challenge now for every netizen is to keep his or herself’s privacy by making the right choices when it comes to photographs.

Much more now that the temporary restraining order of the Cybercrime Law is about to expire, there is a need to be extra careful with not just photos but with words as well. Words that may hurt, may slander or badmouth another may be taken against you.

Now is the time to take precaution with every photo and word.

**Published in The Freeman Newspaper on January 29, 2013