I really enjoyed chapter seven of Ritchin’s After Photography. Photography has the power to bring social predicaments into view. Unlike writing, which only allows for situations to be described, photography shows people what is happening. With photography becoming so much more accessible, the documentation of social situations is becoming more prominent. Ritchin discusses the “Nuclear Nightmare” photographic essay by Robert Knoth and Antoinette de Jong, where they documented the physical and mental effects of humans as a result of a nuclear reaction. While yes the images achieved a large audience, are situations such as this honorable or exploitive? To me documentary and social photography always posts this question.
No comments:
Post a Comment