What a thought you put in our heads, Susanne. My initial thought was that it must be hell if no photos or images would exist anymore, as I am a visually oriented person. On second thought I guess the good old storytelling would rise again. And by that I mean real storytelling, not the hype word it has become. Love this essay. Thanks.
Thanks, Marcel! Storytelling, but also drawing and painting would still play a big role in documenting every day life, I guess. But somehow this feels less colorful than a life with photography…
well, do i know what would happened if photography wasn't invented? no. can i presume? yes, but will be only a presumption and probably not the correct one. so i won't answer the question. but your question reminded me of an article that i read a few years ago, it was based on an experiment: a large number of people were asked if they had to move on a remote island and they can take with them one single item what that item will be; by far the majority answered: the photo album.
I read a book a few years ago called The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa. It's about a group of people on an unnamed island nation controlled by an authoritarian govt. Every so often, the government just disappears something (tables, cups, people). Most of the people quickly forget that the thing ever existed, but a few remember. It's not quite the same premise but your post made me think of it. You might like it. It doesn't talk about photography explicitly but the way it thinks about memory is similar.
Your question is so interesting, in part because of the ripple effects it would have. No photography would mean our phones would be different, media would be different, social media would be different. I find the idea of removing one thing from society and imagining how it would change to be such a fun mental experiment. Thanks!
Oh yes, I read that book too! (I just love Japanese literature).
I am so glad you enjoyed reading my little essay. It really makes your head spin thinking about all the effects it would have in various fields. Really makes you appreciate photography on a whole new level!
Such a pertinent question for this moment in time as we confront the question of can we believe what we are shown.
But more than that is the specific reaction is that our lives would be less. We’d be in a shoebox of grey illuminated only by some light on our immediate environment. And typically, historically only those glimmers we are permitted to see.
Far from being a light question, this should be asked of every man woman and child. How would a smaller world feel? What would it mean to not know the faces of your family gone before you were born? Not glimpsing what a mountain range looks like if you don’t travel? An ocean? The consequences of war?
Patris, I always enjoy reading your thoughts on my essays. Thank you for taking the time reading, thinking and commenting.
It is no light question and my head starts spinning every time I try to form an easy answer. A world without photography is just not imaginable for me. I don't just mean the photography I do. It is so essential to the world we live in today.
And I do believe your photography- what you capture and your perception of (what I think of) reflections of our souls, matter. You invite us to see.
My offhand reaction to the title of your essay was - we’d still have paintings. Then immediately found myself disappointed at that reflex. Because it was the linear reaction of someone raised in museums. Which are history, and beauty, and necessary - but always subjective reality.
That was a fascinating and thought provoking read, Susanne. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I have the brain capacity to answer your questions as the scope of any answers is so huge.
Thank you, Mark. I am glad you enjoyed the read. I wasn't sure about whether I should publish it without having any smart answers to my own question. But I would the prospect of reading all the comments here, so I decided to share it. And even without any answers, it is a fun thought experiment and it makes you appreciate photography even more.
A word without photographs or images would be a very dull place and our memories would rely wholly on the written word or folk memories. I feel that I would have to invent photography or something like it.
What a fascinating question Susanne! Of course, it was not so long ago, only 200 years, and this was the case. People seemed to get by, and there were other traditions like song and story telling that embedded memories.
Of course, people got by and were able to share and save memories in all kinds of forms. And I am not saying, that photography has made everything better, but it made our way we remember and perceive the things around us (and the things out of our reach) in a different way. I think it‘s quite astonishing how much there is to photography. It‘s influence is visible in many different areas of our lives and thinking about it, made me appreciate photography on a different level.
It is fascinating to go to a gallery and see which paintings have gained and which have lost from the invention of photography. So many works by Dutch masters, who were famed for their accuracy, seem dead. Whereas Rembrandt's psychological portraits are more alive.
Great post! I too was recently reflecting on the power of photography and its impact. I can’t even imagine life without it, nor want to! Thanks for sharing!
One day extra would not be worth losing anything enjoyable. Things like pollution and guns, to lose those would make me feel like I was leaving the world a better place. But photos and photography are something that documents our history and lives, and I would not want mine to be erased.
What a fun read Susanne, just what I needed to finish the week, or the working week at least. I love the plot of the book you mentioned, sounds like one of those stories that Miyazaki would write.
Can you imagine, no postcards, no zines, maybe just painting and graphic design which is not a bad thing but no espionage and no space exploration either. Maybe we'd be living in a world similar to the 18th century. Who knows?
Thank you, Xavi! So happy to read you played around with the thought. A similar world to the 18th century was something I imagined too. Maybe you would be an excellent food painter? ;-)
Wow that’s a massive question to answer – I think if it’s at the end of my life and as someone who is more of a visual learner than a thinker, I would just have to say no to the extra day of life, not just because of the joy photography has given me but also the information that I would not have known or could not pass on to my family if it weren’t for images. From family history photos that have given explanations and background to my own history to places I may never have visited if I hadn’t seen imagery, as well as learning about places I will never visit, historical news moments that change the world when the photograph is circulated…the list is endless.
This is a really thought-provoking article Susan – thank you, as it’s made me even more grateful for some of the advances in photography technology that I so often curse!
You are very welcome, Lin! I am so glad to read your response to my question. The longer you think about it, the more you will wonder how the world would be different. Would we have traveled to the moon? Would there be such thing as x-rays or similar imaging methods in medicine? Would the computer as popular as it is today? It really makes you appreciate all the technology we have to make our lives easier (maybe not always though)...
One more day wouldn't cut it for me. I would make a bargain with the Devil for one more year. No, I wouldn't offer my soul, but I would get him drunk on moonshine and offer digital photography with all its bells and whistles (i.e Lightroom, Photoshop, etc.) for 365 days. Analog will prosper again and for the entire year Fuji film will be much cheaper than it is now. And if the Devil finds his way to my place next year, I would try to convince him to bring back digital photography and take some of my coworkers and relatives instead. It's a good deal and he knows it.
What a thought you put in our heads, Susanne. My initial thought was that it must be hell if no photos or images would exist anymore, as I am a visually oriented person. On second thought I guess the good old storytelling would rise again. And by that I mean real storytelling, not the hype word it has become. Love this essay. Thanks.
Thanks, Marcel! Storytelling, but also drawing and painting would still play a big role in documenting every day life, I guess. But somehow this feels less colorful than a life with photography…
well, do i know what would happened if photography wasn't invented? no. can i presume? yes, but will be only a presumption and probably not the correct one. so i won't answer the question. but your question reminded me of an article that i read a few years ago, it was based on an experiment: a large number of people were asked if they had to move on a remote island and they can take with them one single item what that item will be; by far the majority answered: the photo album.
I love the answer. Although today it would probably the mobile phone. But still!
oh, the idea was how good is the phone if there's no coverage? remote island, remember?
But where do you keep your photos nowadays? ;-)
Okay, you have to be careful with battery usage of course!
Another reason why we should print our photos more often...
i won't point the finger, i won't give out names but some people are making a zine or two from the photos
I have no idea who or what you are talking about!?
I read a book a few years ago called The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa. It's about a group of people on an unnamed island nation controlled by an authoritarian govt. Every so often, the government just disappears something (tables, cups, people). Most of the people quickly forget that the thing ever existed, but a few remember. It's not quite the same premise but your post made me think of it. You might like it. It doesn't talk about photography explicitly but the way it thinks about memory is similar.
Your question is so interesting, in part because of the ripple effects it would have. No photography would mean our phones would be different, media would be different, social media would be different. I find the idea of removing one thing from society and imagining how it would change to be such a fun mental experiment. Thanks!
Oh yes, I read that book too! (I just love Japanese literature).
I am so glad you enjoyed reading my little essay. It really makes your head spin thinking about all the effects it would have in various fields. Really makes you appreciate photography on a whole new level!
Such a pertinent question for this moment in time as we confront the question of can we believe what we are shown.
But more than that is the specific reaction is that our lives would be less. We’d be in a shoebox of grey illuminated only by some light on our immediate environment. And typically, historically only those glimmers we are permitted to see.
Far from being a light question, this should be asked of every man woman and child. How would a smaller world feel? What would it mean to not know the faces of your family gone before you were born? Not glimpsing what a mountain range looks like if you don’t travel? An ocean? The consequences of war?
Patris, I always enjoy reading your thoughts on my essays. Thank you for taking the time reading, thinking and commenting.
It is no light question and my head starts spinning every time I try to form an easy answer. A world without photography is just not imaginable for me. I don't just mean the photography I do. It is so essential to the world we live in today.
I concur.
And I do believe your photography- what you capture and your perception of (what I think of) reflections of our souls, matter. You invite us to see.
My offhand reaction to the title of your essay was - we’d still have paintings. Then immediately found myself disappointed at that reflex. Because it was the linear reaction of someone raised in museums. Which are history, and beauty, and necessary - but always subjective reality.
That was a fascinating and thought provoking read, Susanne. Unfortunately, I'm not sure I have the brain capacity to answer your questions as the scope of any answers is so huge.
Thank you, Mark. I am glad you enjoyed the read. I wasn't sure about whether I should publish it without having any smart answers to my own question. But I would the prospect of reading all the comments here, so I decided to share it. And even without any answers, it is a fun thought experiment and it makes you appreciate photography even more.
Well, I’m pleased you decided to publish it because it is a fun thought experiment.
Amazing text!
Thank you!
What a thought provoking inquiry, Susanne. I don’t have an answer just yet but I enjoyed reading everyone’s take on this.
Thank you for reading. The comments alone are worth stopping by here!
A word without photographs or images would be a very dull place and our memories would rely wholly on the written word or folk memories. I feel that I would have to invent photography or something like it.
I agree. I imagine it somewhat empty and colorless, but I guess that is because photography has such a special place in our lives…
What a fascinating question Susanne! Of course, it was not so long ago, only 200 years, and this was the case. People seemed to get by, and there were other traditions like song and story telling that embedded memories.
Of course, people got by and were able to share and save memories in all kinds of forms. And I am not saying, that photography has made everything better, but it made our way we remember and perceive the things around us (and the things out of our reach) in a different way. I think it‘s quite astonishing how much there is to photography. It‘s influence is visible in many different areas of our lives and thinking about it, made me appreciate photography on a different level.
It is fascinating to go to a gallery and see which paintings have gained and which have lost from the invention of photography. So many works by Dutch masters, who were famed for their accuracy, seem dead. Whereas Rembrandt's psychological portraits are more alive.
Good point. I agree. I think both mediums have been influencing each other ever since the invention of photography (for the worth and the better).
What a fun exploration, Susanne! I know I'll be turning this over in the back of my mind for days to come :)
I know, my head is still spinning thinking about it. Thanks for reading, Sydney!
Great post! I too was recently reflecting on the power of photography and its impact. I can’t even imagine life without it, nor want to! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Annette! I feel the same way!
One day extra would not be worth losing anything enjoyable. Things like pollution and guns, to lose those would make me feel like I was leaving the world a better place. But photos and photography are something that documents our history and lives, and I would not want mine to be erased.
The deal in the story though was, the devil decides what‘s going to be erased. But yes, I agree it wouldn’t be worth it to live only one more day…
What a fun read Susanne, just what I needed to finish the week, or the working week at least. I love the plot of the book you mentioned, sounds like one of those stories that Miyazaki would write.
Can you imagine, no postcards, no zines, maybe just painting and graphic design which is not a bad thing but no espionage and no space exploration either. Maybe we'd be living in a world similar to the 18th century. Who knows?
Loved this thought provoking piece!!
Thank you, Xavi! So happy to read you played around with the thought. A similar world to the 18th century was something I imagined too. Maybe you would be an excellent food painter? ;-)
No way, I'd be a pirate smuggling rum! 😉
Sounds like a good alternative! 😃
Wow that’s a massive question to answer – I think if it’s at the end of my life and as someone who is more of a visual learner than a thinker, I would just have to say no to the extra day of life, not just because of the joy photography has given me but also the information that I would not have known or could not pass on to my family if it weren’t for images. From family history photos that have given explanations and background to my own history to places I may never have visited if I hadn’t seen imagery, as well as learning about places I will never visit, historical news moments that change the world when the photograph is circulated…the list is endless.
This is a really thought-provoking article Susan – thank you, as it’s made me even more grateful for some of the advances in photography technology that I so often curse!
You are very welcome, Lin! I am so glad to read your response to my question. The longer you think about it, the more you will wonder how the world would be different. Would we have traveled to the moon? Would there be such thing as x-rays or similar imaging methods in medicine? Would the computer as popular as it is today? It really makes you appreciate all the technology we have to make our lives easier (maybe not always though)...
Great post, Susanne!
One more day wouldn't cut it for me. I would make a bargain with the Devil for one more year. No, I wouldn't offer my soul, but I would get him drunk on moonshine and offer digital photography with all its bells and whistles (i.e Lightroom, Photoshop, etc.) for 365 days. Analog will prosper again and for the entire year Fuji film will be much cheaper than it is now. And if the Devil finds his way to my place next year, I would try to convince him to bring back digital photography and take some of my coworkers and relatives instead. It's a good deal and he knows it.
Haha! This made me laugh. Can you record the conversation and share in your newsletter when it happens? Would love to see how you convince him!
You got it!