ความอ่อนแอของภาพถ่าย : ความจริงในภาพถ่ายจากยุคฟิล์มถึงยุคโซเชียลมีเดีย

Abstract

                   This article revisits debates, discussions, case studies about the truth in photography. It aims to emphasize the importance of study and reconsideration on the weakness of photographic communication in this digital age. The concept of the photographic truth and communication has long been academically discussed since the early day of photographic study. The emergence of digital image technology had led practitioners and theorists to raise back discussions on this concept. That was because of fear and anxiety about “the loss of the real in photography” that would diminish social belief in photographic representation of reality. This has led many discussions to revisit and reappraise how we have understood photography as “the real”, as well as the notion of its realism. Now that we are in digital age, the age that we have been through many critical discussions, that we have been understood the limitations of photographic communication, that we seemingly know viewers are “not innocent” enough to easily “being fooled” or “misled” by any kind of manipulation, that digital photography and social media are now seamless backbone of our everyday life, that everyone can be sender, distributor, and receiver at once in an online world. “Is it still important to re-discussed and revisit this old concept?” To answer this, the study shows same mistakes has been repeatedly done many times in every technological age of photography. It is true that the quick digital access to photographs, internet, and social media diminished image manipulation control and the trust in photographs. However, that doesn’t mean most people in this tech-age understands the complex relationship of meaning in photography, and are aware much of “the weakness” in communication that comes with the power of photographs. The weakness is now not only in the photographs themselves but also in “us” that create, share, and view in the online world. The power and weakness of photographic representation still demand a lot more understanding and awareness that could hopefully raise the issue of moral and ethical concern.