A Thousand Words

Documentarians through their work can inspire; they can revolt. Their work can encourage and discourage. They can incite violence and motivate peace. Documentarians wield an immense amount of power; they have the capability of showing horrors and wonders to the entire world. Photographs can gain even more of an impact with the addition of words. My goal in life is to show the world, through photography and words, to the world.

Although pictures can say a thousand words, a literal thousand words can help communicate clearly and concisely a point. A photograph can become just a irrelevant picture if there isn’t context to back it. The context of a photograph lends a more human element to any news story. Context can show the mother behind the photograph of the child dying of HIV/AIDS. The writing behind a photograph can raise awareness of the issue being presented.

News stories can motivate and inspire action. With the combination of personal testimonies and documentation of the plights of others, people can become inspired to change their surroundings and potentially change their world. This sort of documentation can also lead to a negative result.  Violence can erupt from news stories insensitively portrayed. I will as a documentarian have a responsibility to write and photograph my work with honesty.

Through my work, I hope to inspire others to look around them and see the world in different lights. I believe that I can change lives, because my work will have power through photography and words. Only through successful and clear writing can these dreams actually be achieved.

Documentarians have essentially removed the blinders from the eyes of society. They have been able to give insight into the political and social issues in the Middle East to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa. They have shown the travesties of a war and the joys of nature. They have successfully shown the world to itself. I can and will through my photography and writings be able to bring more awareness to society.