Thursday Salute to Originals: What is a Photo Worth?
A picture is worth a thousand words, or so they say. But lately, with the inundation of photography and image-capturing technology around us, photos seem to be a dime a dozen; we don’t even recognize them as special moments captured in time anymore. Sadly, most photos today are worth only one word: apathetic.
When we came across two photo series that actually made us stop and think (in very different ways), we were instantly intrigued. And when we realized that these collections, though vastly different at their core, actually embodied a common message, we were even more enthralled.
Take for instance, the History in Color series of color-restored historical photographs by artist Dana Keller.
Coney Island, New York, ca. 1905
Looking strictly at the black and white original, it’s easy to disconnect from the picture; the content seems unrelatable, dated, alien. But when Keller restores these historical photos in full color, she completely alters the perception of the image.
Waldwick Train Station, ca. 1903
The dichotomy of the black and white photo and its color counterpart brings the past to life, abruptly reminding us that history was not experienced in desaturated monotone. The world was perceived just like it is today in bright, vivid colors, textures, and patterns. And often, that simple likeness is forgotten or underestimated. But these photos remove that misconception, and reveal a startling – and vibrant! – connection between generations.
CONVERSELY, the Digital Ethereal project by designer Luis Hernan, reveals something entirely different. Instead of highlighting similarities of the world past and present, Hernan’s photos expose an invisible realm that exits around us, one we can’t see, touch, or directly experience.
Using a slow shutter speed camera and a phone app, Hernan is able to create a visual representation of these covert Wi-Fi fields. The app, which indicates Wi-Fi strength by color, shows signal locations and their respective intensities when captured on film. So not only do Hernan’s photos reveal that are we constantly surrounded by an invisible technological cloud, of which we are blissfully unaware; but more importantly, the photos force us to acknowledge the fact that just because we can’t see something with the naked eye, doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
Now you may still be scratching your head, wondering how these two polar opposite photo collections relate; what is their common worth? After all, one highlights the past in a revived historical context, while the other displays the advancement of technology in a sci-fi kind of way. But their semblance and value lies not in the subject of the photos. The similarity is really in the underlying message at the heart of each collection: The way in which you perceive a photo at face value, may be vastly different from the reality of how that moment was and is actually experienced.
For providing a refreshing reprieve from the overwhelming swarms of monotonous imagery we’re inundated with day in and day out, we salute both of these thought-provoking series. Hopefully the next time you pose for that selfie, you’ll remember the underlying message of these two collections, and consider the face value of your photo versus its fundamental worth.
Image credits: Dana R. Keller, Peta Pixel