Over the years, photographs have played a vital role in shaping our understanding of the past. They offer us a new glimpse into times and times that would otherwise remain elusive. Portraits, scenes of everyday life, and snapshots of significant events are not just images, but windows into time that tell us who we were and where we have been. However, the advent of smartphone and social platforms have radically transformed the way we photograph and, consequently, how we experience our experiences.
The selfie culture
Today, taking a photograph has become an immediate and almost automatic gesture. With a simple touch, we can immortalize every moment of our daily lives. This democratization of photography has generated a huge visual overexposure, filling our devices with images that, in most cases, remain closed in a digital limbo.
The question is, then: what will remain of this period? Will our archives be filled with selfies and meaningless snapshots, or will we find new forms of visual expression that can tell authentic stories? The selfie culture, for example, offers the possibility to capture moments of everyday life and to celebrate our self, but often risks reducing photography to a mere instrument of self-celebration. Many of the faces we see on social media seem devoid of authenticity, transformed by filters and edits that dilute their spontaneity. In this sea of curated and retouched images, the magic of a genuine expression, a stolen smile or a deep gaze, elements that give value and meaning to a photograph, is lost.
How to preserve the essence of photography
At the same time, the shift from an artistic and thoughtful approach to photography to a quick and distracted practice has changed our relationship with the image. Shots are now mainly designed for instant sharing, rather than being contemplated. While on the one hand this leads to a massive production of content, on the other it halves the attention to the quality and meaning of what we are collecting.
How can we, then, preserve the essence of photography in this new context? A first answer could lie in the rediscovery of the value of printing. Select and print images that we consider significant, creating physical albums, can help us tell our story more consciously. Furthermore, we invite you to reverse the trend of “quick clicking”: taking the time to capture not only what you see, but also the emotions you want to convey, is a gesture that requires commitment and creativity.
In this way, we can balance the advancement of technology with our desire for authenticity and depth, so that our images are not just reflections of our lives, but true representations of a time that, once lost, can never return. We must be the custodians of our visual narrative, so that future generations can also look back and see not just photographs, but stories full of meaning and authenticity.
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