Photography is a skill and a tool that puts a considerable amount of power in your hands. Be conscious of that, use it wisely. A photograph is powerful.
Photographs have the power to shape our social environment. Not every photograph will or even have the potential to change the world. But the sincere pursuit of the medium, with the intent to examine, document and shape our social and cultural world has potential to succeed.
It doesn't take elaborate, expensive equipment or relentless travel. It does take determination, dedication, passion and a compassionate heart. Photography is a practice, a way of life. In much the same way one practices Zen, one practices photography.
The photographer who follows the practice has a social responsibility as a documentarian. He or she understands this and preserves their images; whether they are of images of war, the streets of the neighborhood in which they live or the flowers in the local park as the seasons change.
The photograph is the single most enduring document produced today. Images are remembered when texts are forgotten. Images are reproduced across all media. The power of the image does not diminish.
Photo: ©2011 David W. Sumner
