A Picture is worth a Thousand Words | Abu Dhabi Lifestyle Family Photography

The old adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” refers to the thought that a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single still image. It also aptly characterises one of the main goals of visualisation – namely making it possible to absorb large amounts of data quickly.

For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by the art of photography.  I still find it incredible that you can freeze a unique moment in time, and make it last forever.  Of course in the past, this was a far lengthier process, and there was none of the instant gratification that we are all so used to now.  As a child I would often have to wait weeks to see the results of my photography labours, something today’s kids would be astonished to hear. The nearest I got to ‘instant’ was the joy of a photo booth sitting, or with friends who had a Polaroid camera.  Later when I learnt to process and print my own films in the school dark room, I was totally absorbed with the delight of watching the image gradually appear on the paper, accompanied with heady smell of the processing chemicals I can recall so easily even now.

I think it is precisely that the moment is ‘frozen’ that seems to appeal most to me… That often you see something you missed even witnessing it in real time – a split-second moment that can be savoured and mulled over. It’s funny that I don’t feel as strongly moved by videography… Although I can always appreciate the creativity, light & composition, it’s the stills that always fire my imagination most. A millisecond of time… Preserved, sometimes for generations.

It’s incredible to think how far photography has come from 1800 onward, till Louis Daguerre went on to develop the ‘daguerreotype process’, the first publicly announced photographic process. This was the first to only require minutes of exposure in the camera and produced clear, finely detailed results. It was commercially introduced in 1839 – a date generally accepted as the birth year of practical photography – when Louis Daguerre declared “I have seized the light. I have arrested its flight.”

The first image of a person is accepted as this photograph taken in Paris, France, in 1838 by Louis Daguerre.

The exposure time for the image was around seven minutes, and although the street would have been busy with traffic and pedestrians, it appears deserted. Everything moving was too fast to register on the plate. The exception is the man (lower-left) who sat still long enough to appear in the photograph. The person cleaning his boots is also visible, although not as distinctly. I think it is incredible that we can gaze at a street scene that’s 176 years old, and wonder if the men depicted even had an inkling they were to become part of history – probably not!

To think how far we’ve come from these humble beginnings where a family photo was a luxury, affordable only to few, and a studio trip. To today, where so many of us have a camera built into our phone – almost to the point where many don’t own a camera anymore. I must admit to loving the digital age of instant results, and I’ll happily tout my iPhoneography on a daily ‘snapshot’ basis, but can’t deny my deep love of my Canon pro-camera – I’ve even been known to say it’s my 3^rd baby!

Of course, photography can always be on one end a light & fun ‘snap’ that we all love – but on the other extreme, so powerful and awe-inspiring. Whether it transports us to lands & peoples unknown, depicts extremes of beauty, emotion, brings past generations to life, shows times of war, suffering, or unique historical moments. It is incredible how images can ignite such strong emotions from within. I think we can all recall photographs that touched us with their ‘thousand words’… Indeed in these times of instant access and social media, now commonly these images are shared and become ‘viral’ – exposing them to vast audiences compared to the past. There are numerous stunning & thought-provoking photographs that have moved me over the years, and I think we can ALL name memorable examples.

Part of the reason I love the being a Photographer is the continual learning process. I read books, study, subscribe to many photographic websites/groups/pages/blogs. There is a myriad of visual stimuli that is available to me every day – even just through my Facebook Newsfeed. I frequently come across new projects and images that inspire me on my photographic journey.

So the next time you raise your camera (or more likely your phone), stop for a second and think about which ‘words’ you’d like your pictures to tell.

Better still, think about booking a professional shoot to tell your family’s words, freeze your special moments and preserve them for years – even generations – to come. Let’s have a chat about your story.

 

 

Hello, my name is Victoria and I am a lifestyle family photographer based in Abu Dhabi, UAE.  For me, Photography is an essential way to preserve priceless memories and freeze moments in life. Time is all too fleeting and before we know it, the years pass by and we look back and wonder where the time went. We can’t stop time, but maybe – if I had a super power – that is what I’d wish for.  Our best chance is to document our lives so we have a window into our past that we can visit whenever we like. I find so much joy in using my skills to create priceless memories for others. It challenges my mind and breathes energy into my soul.  I celebrate freezing those moments to capture not only the big picture, but also the beautiful details and time-capsule minutiae, to celebrate the love and connections within family and kinship.

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