A picure? A thousand words? I’m afraid I’d have to say yes – give or take – most (many?) photos deserve to have a story told about them. I recently read on a web site that there are estimated to be 3-5 trillion photo prints out there – many languishing in basements, garages, attics, and probably libraries, historical societies, etc. If the number is even remotely close, then someone better get busy. If those prints are going to mean anything to future generations, there are 3-5 quadrillion (yes, I’m sorry to say that I had to look that one up) words that could be recorded about them – give or take. Don’t get too hung up on exact numbers – that’s like discussing infinity. The point is that there is a very large number of prints out there that, without documentation, will be largely useless to future generations.
Well, at least we’re good-to-go now – since “they” invented digital photography – at least we don’t have to worry about those photos that are stored electronically – do we? Hold a print up next to a digital photo displayed on your computer screen. Now consider that 150 years from now (give or take), if there are no written words or other system used to pass down the lore about either photo (print or digital), then neither is more useful though either could arguably outlast the other. Given the literally explosive growth in photography now taking place – man, are we ever in trouble!
Depending upon the goal of the photo (Art shots excepted at least), I make the argument that for a picture to have worth, it needs to have a thousand words recorded about it. Perhaps I should change the title of this post to “A Picture Needs to have a Thousand Words Written About It to have Lasting Worth.”
How many photo prints do you have in your family photo collections?
Are your photo prints well documented?
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