Photography inflicts multiple different emotions into us and we end up making our own stories of them. This can go two ways though, either we make the right and true story out of the image, or we end up making a false story. Media can also take a big part in altering a viewer’s/reader’s outlook on the image. This played a key part in the movie “Flags of Our Fathers.” The famous image taken during WW2 where six soldiers all worked together to put up a flag on-top of an island near Japan was a bug influence to the American population. This was used to persuade the nation to buy War Bonds and support the war.
Influence is what runs our thoughts, feelings and actions. One single image can change how we feel about a conflict. Take the modern day war of Ukraine as an example. The videos, the images, and the stories behind them all give us insight into what is going on over there, but can also make us feel a certain way about multiple things such as the killings of civilians. Russia recently launched cruise missiles onto the city of Kiev deliberately targeting apartments and playgrounds.
Not only can photography impact us when war is present, but can also give an impact when it comes to country related conflicts. Pictures of proof and pictures of the culprits change how we view those people. When they become popular, multiple bias stories arise, some being true and some not. This can be seen in the recent conflicts such as the Mar-A-Lago raid and the Johnny Depp trials.
Positive influence can also come upon us. Not all images have to impact us in a negative or bias why. Some can just make our day. Pictures of puppies, felines, children having fun, unity becoming more and more common, and people getting involved can all make our day a bit better. Positive images are what keep our mental stability maintained. Constantly looking at negative images can put us in a position of self-deprivation leading to a endless abyss of negative thoughts.
The influence of images is what makes us think, do, and execute what we do. Negative images such as war and nation wide conflicts inflict bad outlooks. Positive images influence us in a uplifting way allowing us to stay positive. The influence of these negative and positive images are what change the direction of our day to day lives. Not only do these images change our emotions, our influence, and our outlooks, but they change our lives.
