poto by reallifeinstagram.com and everydayafrica.tumblr.com

“What is important to my work is the individual picture. I photograph stories as assignment, and of course they have to be put together coherently. But what matters most is that each picture stands on its own, with its own place and feeling” Steve McCurry.

When do you think about the word: “PICTURE” what is your first thought? The process of developing what you make in the dark room? The sound of the camera after you have taken a snapshot? Or the symbol of the instagram icon on your phone? I would say that for most of the people who are reading this article, they will probably choose the third option. We are constantly using our cell phones to take pictures, that we have forgotten what really mean to develop an image, or the satisfaction or the adrenaline after seeing on a piece of paper the process of the reflection of the picture we have taken.

The facts that are happening in our society are changing the world, and consequently there are many other aspects of life who are changing too. The way to tell news now it is extremely technological, if you didn’t have the chance to look at the news on television, you can immediately discover what happened around the world, just going on facebook or even better twitter. As the way to discover new facts is in development day by day, so is the photojournalism.

It isn’t always a bad thing, actually there is an important project called: “Everyday Africa” photographers working and living in Africa who use Instagram to show their work everyday, an amazing opportunity to get the people know what is the reality there, and to understand in a better way what we already know but we cannot constantly see, it is like documentary.

“ I like having the digital camera on my smarthphone, but I also like having a dedicated camera for when I want to take real pictures” Jeff Bezos.

There are different ways to use the technology in the photographs, for example the artist Bruno Ribeiro, created a project called: “Real life Instagram”, resembling Instagram photo frame with filters. He placed around London, many instagram filters so the people can use these cards to take images already edited. I am still trying to understand why is so difficult to disconnect from the digital world when we want to make a moment lasts forever.

Years ago, the picture was considered as a “mirror”, now with the technology, everyone can change the “real” with the “fake” using special effects, it is like a transformation of identity. If you aren’t close enough to it, how can you see the difference between the “ before” and the “after”? In some pictures there are details who made the image perfect, it could be the light or the shutter speed, but do we ever ask ourselves if what we love is real or it is a good copy of the original? How can we still appreciate something so badly knowing that is not the authentic one? Knowing that there is a special button who made it look even better than the way it used to be?

We have been captured by the digital world, everything is becoming fixable and there are really not many things who are still the same. I maybe appear “old” but I appreciate the real beauty of something even if there isn’t a good exposure or the perfect landscape, a picture should arrive straight to your heart without making you asking anything. It is like when you look at the stars, I honestly don’t think that there is something more simple and untouchable that a dark sky with some magic in it. Forget about the technology and appreciate the sensational feeling of tenderness seeing a hug between two people, or a sunset who takes your breath away.

All in all I would say that sometimes we should forget about the public, and live those moments of magic, with the immensity joy that a child could do.

 “ If it makes you laugh, if It makes you cry, if it rips out your heart, that is a good picture” Eddie Adams.

beatrice conti