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Essay / Recent Technological Invention: Photography
The recent technological invention of cheap smartphones with decent cameras, availability of cheap and fast internet access in mobile phones and social media platforms enable almost everyone to become a “photojournalist”. We are able to capture and share images and videos of a newsworthy event, even live. Additionally, professional photographers always cover newsworthy events. It's almost impossible not to find images from a newsworthy event in 2017. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay However, the photographer's interest in a meaningful story does not end when the event ends. With the end of the event, the consequences of it begin. In The Aftermath or Late Photography, the photographer attempts to capture the effects of a disaster. The photographer not only wants to inform but also spark debate and hopefully raise awareness to prevent these events from happening again where possible. But is it possible? Can only photographs of catastrophic events change attitudes and policies? Can seeing shocking images and the sad feelings they arouse reduce the number of war crimes, wars and terrorist attacks? Can images like those of the Grenfell Tower fire (BBC News, 2017b) change the way we construct buildings etc? ? Late PhotographyA genre of photography (Faulker, 2014), (Campany, 2003) has emerged over the past two decades as images of the effects of historical and/or catastrophic events on landscapes, buildings, objects and people have been captured. The photographer arrives late, walks around places where something has already happened, and tries to capture the effects. These are images of what was left behind after the event ended. This type of photography of the aftermath of events has been called “Late Photography” by David Campany. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay The first photos (Tello, 2014) (Johnstone 2015) of this type were mid-19th century Crimean War photos taken by Roger Fenton and were taken approximately two months after the events. His photos still influence practitioners of the genre. However, after-the-fact photography as a genre only really emerged in the 2000s. Characteristic examples of late photography from this era are the images taken by Joel Meyerowitz after the September 11 World Trade attacks. Center and photos from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by Paul Seawright (Seawright), Lyndell Brown and Charles Green (Brown, L., Green, C., Cattapan J., 2014). Meyerowitz (Phaidon, 2011) was the only photographer with access to the scene and the World Trade Center cleanup operation..