Are Still Photos More Powerful than Video?
For some time now I have been mulling this question over in my mind. I think I first started thinking hard about it when Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast. As I watched it all unfold on TV, I suddenly realized that the most powerful images I was seeing were stills…on TV.
The networks were showing slide shows of incredibly moving still images. The video thay had seemed limited to long clips shot from a helicopter as it flew over the wreckage. But on the ground were photographers capturing single moments that told the story so much more powerfully.
Think about some of the most significant events of recent history. What images come to your mind? I’ll bet the images that come to mind are still images that you saw.
Tonight I just watched this video of Ryan Lobo, a videographer / photographer. In this video he shares his realization about the power of still photography over video, and how he feels he is able to better tell the “hidden story” within the stories he was trying to tell with video.
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