Are Photographs Everlasting?
So you might have heard the news about the new feature for the Snapchat app: Discover, where exclusive original content as well as news channels are available for snapchat users. If you haven’t heard about it, here is the post that launched it all:
http://blog.snapchat.com/post/109302961090/introducing-discover
Will this new feature revolutionize the app? It will certainly change it and many people have made their opinions known for both sides, but in this post I would like to consider the greater implications of the expansion of Snapchat as a form of visual communication. In other words, can Snapchat photos be considered photos? Isn’t the purpose of photography to capture a moment to remember it for years to come? So why is everyone (including myself) obsessed with photos the only last a few seconds and then disappear forever (allegedly 😉 )?
I came across an article that same day Discover was launched that basically talked about and argued fairly convincingly why it is ok “…that sometimes, it’s just fine to make something fleeting, too…” and snapchat remind us of that, especially those interested in photography. By being free of compositional or lighting constraints, one can enjoy these photos a lot more. Why does this matter? Because Snapchat photos are so much more about the person you are sending it too, its about communication and entertainment, and sometimes those short seconds of laughter are worth a lot more than a lasting museum piece. Read the entire article here: http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/27/snapchat-and-the-beauty-of-ephemeral-photography-and-fleeting-creativity/
Here’s another benefit of Snapchat, especially for photographers: GUARANTEED CONSUMPTION! Think about it, because you cannot see the content until you click on it, there is a guaranteed consumption, a captive audience that will look at your photos or artwork. Take a look at this short video: https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/photographers-snapchat-sell-657351907.html But would you want to expose your work that way? I think that is the better question, but it is definitely something to think about to increase exposure.