Karnataka CM Shivakumar hails photographs as vital proof of history

Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar visits 'Frozen Memories' Photo Exhibition in Bengaluru, calls photographs "vital proof" of history

Bengaluru, August 23

Speaking after visiting the 'Frozen Memories' Photo Exhibition organised on the occasion of "World Photography Day" by the Photojournalists Association Bengaluru (Reg.) at Chitrakala Parishath, Bengaluru, he stated that the role of a photograph is extremely crucial in documenting an individual's history.

"Your photo might be one year old, 50 or 100 years old, or even older than that. But it serves as evidence that writes a person's history. One should not consider a picture small. The role of a photograph is immense in showing proof of events that took place in our lives," he said.

A picture can convey hundreds of meanings. As time passes, its value increases even further. Hence, every scene captured by photographers can become a record for future generations, he said.

"People have more faith in what they see with their eyes than what they hear with their ears. For this very reason, pictures hold great significance in the media," he said.

No matter how factual a newspaper report is, if it lacks a suitable photograph, the impact of the news on readers decreases. This is why visual media has grown so rapidly, he noted.

"Regardless of the newspaper, no matter how deeply the facts are written, if there is no picture alongside it, the value of that news diminishes. That is why television media has grown so competitively on such a large scale. Later, social media also grew rapidly. People trust images they see with their own eyes on TV much more," he stated.

Though the number of media representatives is small, their reach is vast. A photograph taken locally has the potential to reach across the state, the nation, and the entire world within moments, he added.

"There may be 40 of you here, 100, or 4,000 people. But the images that come out of your cameras are seen by seven crore people of the state.

Your message and pictures reach the entire world. Therefore, we have faith in your camera," he said.

The Chief Minister praised the creativity displayed by photographers in the media field.

"I have seen many distinct photos taken with hard work by media professionals. I saw a rare picture where a leopard appeared next to a JCB. Normally, no one could even imagine such a picture. Your ability to decide in a split of a second what is important and which moment to capture is crucial," he said.

He added that selecting a single image that gives meaning to the news out of thousands of scenes from an event reflects the photographer's creativity and experience.

The Chief Minister said the government is aware of the demands placed forward by representatives of the media sector.

"Legislative Council Member Dinesh Gooligowda has already informed me of your demands. You have also met me and shared your issues.

"I will certainly think about how to help everyone in the field of journalism in a uniform manner," he said.

"I am aware of your issues. I will discuss them with the concerned officials and examine what can be done to assist you within the framework of the law," he assured.

The Chief Minister also brought up the difficulties faced by photographers during protests, public events, and sensitive situations.

"Our police have to perform their duties; we cannot call that wrong. However, media personnel are also performing their duty. There are instances where photographers fall, get injured, suffer damage to their hands and legs, or have their cameras damaged when police push back," he said.

He expressed that a disciplined and coordinated system needs to be formed in the coming days in a manner that respects both the duties of the police and the media.

Photographers should exercise caution regarding safety while taking pictures near barricades or hazardous spots during protests. At the same time, the responsibility to provide them the necessary opportunity to perform their duties lies with the concerned authorities, he added.

The Chief Minister shared that he has been searching for a photo from his college days, taken around 40-45 years ago.

"I am currently looking for a photo from a particular occasion during my college days back in 1981. Even if a four-decade-old photo is found today, it is extremely valuable to me. This is because every single picture holds meaningful value," he said.

He noted that competition for professional photographers has increased with the availability of advanced cameras in mobile phones.

"The market has changed significantly after the arrival of mobile phones. Phones ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1,00,000 come with high-quality cameras. You can take a photo, type text right there, send the message, and dispatch the image instantly. Technology is advancing very rapidly," he said.

However, no matter how much technology advances, there is no substitute for a professional photographer's experience, creativity, and ability to identify the significance of news, he opined.

With the growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, distinguishing between genuine and artificially created images will pose a major challenge, he stated.

"It is now possible to alter an image and create it in a different form. It is becoming difficult to identify which is a real photo and which is artificially created. In the coming days, situations may arise where cases have to be sent to forensic laboratories to determine what is true and what is false," he said.

He added that even if challenges increase due to technology, the importance of trustworthy journalism and professional photography will never diminish.

He remarked that the media functions as a parallel power alongside the political system.

"It is not important that I am the Chief Minister. In politics, you have stood alongside everyone as a parallel support in their lives. You have encouraged people, you have built leaders. By documenting events taking place in society, you have constructed history," he said.

Congratulating media representatives for their hard work, service, and creativity, the Chief Minister reiterated his commitment to addressing their issues.

"You are doing excellent work. May good things happen to you, and encouragement will be extended to your work," he concluded.

— ANI