“If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera.” ~Lewis Hine

 

Do you agree or disagree with this quote? Why? Describe situations when photographic images reveal “the story” (as compared to words). Describe situations when words reveal “the story” (as compared to images).


As a journalist, I believe that the best way to tell a story depends on the subject matter, and can manifest in a video, text or photography (which are only a few options). That being said, in Lewis Hine's case I think that photography was the best way to show the world what child working conditions were at the time. I don't think that any story, no matter how well written, could convey the same power as a photo of a small child dwarfed by an enormous machine.


Since my focus is visual journalism, I am always hearing that in a time when print publications are hurting, it is increasingly more important to find new ways to catch a reader's eye. These days, a story is hardly ever told with just words. Most reporters are required to incorporate multimedia with their stories. So, off the top of my head I think of books when I think of stories told with just words. To me, watching a movie never comes close to reading a good book, and despite the introduction of all sorts of new media over the years, books have continued to stick around.