Photographic Art
In early January, I discussed with John Tyler my concerns regarding
the numbers of images of the bushfires being posted on social media
sites, mentioning that I found it very difficult to ‘Like’ those images, no
matter how good they were, because they were of distressing scenes.
Shortly after that, John emailed me a link to a Friday essay in ‘The
Conversation’ titled “Seeing the news up close: one devastating post at
a time”. John thought I might be ready to commit some ideas to print.
The essay included these words, “News reports show us another scene
of destruction, another disaster, another cry for help, another decline.
We can look away from the paper, turn off the television or radio. But
our social media marches on. Instagram images of smoke, coloured
orange by the bushfire sun, catch us off-guard. Social sharing of imag-
es like those of the current bushfires cuts through the resistance we’ve
built up to the news cycle, chipping away at the degrees separating us
from the event itself. Bringing us closer to disaster, for better or worse.”
And, “For the most part, news images are taken by professional pho-
tographers trained to frame a decisive moment; the picture-perfect
scene that will capture an “event”. Photographers know how to manipu-
late light and composition to create a great image. We are accustomed
to seeing catastrophes through their expert eye. Our newspapers
feature stunning photographs, such as one captured recently by
Sydney Morning Herald photographer Nick Moir. In it, two firefighters
hold their hands to their heads while running through an apocalyptic,
dizzying shower of fire.”
Coincidentally, during February, I was commissioned to review a pho-
tography exhibition ‘The Burning’. It is by Nick Moir and includes the
image referred to above.
In my review of the exhibition, I included the issue initially raised with
John, and specific questions posed by the theme of the exhibition and
others at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre (until 14 March). TAC has
adopted ‘Solastalgia’ as its creative theme for this year. Coined by
Australian environmental philosopher Dr Glenn Albrecht in 2005, Solas-
talgia describes the sense of loss or nostalgia we feel when our homes
or environments change irreconcilably in the face of climate change or
natural disaster.
Three questions are being posed by the Solastalgia theme. As our
homes and environments disappear in the face of destruction, dispos-
St Margaret’s News
4
February 2020