Perception is a very messy business. It tends to bounce back and forth in every direction it can think of, and then perform a few somersaults on its way back.

It’s easy to think of perception as a one-way street. That it belongs to one person, especially when speaking of the liberal arts, regardless of expression.

The way I see it, a photograph (since photography is my main language) is the result of a photographer’s perception. But it also functions as a sort of mirror to the person looking at it.

As such, the photograph is an encounter between at least two people; the creator and a viewer. In a sense, it is a never-ending explosion of perceptions. It also makes it clear that the conception of what the photograph is all about, is understood through a certain mindset with the viewer. In this regard, I also count the photographer as a viewer; the first viewer.

This makes the question about photography as some sort of truth, quite interesting, doesn’t it?

Because what is truth, other than an agreement between people, that what we see is a certain something? A table. A tree. A blue sky.

And not only what specific thing it “is” - but also what it represents to the viewer (or photographer).

How about that!?

Best perceptive regards,
Malinka Persson