Instagram Monthly Series: Truth or Dare and Photographs of Value | Barbara Bell Photography

Photography is so subjective.  An image that you love may not elicit the same reaction from everyone.  It was Ansel Adams who said,

“You don’t make a photograph just with a camera.

You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen,

the books you have read,

the music you have heard,

the people you have loved.”

The same is true for viewing a photograph.  We bring our very unique histories and selves to the experience.

This brings me to the Truth or Dare monthly series that we are running this year on Instagram.  The purpose is to start a dialogue about how we view photographs, as well as the stories behind them.

For the latest installment, I want to talk about photographs of value.

I remember reading an interview with Elizabeth Taylor years ago where she spoke of what this photograph of her (then) husband and daughter meant to her.

She had said it reminded her of a time when she was happy, truly happy.  This is a photograph of value because of what it symbolizes to her.  She had met and married her great love and here they were holding their newborn daughter.  The following year his plane crashed due to engine failure.  The memories that this one photograph brings up for her are priceless.

For the current Truth or Dare, we ask our readers and viewers this question.

Truth: What photograph or image holds value for you?

Dare:  Note your photograph of value.  Share your photograph of value with someone you trust. In 3-5 sentences, tell us what this photo means to you.

Do you want to share with us online?  Feel free to e-mail me or post your photographs of value. Tag us in the photo on Instagram or DM us.