"On Photography" Summary

Photography is a way of looking at the world and capturing moments that one wishes to remember. It is a type of reminiscence, a nostalgic act. Photography is also unique in that it is very selective and calculated, which is much different than video recording. Furthermore, photography is a type of voyeurism in which the photographer is the master of the situation (Sontag, p. 10). Photography is a universal form of language, which can be read even by those who have no other language skills. It can be used in many different domains, including anthropology, journalism, forensics, etc.