Photographs

One of the most eye-opening aspects of the Abu Ghraib presentation is the power of a photo. Although photographs are normally taken without thought, this presentation emphasizes the importance of thinking before doing (taking pictures). For example, by smiling in some of the photographs, the young woman appears to be participating in the incrimination, violent behavior with the other soldiers. Where in fact, she is simply a bystander that they forced to be involved in the photograph taking. But by only looking at the photo itself, from a completely disconnected point of view, this woman seems to be heartless and violent just as the actual abusers are. Moreover, realizing what image one is presenting when including themselves in a photograph is an important thing to think about. In addition, how are they portraying themselves in the photograph, physically (i.e. body language, hand gestures, facial expressions, etc.). Photographs capture a single moment, but don't quite explain the whole situation.