Photographed Souls

Native Americans believed that images within a photo captured the person’s soul; thus, many tribes refused to be photographed.  Today we splatter images of ourselves everywhere.  It’s almost like you don’t exist unless you participate in Facebook, Twiter, or a blog.  Image is everything.

An increasing problem is occurring as people steal photos from personal sites and use them in unthinkable ways.  From billboard advertisements to pornographic sites, peoples personal images are showing up manipulated and captured without permission.

I’m not sure about the legal issues concerning this problem but I know that none of my photos are copyrighted.  And even if they were, what would stop someone from copy and pasting it onto their personal site?  With so many blogs and personal accounts, how could I even begin to keep track of my images?

Perhaps the American Indians had it correct.  Is a piece of my soul being captured not just in the images portraying me but also in the photographs I've created?  I for one, am very attached to the photos I've taken.  They're more than fixed images – they are a glimpse into how I view the world.

One of my fellow writers, Traci Robison, depicted another aspect of this dilemma in her second book.  In a brilliantly written scene, her protagonist is ordered to give his name to his captor.  It seems so innocent but when the captor refuses to release his own name to the protagonist, an underlining power struggle becomes obvious not just because one character tricked another but because of the importance of 'owning' one's name.  The author uses names as a metaphor for one’s soul.  As the novel progresses, this becomes more evident.

So what is the solution?  As in any relationship, when you put yourself out there, you risk getting burned.  Shakespeare said it best, “It is better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all.”  Life is to be lived, loved and shared.  As much as it bothers me that someone could capture one of my beloved images and use it in a perverted way – I am an open book and the joy I receive from sharing with those whom share my passion for creative upliftment outweighs my fear of losing my soul.  So as I move forward towards publication, I will continue to share pieces of myself in hopes that good will spread and flourish.  We can’t force others into making the right choice but we can show them the benefits that come from a life well lived.