Why are photographs so powerful?
Photography is powerful because it enables people to perceive the world from different perspectives and appreciate the most diverse scenarios and situations captured in a frozen moment. From a business perspective, photography is essential because it can be a competitive differentiator in the business world.
Learning styles
Those who think in pictures have generally claimed to be best at visual learning. Empirical research shows that there is no evidence that identifying a student's "learning style" produces better outcomes.
Humans respond to and process visual data better than any other type of data. In fact, the human brain processes visual content 60,000 times faster than text. That means that a picture is actually worth 60,000 words! Even more, 90 percent of information transmitted to the brain is visual.
Vision trumps all senses. Pictures beat text as well, in part because reading is so inefficient for us. Our brain sees words as lots of tiny pictures, and we have to identify certain features in the letters to be able to read them. That takes time.
A powerful image is one that looks real. Remember, you are trying to evoke an emotion — a genuine feeling in the viewer that connects them to the photograph. You want your viewer to mentally put themselves in the photograph, or at least, feel like they are in the same space as they view it.
(Scientists believe that the brain is able to process images approximately 60,000 times more quickly than it processes a similar amount of written information!) Some experts suggest that images are more likely to be remembered than words, because our brains dually encode images, but encode words only once.
Research at 3M Corporation concluded that we process visuals 60,000 times faster than text. Further studies find that the human brain deciphers image elements simultaneously, while language is decoded in a linear, sequential manner taking more time to process.
Without getting too philosophical, i.e., you can't produce words without thinking of them first, I believe words are more powerful. One's positive or negative thoughts only affect the person thinking them. Words affect not only the person who says them, but also anyone around them who hears those words.
Our preference indicated a bias in our thinking: left-brain-dominated people tend to think more in words; right-brained people tend to think more in images. This bias indicated to us how to successfully approach an audience, and how to approach communication-skills training.
Why is visual communication so powerful? It isn't just because of the pretty pictures; it's straight-up science. The brain absorbs and synthesizes visual information faster than any other stimuli, making visual content an incredibly effective medium.
How much faster does the brain process images than words?
The human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than text.
They Transmit Messages Faster
Our eyes can register 36,000 visual messages per hour. We can get the sense of a visual scene in less than 1/10 of a second. 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual. Visuals are processed 60,000X faster in the brain than text.

First proposed in 1975, the theory suggested that pictures, unlike words, allow for a process of dual coding. This means that by studying a picture, you are storing both an image code (the picture) and a verbal code (the description for the image). In contrast, words only allow for a verbal code.
Printed pictures are incredibly important as they not only allow us to capture a certain moment in time, but also preserve it for generations to come and so are able to relive the wonderful memory or experience again and again.
“I tell students that sound is more important than pictures,” he said, to the surprise of many. The audience will forgive you if an image is a little blurry but not if they can't hear or understand what's going on, he explained. “Sound carries the story.”
Images have no power, we give power to images because we need them as a means of communication. A medium that informs about physical realities, as well as representing the social and political logic of our communities.
- A story not told in words. A photo that tells a story is the kind of photo that doesn't need a caption. ...
- The modern perspective. Our collective point of view has changed in the last 10 years alone. ...
- Real photography. ...
- Originality.
The Benefits of Pictures
Pictures are not only more effortless to recognize and process than words, but also easier to recall. When words enter long-term memory they do so with a single code.
A picture can trigger a buried memory and recall a precise moment in time much more rapidly than words. But why exactly? Neuroscientists have known for many years that humans have an extraordinary ability to encode pictures.
In our media saturated culture, how to read and interpret words and images (together and apart) is an increasingly important skill. Words and images not neutral or benign; they tell us much about the social relations, power and privilege, and taken for granted attitudes of the society within which they circulate.
How long does an image stay in your mind?
Your eye and brain retain a visual impression for about 1/30 of a second. (The exact time depends on the brightness of the image.) This ability to retain an image is known as persistence of vision.
You might think it would be impossible to identify any images you see for such a short time. However, a team of neuroscientists from MIT has found that the human brain can process entire images that the eye sees for as little as 13 milliseconds — the first evidence of such rapid processing speed.
Because we process visual stimulation at lightning speed, images are likely to prompt strong emotion, which in turn can lead to action. The so-called 'visual cortex,' responsible for processing visuals, is much more powerful than previously thought, researchers at Michigan State University discovered in a recent study.
Then You Need To Buy “The two most powerful words in any language: “Thank you!”” And Put A smile On Someone's Face Today!
- #1: "Draft". (As in "Just do a draft...")
- #2: "Now". ( As in "Do it now...")
- #3: "Why". (As in "Tell me why you want to meet?)
- #4: "No." (As in "No, I choose not to do this.)
- #5: "Enough". (As in "I've done enough for today...")
Words have power. Their meaning crystallizes perceptions that shape our beliefs, drive our behavior, and ultimately, create our world. Their power arises from our emotional responses when we read, speak, or hear them.
People with autism, engineers, and those with ADHD tend to say they think in pictures; teachers, in words, and when a word-thinker hears that there are those who think not in words, but pictures, they often are flabbergasted, taken aback, and have a hard time bending their mind around this alien thought form.
In psychology, visual thinking is that which results from perceiving or processing visual stimuli, forms, or patterns. Or in layman's terms, "a picture is worth a thousand words." Using visuals makes information easier to convey, process, and remember.
Most people can readily conjure images inside their head - known as their mind's eye. But this year scientists have described a condition, aphantasia, in which some people are unable to visualise mental images. Niel Kenmuir, from Lancaster, has always had a blind mind's eye. He knew he was different even in childhood.
The results of this study yielded a statistically significant difference between the visual and verbal learners. The majority were visual learners which has implications in the classroom and learning environment. They learn better with pictures, diagrams, flow charts, time lines, films and demonstrations.
Do people prefer visuals or text?
According to Zabisco, the average person responds far better to visual information compared to just plain ol' text. Whether you're buying a product or revising for an exam, visual stimulation over text translation allows the brain to consume the material with more consummate ease.
People are wired to process and respond to visuals much faster than words. In fact, our brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text.
Thought is finer than ether, the medium of electricity. Thoughts excel light in speed. While light travels at the rate of 186,000 miles per second, thoughts virtually travel in no time. Thought is finer than ether, the medium of electricity.
The Power of Visuals
According to marketing industry influencer Krista Neher, the human brain can process images up to 60,000 times faster than words. They say that you don't get a second chance to make a first impression.
And a computer can process information exponentially faster than a human brain.
Visual communication is so effective because it can be processed much faster. Both cognitively and emotionally. In fact, we process visuals 60,000 times faster than text. Visual communication happens in a split second, while verbal communication is a process that develops over time.
Most people rely on both the imagery and verbal systems for cognitive functioning, but researchers have postulated that some people may be better visualizers while others are better verbalizers. This is a useful distinction to keep in mind as a photographer.
Visuals Stimulate Emotions
Humans process visual information and emotions in the same part of the brain. Emotional response and visual stimuli have a simple link. They work together to generate memories. Visual metaphors and images, therefore, can create strong impressions in students.
The power of images
However, images aren't just for decoration. In design, they're the hook that draws the viewer in. Compelling visuals can help you connect with the audience—and make a strong impression—before they've even read a single word.
Photography is a powerful tool to communicate so much without uttering a single word. A photograph can be interpreted and understood by one glance. There are several important tips and tricks when it comes to photography and posting content.
Why is photograph a powerful means of communication?
Photography has created an outlet for the masses to story tell. It has a way of speaking without words like most art forms and is a manner of expression in itself. To eradicate photography from humans would be equivalent to taking away a limb from humankind.
Portraits have the capability to portray more than just the likeness of a person. They tell us about the culture of the person, their psychology and even the wider cultural and societal context.
Printed pictures are incredibly important as they not only allow us to capture a certain moment in time, but also preserve it for generations to come and so are able to relive the wonderful memory or experience again and again.
Paivio – Dual coding theory
Picture stimuli have an advantage over word stimuli because they are dually encoded; they generate a verbal and image code, whereas word stimuli only generate a verbal code.
Cognitive psychology research shows us that images can strengthen communications in several different ways—they can capture attention, evoke emotions, and easily convey large amounts of information in a relatively short amount of time.
Pictures are considered to be an easily accessible and effective means of communication. They draw the attention, they are being looked at by people, they stimulate discussion, they help to recapture situations and finally they help to organize thoughts and ideas.
In photographic art, the most important communication is that of emotion. You want the viewer to share your feeling of when you were there. This basically comes down to being able to compose, expose and focus while being in the right place at the right time.
Radio: One of the most powerful communication tools of the 21st Century. Despite the rise in social media and the emergence of the digital age, radio still remains one of the most powerful communication tools of the 21st century.
The brain is said to process images 60,000 times faster than it processes words. It is much easier – and far less frustrating – for your audience to listen to what you have to say while looking at one or more images, instead of a screen full of words.
Visual communication saves time by relaying messages faster. Stats have shown that visuals are processed 60,000 times faster in the brain than text. Getting your point across quickly is a great way to conserve time and money. Images and video convey a richer experience than text-heavy content alone.
Why is it better to draw from life than a photo?
Though photo references are ubiquitous in artists' studios, they are no substitute for the world as we actually perceive it. Our vision works differently than the camera's lens, and to create artworks of subtlety, originality, and honesty, artists should consider working from life.
Inspiration and Expression
Creating art fosters creativity, originality and imagination, which are important to innovation, societal advances and scientific discoveries. Visual artists lead the way by continually coming up with new and exciting art forms, techniques and imagery that may delight, shock or disturb.
It is the cultural arts that elevate our city onto the international stage. Art can communicate information, shape our everyday lives, make a social statement and be enjoyed for aesthetic beauty.