The analogy of the window/mirror in photography, whereby the camera and what it produces forms a window on the world, is responsible for launching entire areas of anthropology. Although tourism certainly existed before photography, the advent of the camera and particularly stereoscopic postcard esque imagery, gave rise to tourism as we know it.
- What do you make of the window/mirror analogy?
- Do you identify more closely with one or the other?
I feel the title of the lectures surrounding this are a good place to start. Windows on the world is a superb way of describing what photography has the ability to do. Whether that window is the frame or edges of a gallery photograph or the screen of your iPhone, windows are ways of us seeing outwards.
I especially connect with the notion of photography and the window through the use of my large format field camera. The ground glass forms the frosted glass of the window. The image is splayed out, upside down and back to front and out of focus at first. It is here where I draw it into focus and build my composition before capturing the view.
As I have previously said, tourism certainly existed before photography but it is certainly photography which gave rise to the tourist gaze. Imagery made to entice wanderlust individuals with itchy feet to explore. Consider the row upon row of travel brochures found, still, in travel agents. Colourful and vibrant photographs fill them from cover to cover, giving you a viewpoint to dream upon and maybe even visit.
When considering this analogy I feel I most connect with the window concept.
Andrews Masters Journey 