A photographic exploration of aphantasia

Hello, I am a photographer who became fascinated by aphantasia, and how the purpose of photography can change for someone who cannot visualize. I made a new project about this idea called Picture a Sailboat, where I was guided around an aphantasic person’s hometown while they shared their experiences with this condition. I also tried to address some of these questions in the process:

  • Why do we take pictures?
  • How do I balance realism and aestheticism in my photography?
  • How much of our memory relies on imagery?
  • Why are places so important to us?
  • How do changes to a place affect our memories of it?​​​​​​​
  • Do images degrade in our minds, archives, and hard drives in similar ways?

You can view the results here: https://www.behance.net/gallery/116216719/Picture-A-Sailboat

Thanks for reading!

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Noam, thank you for sharing this photographic exploration with us! The question of “why do we take pictures” takes on a whole new meaning in the context of someone who experiences aphantasia. We often hear from aphantasics that they place greater value on photos as a means of remembering important events in their life. What an interesting concept to venture with an aphantasic and take pictures. Your photography is stunning by the way! Curious if you’d be interested in writing a published article about this exploration for the network?