Can photograph effect?

[Kumar]

Hello all,

Several people display photographs of their nears & dears, ancestors, parents, dieties etc. pre/post oftheir death with respect & at prominent places in their homes. Some also worship those photos by burning candles, lighted lamps etc. I want to know;

How a photograph of someone can effect scientifically, to person/s worshiping him alike 'somewhat entity of that person whose photo is that?

Pls don't mention placebo, faith etc. effects.


Best luck.

 

[Donks]

I have no idea what you're asking.

 

[Kumar]

I have no idea what you're asking.

It is so simple. I want to know whether a photograph of any person can effect somewhat like that person can effect if physically present?

 

[Mojo]

It is so simple. I want to know whether a photograph of any person can effect somewhat like that person can effect if physically present?

The photo will look like the person (assuming it's a good likeness), but I would imagine that most people can tell the difference between an object and an image of that object. If you can't tell the difference, perhaps you would like to buy the Brooklyn bridge from me?

 

[richardm]

When photography was first introduced some people were a bit wary or suspicious of it, perhaps feeling that because the image was so lifelike it was capturing some part of them and not just an image.

They were, of course wrong; being instead either ignorant or credulous, depending on whether the process had been explained to them properly or not.

 

[rppa]

How a photograph of someone can effect scientifically, to person/s worshiping him alike 'somewhat entity of that person whose photo is that?

I think you're asking, "how can doing something to a photograph of you affect you personally?"

The answer, of course, is that it can't. Unless you're talking about the emotional effect. If my wife told me that she had thrown all of her photographs of me into the shredder, it would have a rather large effect on me.

But if we were divorced and I never knew she had done this, it would have no effect on me at all.

 

[Kumar]

The photo will look like the person (assuming it's a good likeness), but I would imagine that most people can tell the difference between an object and an image of that object. If you can't tell the difference, perhaps you would like to buy the Brooklyn bridge from me?

Mojo, I want to know if effects can be there? I think it is bit easy question,now.

 

[Kumar]

Re: Re: Can photograph effect?

I think you're asking, "how can doing something to a photograph of you affect you personally?"

The answer, of course, is that it can't. Unless you're talking about the emotional effect. If my wife told me that she had thrown all of her photographs of me into the shredder, it would have a rather large effect on me.

But if we were divorced and I never knew she had done this, it would have no effect on me at all.

No, no emotional, placebo effects or otherwise, but just scientific effects.

 

[Lisa Simpson]

What scientific effects are you looking for?

 

[Mojo]

Mojo, I want to know if effects can be there? I think it is bit easy question,now.

No.

 

[Kumar]

No.

Let me indicate. In bull fights, suppose we show big coloured photograph of red cloth instead of real red cloth, bull will be attracted to that photo or not?

 

[steenkh]

Re: Re: Re: Can photograph effect?

No, no emotional, placebo effects or otherwise, but just scientific effects.

The scientific effects of a photograph are these:

You see a picture of a dear relative. Recognition processes in your brain start sending signals to other parts of your brain that this is indeed the dear relative. Then signals shoot around in your brain, causing memories of that person to be dug up, and emotions of love or happiness are created. Release of hormones to tell other parts of your body what state you are in.

If it is a living relative, these processes might lead to you making a phone call to that person, and in this case the photograph has had a direct physical effect that can be observed on this individual.

Got it?

 

[steenkh]

Let me indicate. In bull fights, suppose we show big coloured photograph of red cloth instead of real red cloth, bull will be attracted to that photo or not?

Actually, the bull is attracted to the movement and not the colour or shape of the cloth, so, yes, the bull will charge you if you are waving a big photo of a red cloth!

 

[Mojo]

Let me indicate. In bull fights, suppose we show big coloured photograph of red cloth instead of real red cloth, bull will be attracted to that photo or not?

The use of the word "bull" is highly appropriate here. OK, so, as I said, the photograph looks like the object it is a representation of. So what?

 

[Kumar]

Let me indicate. In bull fights, suppose we show big coloured photograph of red cloth instead of real red cloth, bull will be attracted to that photo or not?

Sorry, my daughter says bull is colour blind. So this example may not be valid.

Now let us think, why we burn candles, lamps in front of photos?

 

[Lisa Simpson]

The use of the word "bull" is highly appropriate here. OK, so, as I said, the photograph looks like the object it is a representation of. So what?

This is probably another one of Kumar's placebo/natural/homeopathy threads. If I look at a picture of Motrin, my headache will go away.

 

[flume]

Now let us think, why we burn candles, lamps in front of photos?

It's the white light! The light interacts with the information in the photo which was stored from the person whose picture it was. The light carries that information to the viewer in a way that connects the viewer to the spirit of that person! It's just like the potentizing idea in the placebo topic.

Please tell me I'm wrong, and you don't mean this.

edited to add: Is this like your idea about cut-off pieces of hair being able to cause effects on the person whose hair it is?

 

[voodoochile]

Sorry, my daughter says bull is colour blind. So this example may not be valid.

Now let us think, why we burn candles, lamps in front of photos?

I don't know...

You got a theory?

I got a feeling you do. Now whether I'll actually be able to understand it is a whole different matter.

My guesses are superstition, religious beliefs, better lighting so they can view the picture more clearly, a belief that fire is someway religious in origin and sanctified in nature (may date from the ancient days when having and maintaining fire was more important and difficult than it is now and the fact that it was often caused by lightning or extremely dry conditions and appeared to be an act of a godlike being), or maybe they all are just dotty.

Is there a scientific effect? Well, it increases the light around the picture and makes it easier to see. Other than that, the only effect is inside the person's head or maybe a different part of their body depending on their relationship with the person in the photograph and what that photographed person was wearing when the photo was taken...

 

[steenkh]

Now let us think, why we burn candles, lamps in front of photos?

It is a symbol. Humans are very attracted to symbols. It has no physical relevance, but it indicates to ourselves and others that we think of the person on the picture. Assuming that person is dead, it is not appropriate to say that he or she could not care less: it is more true that he or she is beyond caring.

 

[Mojo]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Can photograph effect?

The scientific effects of a photograph are these:

You see a picture of a dear relative. Recognition processes in your brain start sending signals to other parts of your brain that this is indeed the dear relative. Then signals shoot around in your brain, causing memories of that person to be dug up, and emotions of love or happiness are created. Release of hormones to tell other parts of your body what state you are in.

If it is a living relative, these processes might lead to you making a phone call to that person, and in this case the photograph has had a direct physical effect that can be observed on this individual.

Got it?

Surely these are effects of your perception of the photograph rather than of the photograph itself.

Edited to add: You would get much the same effect from seeing, perhaps, a personal possesion, or hearing a piece of music you associate with them.