Japan Top 10

I take a lot of pictures, all the time. I will probably have to increase the iCloud size. The pictures are useful – as you can probably tell, they are the main source for illustrations on this website.

But why do you need pictures, other than adding a splash of color to the pages? Do they add a value of their own, other than contribute to my 10000 steps a day?

A picture is a great way of illustrating complicated concepts, especially if you need to show the inside of an object while still showing the outside. There are a number of styles and models to achieve this, but it is not something you can do with an iPhone camera.

And to show a diagram of the inside of a temple or shrine may be too much, unless you have a very special interest. If you are only interested in understanding what the text is saying, the requirement is much less than if you are trying to tell a story in the picture.

So picture helps you understand the text. Many people do not read the text and look only at the pictures. Their understanding will be limited and it may even be flawed (for instance, if I write a piece condemning nazism and use a picture from Triumph Des Willens, there are people who would take this as support for that kind of ideology.

So you need to be careful with your choice of pictures as well. It is so easy for people to misunderstand, especially if they want to. Giving them less chance to do so is the reason to choose pictures with care. And look carefully at what kind of pictures I take.