PHOTOGRAPHS

Much of the foregoing applies with particular force to photographs since the mental visual impression is so much stronger. Here again it is very essential that a “balance” effect should be the constant objective.

There are far too many pictures of bombed houses in Allied towns going into the papers without compensating pictures of smashed-up German ‘planes, tanks, etc.

There are also far too many pictures indicating German military power and efficiency (most of them German propaganda pictures) in the British press. Pictures should be “matched” as much as possible - a shattered French village and a ditched German tank etc.

A Conference of Picture Editors or a liaison with them on the lines of preceding suggestions should do a great deal to help retrieve the proper balance.

The Need for Greater Co-operation on Photos from the Services is well-known and needs no dilating on here except to point out that in the matter of arousing anger one photo is worth more than the proverbial million words.

Greater use of “Actual” Photos . Working on the above lines much use could be made of “real” photos, i.e. photographic enlargements (in exhibitions, shop windows, etc.). They carry more conviction with the general public than any reproduction.