The ‘power of images’ make them really valuable evidence to collect as part of a research project. They provide ‘power’ to the author of the image to select and frame a shot. The image-taker could be the researcher or participant. This allows the image-taker or ‘author’ to convey a message. However there is also ‘power’ provided to the viewer, who can interpret them in ways personal to themselves. There is also, arguably, a ‘social power’ to be had – explored at one level in Power of images: Creating the myths of our time– in co-creating the meaning of an image. The multiple possibilities of imagery to convey an understanding of the world also carries with it the possibility of harm.

Part of the power of an image which identifies individuals is the fact that, well, it identifies individuals. Even if the subject of the image gave consent for the image to be taken (which is often difficult in this modern age in which cameras are pretty much ubiquitously owned and used in public spaces) and is empowered at the point of the taking of the image, do they then have control and ‘power’ over what happens next to the image? Where will it be used? How will it be reused? Will they indeed be identifiable – by whom and at what cost?