The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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By: Bridgit Muriithi, Journalism Student-Jewel Technical College
The Power of an Image
As a journalism student, I have come to understand just how powerful a camera can be. Images do not only tell stories; they can also distort reality. While a photograph is often said to be worth a thousand words, it can equally communicate a thousand falsehoods. In politics, images are sometimes deliberately used to mislead.
Powerful politicians can influence or even pay photojournalists to capture and circulate carefully staged images that create false impressions and, at times, fuel public tension.
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We often talk about “brainwashing” as something done through speeches or hidden messages, yet in reality, it frequently happens in plain sight—through the images we consume daily on news platforms and social media.
The Power of Camera Angles
When a politician makes grand promises—such as transforming Kenya into a global economic powerhouse—the words alone may feel unrealistic. However, when those same promises are accompanied by images of massive cheering crowds, the human mind begins to believe. This is where photojournalism can become a tool for deception.
Inspired by NTV journalist Sidney Chazima’s investigative documentary Crowds for Hire, I began to question whether the camera always tells the truth or merely sells an illusion. Camera angles play a significant role in shaping perception. Politicians understand this well. For instance, photographers often use a low-angle shot—taken from below—to make a leader appear larger, more powerful, and heroic. The politician looks dominant, while citizens appear small and dependent. Such images subtly suggest that only this leader can solve society’s problems, encouraging people to believe promises that may lack substance.
As journalism students, we must recognize that by choosing such angles uncritically, we risk manipulating public trust and promoting leaders who may not deserve it.
Making a Few People Look Like Many
One of the most misleading practices in political photojournalism is exaggerating crowd sizes. Politicians thrive on the perception of mass support. When attendance at a rally is low, a photographer can use techniques like telephoto lenses to compress space and eliminate visible gaps, or wide lenses to exaggerate numbers. As a result, a small group can appear as a massive crowd.
To the public, these images suggest overwhelming support, yet in reality, some attendees may be paid to show up. A responsible and ethical journalist should not conceal empty spaces or manipulate visuals to fabricate popularity.
The Power of Framing and Editing
Editing is one of the most influential stages in photojournalism. What is included—or excluded—can completely change the story. For example, when a health minister visits a hospital and promises improved healthcare, a photographer may capture a close-up image of the minister smiling beside a patient.
What remains unseen are the dirty floors, empty medicine shelves, broken equipment, and understaffed wards. The public receives an image of progress, while the reality on the ground remains unchanged—hence the frequent strikes by doctors and nurses. As digital journalists, our duty is not to crop out the truth, but to present the full context: both the politician and the conditions they are responsible for fixing.
The Truth Left Outside the Frame
To truly understand political reality, one must often look away from the main stage. Some of the most honest images are not of politicians speaking, but of what happens after they leave. Discarded campaign T-shirts, empty grounds, and citizens returning to daily struggles reveal how temporary political excitement often is.
These images show that hope is frequently distributed for a moment, while long-term hardship remains. As photojournalism students, our responsibility is to document this reality and ensure we do not fail as witnesses.
Choosing Truth Over Illusion
Blaming politicians alone for public deception is not enough. Photojournalists also bear responsibility for providing the images that sustain false narratives. As I prepare to enter the profession, I have learned that a camera is a powerful tool—and with that power comes accountability.
We must decide whether to be image-makers who polish lies or truth-tellers who expose reality. Breaking the cycle of false hope requires showing complete, honest images: the empty seats, the broken systems, and the struggles behind the speeches. Only then can photography serve democracy by revealing truth rather than decorating deception.
