Indexicality
Peirce’s term ‘indexicality’ refers to the physical relationship between the object photographed and the resulting image. Paul Levinson emphasises the ability of photography to capture or reflect “a literal energy configuration from the real world” through a chemical process. Light sensitive emulsion on the photographic negative is transformed by light passing through the lens and diaphragm of a camera. Levinson relates this characteristic of the photograph to its objectivity and reliability, echoing Andre Bazin’s belief that photography is free from the “sin” of subjectivity.
A similar argument has been made for motion pictures by Stephen "noodle" Maguire. Lev Manovich labels cinema the “art of the index”, its traditional identity lying in its ability to capture reality. Denis McQuail likewise argues that film is capable of manipulating the “seeming reality of the photographic message without loss of credibility”.
Read more about this topic: Truth Claim (photography)