Virtual Essay

I have chosen to focus on the work of Sebatio Salgado and Eugene Smith. Each of these photos I have selected reminds me of their work in a unique way. Salgado and Smith had a very similar work ethic in terms of their photography and that is why I have chosen to group them together. Both Smith and Salgado's fundamental belief was that interactions with the subjects of their photos, translates into a better picture. Their photos were often staged, asking the subjects to pose multiple times in order to get the right shot. It was also their belief that alteration and manipulations of a photo was acceptable in order to create the reality that they wanted to portray; in essence a deiction of their version of the truth.Salgado in particular was  motivated by his own spiritual search, which some have argued introduces a bias into his photosfocused his work. His focus centred primarily on the " poor mans problems" such as disease, crime and alcoholism. .

This first photo caught my eye because of the lighting. The way the light directs the viewer's eye reminds me of Eugene Smith's work. Similar to his work on the Spanish Wake photo, Smith always manipulated the lighting of his photos to guide the viewer's eye. This created a way of telling the story of the photo in way words cannot.

The second photo I chose is similar to the previous photo in that the light guides the eyes to where the photographer desires. In addition to the light manipulation, the background of the photo has clearly been altered, fading out what looks to be people in the background to create a more dramatic effect. These were some of the methods that Smith and Salgado used as well, they went against the standard NPPA code of conduct which dictates that a photographer should maintain the integrity of the picture and refrain from photo manipulation as well as resist staging photo opportunities. Another way this photo is similar to the work of Smith and Salgado is that the subject is aware that the photo is being taken, and the photo has been clearly been staged. These were the markings of a Smith/ Salgado photo.

This photo is similar to the work of Salgado in that it depicts what looks to be a poor man in a broken down house with no clothes on his back. Salgado often focused on poverty and the various afflictions that come with it. This light  has been manipulated and guides the eye as it did in the previous photos and the photo has been staged to create a desired result. Another similarity is the sensitivity of the moment. Similar to the photo of Tomoko Uemura taken by Eugene Smith, this photo captures a private moment. This man is obviously vulnerable and caught up in the harsh realities of life and this photo gives the viewer a window into this man's life and struggles.

This picture is reminiscent of the work of Salgado, he often liked to capture the everyday heros as stated in the class lecture, “Salgado in his work depicts individuals who are resilient, but inevitably bound by larger forces-the unequal distribution of wealth, famine, the advance of technology”(Blackboard) and "he also recognizes the individual’s singular importance in his images."(Blackboard) The man in this image is a retired war vet that in his own right is a real life hero. He was bound by forces beyond his control to enter into the army and fight for freedom. This picture captures the importance of his contributions in an abstact way. The surrounding chairs represent the soldiers that would be surrounding him, but the fact that they are empty places emphasis on his presence in the photo.

This picture also depicts everyday heros, men who work hard to provide food for the people of their country despite the long travel and heat that comes with it.This picture is reminiscent of Salgado's picture of the two workers placing a new wellhead in an oil well that had been damaged by Iraqi explosives. This is  how Salgado turned everyday workers into heros and showed their contribution to the greater good even though they are  bound by  larger forces of economic inequality,through the lens of his camera. 

In conclusion, each of these photos in their own unique way captures a different quality of Smith and Salgado's work, portraying their signature way of inviting viewers into their own version of reality thought their personal relationships with their subjects and their love of photo and light manipulation.

Works Cited

Jhem. Fashion and Art Trend. January 2011. Retrieved August 2011. http://fashionarttrend.blogspot.com/2011/01/fine-art-photography.html

Rowse, Darren. Digital Photography School.February 2011. Retrieved August 2011.http://www.digital-photography-school.com/5-black-and-white-photography-tips

Thompson, Cole. Cole Thompson Photography. April 2011. Retrieved August 2011.http://www.colethompsonphotography.com/

Blackboard; WebCT. Retrieved August 2011. https://gbc.blackboard.com/webct/urw/lc5122011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct

The Impact of Digital Technology on Photography

By: Sandra Berry, Anita Stanusic and Chantal Ducharme

How has digital technology changed the role of photography in society?

How has digital technology changed the role of photography in society? I think the correct question is how hasn’t it? The digital world has expanded to newer highs every day that it is hard to keep up with. What technology has been able to offer today in the 21^st century is hardly what anyone could have imagined in the past 100 years.

The role of photography has become an experience because of the versatility is has brought to practically anyone who owns a camera. There are four basic types of photography that can found today, amateur photography, advertising photography, journalistic/editorial photography and documentary photography. Each of these types have been excelled to its imaginative limits that there is nothing stopping it and better technology is only making the impossible possible. (Garner)

The concept of sharing photographs has grown drastically and has really changed the world and how societies react to certain photographs, because everything happens in an instant and shared with the world within seconds. No real surprises there because digital cameras on the rise, film is dead and camera phones are growing in popularity. (Wallack, 2005)The internet has had a huge impact on sharing photos; a whole new generation suddenly felt the need to document their every move, which has the potential to have a negative connotation even if done unintentional. This phenomenon of sharing pictures has had a positive impact as well, it has made it very convenient for people to share travel pictures, to communicate overseas and to capture iconic moments shot just with a hand held digital camera.

What has been the impact of digital photography on journalism?
Your innate reaction to this question might be the obvious; digital photography has given us the ability to alter images, and persuade the public towards the view of the photographer. Of course, this is absolutely true, but it is important to keep in mind that photo manipulation has been been around almost as long as photography itself. Before digital technology, piercing photos, double exposure, retouching with ink, or scratching the image, were all tactics used to alter images (Eden Photo, N.a).
One more notable case of how digital photography played a key role in journalism is when The National Geographic published a photograph of the pyramids on their cover. The pyramids were edited to appear closer together than they actually were. This was a pinnacle moment in journalism history; it raised the debate of whether alterations were appropriate. After all, the magazine was presenting something that was not true, as a fact. If alterations were acceptable, all magazines, and journalists in general would lose credibility (Kiel, 2006). 

So, while this would be your first guess, there are many more macro factors that play a role. After the debate was sparked, organizations were created to ensure a code of ethics in journalism was adhered to. These now include national and international organizations such as, International Federation of Journalists' Declaration of Principles on the Conduct of Journalists, the National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics, and the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics. Under the code, staging and alterations are not acceptable; despite this, some forms of media, still break the code (Module, 2011). 
So, the answer is quite complex; digital photography has shaped journalism in many ways. It has improved journalism by the quality of photographs, and the clarity at which the point is presented. Of course, it has changed in the way of alterations, but the same was true with the alternative. It seems as though the new technology has brought forth ethical arguments, which has shaped journalism profoundly. 

 What is the future of both press and art photography within the context of its digitization?

The future of press photography in terms of digitization is huge. Taking photos is quicker, cheaper and easier than it has ever been before. Today, the use of digital cameras eliminates the tedious process associated with development and allows photography to be completely automatic. This means that from when the picture is taken to when the picture is seen by the viewer, it is almost instantaneous. The clarity and detail of the pictures is only increasing over time as well adding to impact of the pictures themselves. The detail of pictures can make the viewer feel like the picture is occurring right in front of their very own eyes. This has a significant impact on society because the more connected the viewer is to a story, the higher the emotional response; which is the ultimate goal of photography. 

Another benefit of the increasing level of technology is the equipment being used. Press photographers are able to capture moments from further and further away and in more unstable conditions because of the advancements in technology. This will improve the quality of the picture and the amount of usable photos taken by press photographers. This is really significant because many press photographers wait around for that one magical shot, and if the opportunity passes, they are out of luck.

The future for art photography and digitization is endless. Art photographers are able to twist bend and create whatever image their hearts desire. This ability to create the unthinkable gives unlimited potential to the photographer. This newfound capability also benefits the viewers because we are able to see something that was created in someone’s mind in real time. We are able to capture an idea in its purest form and represent it more accurately than ever before.

How has the new media user (a.k.a. amateur web photographer) implicated the discourse of photography at large?

Traditionally, photojournalism was a professional degree with education and skills since it was a time-consuming process associated with pricey equipment. Digital cameras eliminated that skill set. Now everyone that has access to a camera can be a photographer, which has forced traditional photographers to become specialists. (Wordpress)

Content being generated has become more popular with the digitization of cameras, since it enables almost everyone to be a photographer.(Wordpress) Historic events are being documented by everyday people via the internet using cell phones and compact digital cameras.

 For example during the Fort Hood shootings in 2009, images, such as the one above, were being published by non-journalists in outlets like CNN's iReport,(\Wordpress). Just like CNN’s iReport, there are many tools for users to publish pictures and stories as they occur around them. This trend will only continue, further blurring the lines between professional photographers and regular everyday internet users.

The new media users such as you and I, have also sparked debate over the field of photography. We are constantly pushing the boarders of what are real, what is acceptable and the overall definition of art. Currently there are so many online tools for documenting photographs and manipulating photographs, the possibilities are endless.

                      
     

 This has challenged both the press and art photography world. These online publication sites enable the everyday user to become a press or art photographer. This ease of may also compromise the ethics of press photography raising such questions as; who is monitoring whether these pictures are authentic or manipulated. Who is ensuring the integrity of the picture and the circumstances the picture was taken.

 Works Cited

Eden Photo. N.a. A Brief History of Photographic Manipulation. Retrieved from
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/1_early/1_early_photography_-_processes_-_manipulation.htm

Garner, G. (n.d.). Photography and Society in the 20th Century. Retrieved July 2011, from http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/1020/Photography-and-Society-in-the-20th-Century.html

Kiel, July. (2006). Who Moved My Pyramids? Retreived July 21, 2011 from
http://www.jkiel.com/comm7180/kiel_pyramid.pdf

Mer, Andie. (2010,Nov). The Digitization Impact of Photography. Retrieved July 2011 fromhttp://andiemer.wordpress.com

Module 14. (2011). Retrieved July 21, 2011 from https://gbc.blackboard.com/webct/urw/lc5122011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct

Wallack, T. (2005, May 23). Has digital changed our society? Retrieved July 2011, from http://blog.fotolia.com/us/news/digital/society-digital_camera.html

Assignment #2-Press Photography versus Art Photography

Press Photography versus Art Photography

Press photography tells a real story or showcases a real life event as it takes place or that has occurred within history in a journalistic fashion. Art photography on the other hand is a creative expression of an artist trying to convey a message, or simply trying to evoke an emotional response from the viewer, or doesn't necessarily have any story at all, it may have just been created to make you think.

Press Photography

The first piece of press photography that I chose was taken by Meged Gozani. This picture captures

a Jewish settler running over Palestinian rock throwers in the neighborhood of Silwan, east Jerusalem.

 The second piece of press photography that I chose was taken by Adam Dean. This picture captures

two US  soldiers wounded in an IED blast. They are consoling eachother as they are treated on board a medical evacuation helicopter from Charlie Company, Sixth Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment near Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Both of these pictures were taken from "The Best of Photojournalism" website. This website encourages press photographers to compete for the best press photographs. The panel of judges for BOP are some of the best photographers, editors and educators in the field of journalism. Guided by the NPPA guidlelines, BOP is responsible for some of the most dynamic photos in the field of journalism.

Some similarities I found with these photos is that they both capture real life situations. The photographers were upclose and personal when it came to both of these situations. They also both capture raw emotion. The top photo captures anger from both the stone throwers and the driver of the vehicle ( driven by political and religious warfare) and the bottom photo captures intense pain and agony as well as compassion. These photos are very effective at evoking an emotion from the viewer.

Some differences in the photos are the message that they are trying to send, the top photo is showing the viewer what happens in war torn countries during chaotic times, and also shows the viewer just how young the people affected by war are. The bottom photo represents  the aftermath of war and the distress associated with it.

Art Photography

This picture was taken by Tim Walker who is a professional art photographer. Some of his credits include prominent fashion magazines such as Vogue. This is art photography because it is not a real life event, it was staged and edited to the photographers desire.

This photo was taken by Cole Thompson, a New York Photographer specializing in black and white photos.This is also defined as art because it was manipulated and staged to the photographers desire.

The similarities between Tim's photo and Cole's photo is that they have both been manipulated to create an effect. Tim's photo of the swan was enlarged to create an unrealistic fairy-tale look, and in Cole's photo, the image was distorted and shadows were added to the background to create a dark a effect.

The differences in these photos was mainly in the artists vision. Tim wanted to create an unrealistic photo  aimed at shock value and being different and innovative. Cole's photo stops and makes you think about what the man is doing, why he is there and is a little more thought provoking than Tim's fun fantasy photo.

Is it ethical to alter photos?
To alter press photographs would be unjust to the viewer. When creating press photography, there is a certain code of conduct the photographer must follow. The photographer must maintain the integrity of the photo, therefore any alterations made during the development and publication of the photo would be a misrepresentation of the actual situation and therefore would not be documenting the real truth but yet a bias. The situation also must be real and not manufactured by the photographer. Finally the photographer cannot be influenced by any external parties to take a certain picture a certain way, day or time. This would also affect the credibility/intergrity of the story being told.

Art photography is a different story altogether. Since it is a creative expression of an artist, there are no rules with alterations. The photographer has free range when deciding to manipulate their photos. It is up to them how much or how little they would like to alter in order to obtain the final image that they wanted to create; as long as in the end they are satisfied with their piece of art and it conveys what they wanted it to convey.

Works Cited
Cole Thompson Photography. July 20 2011.http://www.colethompsonphotography.com/

The Best of Photojournalism. July 20 2011. http://bop.nppa.org/2011/

Tim Walker Photography. July 20 2011. http://www.timwalkerphotography.com/recent_work.php?offset=69

Photo Manipulation Assignment (Assignment #2)

For this assignment, I have chosen two photos that I myself have taken in the past year. I used the free online editing website "Piknik" to modify these images. This is the first time i've used online editing tools and I'm actually a really big fan. The process was simple easy and fun and I will definently be using it again in the future.

This first photo was taken during my trip to Dubai. I was taking pictures of how americanized this middle eastern country really is, so it is a picture of  a Starbucks. To alter this image I chose to use the "boost" option under the effects window. I chose this because the colours weren't very vibrant and I felt like it would add a more sunny feel to the picture. The next thing I did was I sharpened the contrast and increased the colour temperature. I was aiming for a "cartoony" feel and wanted to exaggerate the colours as much as possible. In addition to increasing the temperature, I increased the saturation of the colours to give it depth and an almost three dimensional feel. This picture now displays the true feeling when you are there, it is sunny, hot and a vibrant place to be.

The second photo I chose was taken at the Biodome in Montreal, Quebec. This is a photo of a fish swimming in an aquarium. To manipulate this photo, I chose to use the "Neon" feature in the effects window. I chose this option because I feel like this fish is pretty scary looking to begin with, but the neon enhances the outline of the wide eyes and mouth and teeth of the fish. This photo went from being just an ordinary fish to becoming something more dark and mysterious.

Similar to Charles Caffin's belief, I believe photography has two distinct purposes. One is to display reality; so displaying a real life situation as a type of documentation of an event or moment in time. The other is to capture beauty. Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, whether that picture has been modified or left the way it is, it up to the photographer. I believe photography can be considered art no matter whether the photographer is capturing reality or creating their own take on a real situation. By altering photos, it gives the photographer permission to interpret and create, which is the true meaning of art. I believe this is why Alfred Stieglitz created a movement for Pictoralists, to encourage artists to create and interpret photos that they have taken and make it their own.

Then vs. Now

Portraits are defined as a picture, sculpture or graphic representation of a person, usually focusing on the face.(Merriam-Webster).Portraits found in earlier times and portraits of today have many similarities. 
One similarity is  the amount of face, neck and top of the shoulder in the picture. In most portraits, a proportionate amount of face, body and neck are shown. Another similarity are the poses and body positions found in the portraits. The model of the portrait is usually facing slightly to the right, left, or dead center of the camera.
 








Although there are many similarities, there are many differences as well. Some differences include  the clarity in which the photos are taken. Technology has made some dramatic advancements with cameras, lenses and programs used to alter/fix photos. These have in-turn enhanced the focus quality and overall sharpness of the photos taken. Another difference is the facial expressions. Many portraits from earlier times consisted of people with serious faces.It was not often  that you would find a smile or frown, just neutral facial expressions. Now, many portraits focus on facial 






expressions; photographers encourage models to smile and show some life within photos. Another difference lies within the artistic vision of the photographer. In earlier times, the format in which portraits were taken were relatively standard. A model comes in, sits in front of the camera, the backdrop is of neutral colour,the clothing is sophisticated, the photo is taken and voila. Now, many photographers are creating their own interpretations of what a portrait should look like. This can include a dramatic backdrop,interesting clothing,various lenses used and multiple facial expressions. The portrait is what the photographer decides to make it, there is no right or wrong.








The subject and photographer of now and then has also changed. Before, a photographer had to set up shop and have his/her own studio. This person most likely chose photography as a career and create portraits for a living. Before it was necessary to have studio space and a dark room to develop photos to be considered a professional. The subjects of these photos were mainly important figures such as kings, queens, and presidents. 


In todays age, the subject and photographer can be anyone. With  easy access to cameras and photoshop programs, anyone is able to take pictures as if they were a professional.

The impact of technology has been major within the field of photography. Cameras are smaller, and take higher quality pictures than ever before. Because technology is advancing so rapidly, prices are dropping dramatically. This means that everyday people can own a high quality camera and are able to take pictures of everyday occurrences and people they love. Cameras of today include touch screens, facial focus features, stability features and can fix red eye on the spot. 


If you are still not happy with your photos once you have taken them, there are plenty of affordable professional programs that can help you pick apart each section of the photo and customize it to turn out the way you want it to.



Definition of Portrait:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/portrait
Photos:
www.google.ca