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 21st 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. 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).
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.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
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
No comments:
Post a Comment