Virtual Essay

After researching for different creations by different photographers, Lauren E.Simonutti’s works have inspired and attracted me by giving me mysteries and fantasies. One of his famous creations is “The Devil’s Alphabet.  It is a photo album that include the alphabet A to Z. All of the photographs are mysterious and they represent the alphabet letters.

Starting with the Alphabet letter A:

The Devil's Alphabet: A (2007) Lauren E. Simonutti
http://www.edelmangallery.com/simonutti/devils_alphabet/simonutti1.jpg

We can see that there is a doll with an “A” pose in the photograph. There is also one man looking at the doll doing the pose from above. Personally, I think the best interpretation of this photograph is that it is very hard to hide secrets, although you have been putting so many efforts on hiding secrets, people will discover eventually.

Same thing happens in this photograph by an unknown photographer, this time there is no one watching you but the doll itself. The meaning is basically the same; there is someone who is watching you, trying to find out your secrets and most likely, your secrets will be spreading out.

Creepy doll by Iynchseattle from flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lynchseattle/4443455798/#/

Following is the Alphabet N from “The Devil Alphabet” album, there is a person who has his leg sticking out of the door. He might be dead or faint. The color setting and the effect on this photograph seems to tell us that something happened in this room and the room is abandoned.



The Devil's Alphabet: N (2007) Lauren E. Simonutti
http://www.edelmangallery.com/simonutti/devils_alphabet/simonutti14.htm



Same as this photograph by Arvydas KniukAita, this room has also been abandoned. It is also a mysterious photograph which gives us the space to think what happened in this room.

Abandoned spooky industrial room in former factory in HDR by Arvydas Kniukšta

http://www.123rf.com/photo_4917674_abandoned-spooky-industrial-room-in-former-factory-in-hdr-black-and-white.html

The Alphabet letter L is a book. It says on the book:

“L” exists in memory.

It is quit lovely but will never see the light of day.

It is the first letter of the sobriquet by which I was christened.

You see, and so must remain hidden.

For without it the Devil can never call out to me by name.

Many meanings can be implied in this message on the book and the most important idea in this message indicates specific religion. The writer might be trying to portray the religion that he/she believes in. Since the theme of this album is “devil” the true meaning message might bring out different negative mentality in our souls, including envy, hatred, selfish, violent, etc…


The Devil's Alphabet: L (2007) Lauren E. Simonutti
http://www.edelmangallery.com/simonutti/devils_alphabet/simonutti12.jpg



One photograph that is similar to the Alphabet letter L is a black and white photograph of a holy bible.  In contrast of the Devil Alphabet, this holy bible represents justices, love and sacrifice.

Holy bible by unknow photographer
http://www.sadena.com/Photography-Artwork/bw.html

In the photograph of the Alphabet X, there is a stair which leads us to the ultimate darkness. Something must be waiting for us downstairs.

The Devil's Alphabet: X (2007) Lauren E. Simonutti
http://www.edelmangallery.com/simonutti/devils_alphabet/simonutti24.jpg

Similar to the stairs from the Alphabet X, the photo, creepy stair represent the same setting, which is paranormal environment and mysteries. In contrast to the Alphabet X, we cannot see anything from upstairs instead of downstairs.

Creepy Stairs by Brian Hill Photography from Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebelhd/363884389/

The last alphabet that I want to present is the Alphabet V. In the photograph, there is a vacant chair in the room. The chair might be old, it might also be broken. There is a clock refection on the chair, telling us that the chair has been recording the history that “it” has seen.

The Devil's Alphabet: Q (2007) Lauren E. Simonutti
http://www.edelmangallery.com/simonutti/devils_alphabet/simonutti17.jpg

In the photograph of a black and white antique chair, same thing happens. The background of the chair is a forest and the chair might be dumped for so many years.

 

Black and white antique chair by summerbreezes 93 from Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39841386@N04/3985260608/

 

Week 13: The new reality or fiction: Contemporary photography

Alterations are not allowed in press photography, but they are one of the tools used in contemporary art photography? Why?

We all know that alterations are not allowed or accepted in press photography, since alterations will hide the truth or the events that the press photographs are presenting. However, alterations can be one of the tools used in contemporary art photography for different effects and feelings. Art is a very pectoral matter; different people have different perspectives toward or against art which can be simple or abstract, colorful or black and white. Since contemporary art photography is created only for art purposes and it doesn’t have to portray the truth behind the story, therefore, alterations can be great tools to use. Comparing art photography to press photography, art photography has an important role of illustrating the feelings and creates the spaces for the audiences to think. Alternations on art photography can bring the art photographs to the next stage of expressing the feelings. For example, if the artist wants to express the sad feelings in the photograph, the black and white effect can help to emphasize the feelings more effectively. Also, alterations can contribute to creative art, for instance, it is often used in sardonicism. Many artists use the alteration as a technique on photographs to mock or demonstrate major social issues, which works very well most of the time on catching our attention. For example, we all know the brand, “Apple”. Its products such as iPhone, Ipad, IPod and MAC have been very successful in the market; Apple can even make advertising unnecessary. From the photograph below, we can see that the Steve Job, the chairman of Apple Inc, holding two Apple computers in his hands, and he dressed like Jesus, meaning that people follow his products irrationally and religiously, that is why many artists have been mocking Steve Job for being a god who has lots of followers in the technologies world.

Moses (Steve Jobs) carrying the new Apple iPad tablets down from the Mountain By Unknown

http://ourwritersblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/moses-tablets-jobs.jpg?w=468&h=611

- Compare photographs of Sommer, Adams and Klett versus  Parkeharrison, Muniz

and Crewdson. What happened to the photography? Is this its future?

Photographs of Sommer focus on the nature, especially death. One of his photograph, the chicken indicated the final stage of live- death. It might not be accepted by majority, but this is his role of taking photography. Adams’s photographs tell us how beautiful Colorado is, although all of the photographs are black and white, we can still feel the warmth and happiness in this place, making everyone to enjoy this place. Klett’s photographs are similar to Adams; he captured different cultures and landscapes. For example, from the photograph by Klett below, a temple is shown, it might be abandoned for a long time, but the connection of the temple and the nature is portrayed. This is how Klett connected human beings building and landscapes to the nature. These three photographers captured the history and nature that we might ignore most of the time. Although we are so busy with so many things nowadays, history and nature should not be ignored since history and nature demonstrate discipline, telling us the right direction. Those photographs do a very good job on recalling our memories and purify our souls.

Frederick Sommer, Anatomy of a Chicken, 1939
http://www.sauer-thompson.com/junkforcode/archives/2009/01/05/SommerFChicken.jpg



Robert Adams, Redlands, Looking Toward Los Angeles, California 1983
http://i1.exhibit-e.com/matthewmarks/974a4658.jpg



Klett Mark Andy Looking East...Winds, 1981
http://collections.mocp.org/media/Klett_M/2006_744.JPG

On the other hand, Parkeharrison, Muniz and Crewdson use alternation as a tool on their photographs, in contrast to Sommer, Adams and Klett, who play the role in press photo, Parkeharrison, Muniz and Crewdson tend to have the intention toward art photographs. They demonstrate abstract, fantasy and of course, many colorful elements were added in the photographs. Alternations that used in those photographs also give us the illusion, thinking all those are paint drawing. We often put ourselves in the photographs to experience the objects and views in the photographs. It is hard to believe that is reality, but the creations also bring out a message, what is reality? How do we know if we are in the reality? We could still be lost even though we are in the reality.

The future of the photography should develop with the technologies used in alternation in order to create different art photographs, meanwhile, press and historical photographs should also be respected. It is because, there is no way to process to the future without going through the pass, history gives us discipline, as we mentioned before. We believe that photography is the most powerful tool to use in delivering the messages, as it can show the truth in front of our eyeballs.

Elegy (2007) Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison
http://www.edelmangallery.com/parke102.jpg

Nightwork (2007) Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison
http://www.edelmangallery.com/parke106.jpg

Group members list, By:
Wilson Wong (100670330)
Yi Ye (100588597)
Melissa Lee
Collen Kennedy
Angad Hanjra

Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson versus Smith and Salgado

The objective of a photojournalist is to record and capture and truth and report to the audiences using the photographs as the evidences.  In order to be ethical, they have to follow certain rules in order to demonstrate the truth to the audiences. However, different photojournalists have different ways and role of taking photographs, as they have different aspects and values in photography. Using the creations by Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier- Bresson vs. Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado as an example, we will be able to prove that different photojournalists can believe it different approaches.

Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson both believe that capturing the natural moment of an object or a person is the best approach to use by photojournalist. It is no doubt that the true side can easily be recorded in the photograph without any modification and that is why anything or anyone can be their model. By examining the photographs below, the nature side of the objects and people is displayed. It seems that people in the photographs are no aware of the photographer, making reality to be shown. These two photojournalists are also believed in simplification; one of the identities of their photographs is that they are simple object based. The objects do not deliver lots of messages in the photographs and audiences often experience natural feelings in the photographs, simply by those common objects and background, such as water, grass, and buildings.



Andre Kertesz, To Susan, Paris, 1931. 8 "x 10", Gelatin Silver Print, Signed.
http://www.staleywise.com/collection/kertesz/big/2.jpg

 


14. Andre Kertesz, Elizabeth's Book, Newtown, CT. 8 "x 10", Gelatin Silver Print, Signed.
http://www.staleywise.com/collection/kertesz/big/6.jpg

 


Henri Cartier-Bresson Spain 1933, 1933 http://mediastore.magnumphotos.com/CoreXDoc/MAG/Media/TR3/2/9/e/1/PAR43608.jpg

 

On the other hand, Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado had the opposite opinions as Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson. They use people as their models; poses are also required in the photographs. Although this can reduce the reality of the photographs, strong and meaningful messages are demonstrated instead.  From the photographs below, we can see all the people express their emotions, sad, helpless, and lost. Those kinds of photographs are the evidences of proving what happened in the 19 century. Compare to Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado took the social responsibilities to tell the audiences about the stories from behind.



Eugene Smith,Nurse Midwife Maude Callen (Outside Portrait With Child), 1951.
http://www.joseflebovicgallery.com/Catalogue/Archive/Cat-126-2007/Large/0164.jpg





Sebastio Salgado, Gourma Rharous, Mali 1985
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TAU7AQV5kvVtRW5v_2YhyDISwrpjdnAP6lwiEo6NEkq5vB5AReJVbx-9d5dV5tFACLs7plS0BHFW8DJMWwiYCsM9L_clByIcgvczRcH9ndzZjP5bIlsIS5ITgXjDe8AeH3TgSg_Bvj4/s320/Gourma+Rharous+mali+1985.jpg



By comparing those two different styles, Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson wait for the right moment to capture, in contrast,  Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado “create” the right moment instead by editing the photographs or modifying the model object.

According to the main rules of photojournalists, images should not be altered in any sense. The original meanings and stories should be portrayed throughout the photograph. Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado often alter the images in order to emphasize the main ideas while Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson did not. There is no such better approach in this case as those photojournalists had the same goal- showing the truth, of course, by using different ways, emotions and techniques.

Press photography versus art photography

Provided by the press and art photo below, there are certain similarities between them. The objects that are being capture in the photographs have no limitation and boundaries, making everything can be a model.  Although those photographs are created for different purposes, they both deliver messages and emphasize the ideas throughout the photographs in different ways.  On the other hand, press photography should indicate the true side of the event to the audiences, while the art photography is just art, making reality unnecessary.

It is acceptable to alter art photographs only with the approval of the original author. In the case of the author is no longer alive, proper word cited or references should be stated by the “photo remake”. By altering art photographs, for example, creating different versions of the photograph can contribute to the art world.



Gisele Bundchen By Walter Chin
http://www.artphotoexpo.com/product.php?id=37&ido=32



Naomi's Shaving By Ellen Von Unwerth
http://www.artphotoexpo.com/product.php?id=29&ido=345

It is not acceptable to alter press photographs because this is not ethical to hide the truth of the event. Altering the press photographs is any sense should be prohibited since the reality of the photographs should be shown to audiences; they have the right to know everything about the event. Using the press photographs of earthquake as an example, imagine what would have happened if the background of the photographs is altered so that the ashes are removed? What would have left is only a sad face; there is no way to know anything about the disaster. Moreover, altering the images can also lead to manipulation in readers’ minds. As we discussed in the previous assignment, the power and effects of altering the image can very strong, negative facts can be twist around into positive facts, therefore press photographs should be altered. However, photographs enhancement can be used in order to improve the quality of the photographs without changing the main idea to give the audience better understanding of the event.



Natori, Japan- Japanese Self- Defense Force soldiers look for victims amid the debris. Japan’s Emperor Akihito delivered a rare address to a jittery nation in dread of a nuclear catastrophe. By

Toru yamanaka/afp/ getty images
http://framework.latimes.com/2011/03/11/earthquake-and-tsunami-hits-japan/#/14





Otsuchi, Japan- Reiko Miura, 68, cries as she looks for her sister’s son by

Itsuo Inouye_associated press
http://framework.latimes.com/2011/03/11/earthquake-and-tsunami-hits-japan/#/14



Shooting the truth: Photojournalism

What’s the role of photo journalism?

The role of photo journalism is to record the truth of an event by taking a picture and broadcasting it to the audiences. Photo journalism is generally used in reporting news because it can help the journalist to deliver clear messages to the audiences. Adding photographs in the article when reporting news can attract audiences to read and it can help them to understand the news better. Also, photos can be a very good tool to deliver messages that cannot be portrayed by texts.

Are there rules that photojournalists should follow? Why? Why not?

According to the course notes, there are certain rules that photojournalists should follow:

1.      -Journalists must not alter their images because they should inform the audience about facts.

2.      -Photos should be changed only if the journalist wants to improve the quality. Context and facts on the photograph shouldn’t be changed in any sense.

3.      -Telling the story without changing the reality is the main purpose of the photographs, that is why objects and people shouldn’t be deleting in the photographs.

4.      -Photojournalists should have accountability to the public by ensuring the accuracy of the context and facts reported.

Is the ethics of taking journalistic photos different than the ethics of writing a news story?

They should both follow the same ethics because bring out the truth accurately to audiences is their objective. Simply changing a word or two in a paragraph can alter the whole meaning of that news story article. Words and photographs are important tools in media that is why they must deliver accurate information and facts. Therefore, when a person writes a news story should follow the ethics of taking journalistic photos.

What’s the impact of altering press photographs? Should they be edited (at all) in post production?

Altering press photographs can result in both positive and negative effects in terms of ethics of photo journalistic. It is no harm to alter the photograph to improve the quality as long as it can still inform the audiences with the right and accurate information.  However, altering the photograph without keeping the original facts or information should not be accepted as the truth of the events is hidden or changed.

Word cited:

Photojournalism: shooting the truth

https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dc99qrtt_117dbtkzfgx

Documenting the great depression

Why the project has significant impact on the society?

The great depression was one of the most memorable historical tragedies through out the 19^th century. During the period, US stock market prices were collapsed, causing money to depreciate. All the stocks became papers with no value, resulting many rich people lost all their assets. It was a world wide economic depression, happening in many countries, USA, Britain, France…etc. With the effects of the great depression, unemployment rate was relative high, industrial production was also decreased in those countries.

According to the website, the black-and white photographs of the Farm Security Administration- Office of War Information Collection are a landmark in the history of documentary photography. This project has a significant impact on the society since the images portray the hard life of the Americans who experienced the effects of the great depression. The project is also a historical prove, documenting the great depression visually. From the photographs, we can all see that people feel depressed from their face expression; worrying about the living, no hope in future. The photographs discipline us form the great depression so we won’t make this kind of mistakes again.

Migrant Mother. Photographer: Dorothea Lang

What was the role of Migrant Mother photograph in the period or the great depression and what is it nowadays?

Migrant Mother. Photographer: Dorothea Lange

“Migrant Mother” is one of the series of photographs and that created by Dorothea Lange. In this photograph, we can see that a depressed mother with her kids around her, sadness and worries are expressed all over her face. Helpless and hopeless are shown from the bottom of her soul, I believe that she sure was in a tough situation with no solutions. “Migrant Mother” demonstrates a historical indicator of the great depression because it shows this tragedy virtually. We can all feel their sadness and courage to overcome the hard time. Even in nowadays, we are still disciplined from the stories behind those photographs so we won’t make the same mistake and also treasure things and people that we have right now.

Migrant Mother. Photographer: Dorothea Lange

Reference:
The library of congress, American memory
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/fsahtml/fahome.html


Drothea Lange's "Migrant Mother" Photographs in the Farm Security Administration Collection: An Overview
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/128_migm.html


Photographs:
8b29516r.jpg
8b29527r.jpg
03054r.jpg

Photography And Ethic

Happiness in life

There is a bouncing ball with a happy face underneath my computer monitor in my photograph. I edited the whole photograph by adding the black and white effect except the happy face. The reason that I kept the color of the happy face is that I wanted to emphasize the happiness. As you see the happy face in the photograph, it is hiding in a small corner in my room. It is also small and not easy to find. Just like our life, we might have find life is tough, busy and complicated like the black and while background. 

Sometimes we have negative views in life, getting tired and we want to give it all up.However, happiness is everywhere, just like the happy face in the photograph. Although it might not be as obvious in our life, but it does exist in so many ways and places. Happiness can be simple, having a great breakfast in the morning, taking a nap in the afternoon, watching TV at night. 

There is always more than one way to see things and different ways of thinking can affect our opinions. The happy face is now more visible after the editing process which emphasizes my point of view-happiness is everywhere.

Although we can't change the weather, we can always change our mood.

Before

After

Different point of view

As we see in the original photograph, there is a girl wearing sun glasses with a sunny and beautiful background. I edited the photograph using photoshop and I added effects on that since I wanted to portray how our minds change by different elements. We see that the background is very beautiful, full of joyfulness with sunshine. The girl in the original photograph sees and thinks the world with positive and happy feelings. However, once the sun glasses are put on, the whole world become negative and sad. Sometimes we see our life in a positive way, but it might not be the reality as most of the people ignore the truth and the potential risks in life. Negative and bad things usually hide behind the peace, for example most of the Canadians have a good living style, living in a good house and having good food every day. But we always forget and ignore the fact that there are many homeless people living on the streets. Sadness is hiding behind the scene and it has always been ignored. We should start learning to observe more from what we see, trying to analysis things in different ways and show more concern to our society.  

Before

After

The role of portraits in the early days of photography and portraits today

Photography is one of the big inventions throughout the history. The first photograph was made by Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1827. In early days, photographs can be only taken once since they all used films to store the images instead of digital storage. They didn’t reveal the colour therefore all the photographs were white and black. However, what was captured in the picture was true and real because photo editing was very limited and unpopular back in the days. People treasure every moment and every emotion that they captured for the reason that films and cameras were precious.



An old camera in early days








New cameras

   

In today’s society, digital cameras become very common and affordable. Basically everyone has at least one including the ones on cell phones. Moreover, photos can be shared very easily through social networking websites. With the developments of photography technologies and techniques, photos become more colourful and beautiful. High definition, contrasts adjustments, and effects have been a very big revolution of photography. Personally, I believe that the meaning of true photography is to reveal the truth that we capture. With the photo editing technologies, varieties of effects can be added in the picture. Not saying adding effects on the photos is hiding the truth; appropriate uses off effects can emphasize the emotions and meaning of what was captured. However, some people might choose to hide the truth using photo editing software in order to make the pictures more wonderful and prefect. A great and common example is self portraits (as known as profile pictures) on Facebook. Most of the people on Facebook have experienced a big difference between the pictures and the real person (hiding pimples, making eyes bigger, etc...) thanks to the technologies.

Although photography is common today, people don’t tend to treat photography as art, instead, they treat it as part of their life. Either way, photographs are still very wonderful because they keep the moment that we treasure forever.



Family picture back in the days




Family picture today



Can art be mechanically reproduced?

When something is reproduced for so many times is that art?

I don't think art can be reproduced for so many times mechanically. Every creation should be unique and they should be  able to express the emotions and feelings of the original creator. However, not everyone is able to understand their feelings, using abstract art as an example, there is no way to understand the feelings or ideas inside the art if analysis is not applied. From this point of view, it is not art when something is reproduced for many times since art should focus on its originality.As a creation is being produced for so many times by so many artists, it might lose the original feelings and expressions since everyone has different opinions and view on art. Originality of a creation is very important, Monalisa by Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci is a good example of originality.The original copy is still being treated seriously by applying touch up of color and revarnishing the painting every year. The original portrait of Monalisa has survived for over 500 years and it is displayed behind the security glass in Musée du Louvre in Paris. If the originality is not important, why is Monalisa treated with high security? Why do large companies and firms sue each other for violating copy rights and patents ? Although there is many different versions and copies of Monalisa, they are still not worth as much as the original one. Copies are copies, they can never replace the original one since there is no way to fully understand what the true meanings and stories unless Di Vinci is still alive.

Original

The original copy of Monalisa vs the reproduced versions

What's the importance of the mechanical reproducibility of the art? What was the impact on mechanical reproducibility on the society?

However, using machinery as a tool for art creation is acceptable since it represents another form of art. For example, using machinery to create a statue instead of by hand is more effective. The creator(s) will still be able to create arts as long as it is original. Mechanical reproducibility plays an important role in our society, for example, when genuine money or bank notes were made, security features and identifies such as watermarks, see through numbers and UV are applied. They make the bank notes difficult to copy but easy to identify. In this case, mechanical reproducibility of a bank has a big impact in our society since it prevents us from using fake bank notes.

Is photography art, or contribution to the art? Is it just a tool used by artists?
Of course, photography is considered as art. There is so many different ways to look at one object, for example, half of the water is drunk verse half of the water is still here in the cup. Photographers will use different angles, lighting, effects, etc.. to illustrate different meanings of an object or a motion.

How and why Henry Pitch Robinson created Feading Away? What was the reason?

Henry Pitch Robinson captured this photo by using negative effects. The reason Henry Pitch Robinson created Feading Away is that he wanted to show the sadness of one family. As we see on the photo, a girl is dying and all of her family members are very upset. The father(I believe) is so sad that he does not even want to see his daughter dying. Dying is one of the processes that everyone has to go through life and that is what Henry Pitch Robinson trying to express.

Photography has impacted the world of art and influenced some changes in the area of accessibility to art. If mechanical reproduction created revolution, what is happening now with the digitalization?

Mechanical reproduction created revolution in photography and art. Photo editing is one of common technologies in mechanical reproduction, for example, adding in new object in the photo, adjusting the brightness, and applying new effects to the photos. Adobe Photoshop is one of the well known photo editing software in the world and it is widely used in many fields. Here comes the power of digitalization and photo editing..