Art vs Press Photography: Ethics

Art Photography

Left: Farmers on water buffalos, Yunnan 1964. Photo by Wu Jialin

Right: Naty Abasca and Ana-Maria Abascal with Helio Guerreiro, Ibiza, Spain, Sept 1964. Photo by Richard Avedo

Press Photography

Left: The Power of One, 2007. Photo by Oded Bality

Right: Georgia, August 2008. Photo by Gleb Garanich

In photography, there are two distinct forms of photographs that can be take; art and press. Art photography is the kind of picture that can be seen in fashion magazines or for commercial uses. Press photography, on the other hand, are the kinds of pictures that can be seen in newspapers or through news telecasts.

In the examples of the art photos above, they were both taken in an artistic view, where the photographer would have the subject of the picture doing a specific action then have the freedom to adjust lighting, the wardrobe, make-up etc. Ethically speaking, it is normal for the photographer to change the environment to best suit the end product. Sometimes these pictures are for commercial uses so it is highly recommended for alterations to be made. These photos are taken to illustrate a specific idea which can range from fashion pieces to a portrait. In that case, it is ethical for details to be modified and changed in order to best showcase the idea.

On the other hand, press photography includes photos that help tell stories and are used to capture the emotion of an event taking place. These photos should not be altered in any way as it then changes what reality is like. They are usually taken for newspapers where people from other parts of the world can see the struggles and hardships that others go through. If the subject of the picture was to be altered, then the whole photo would have lost it's true meaning; the real, raw emotions are, ideally, what needs to be captured. 

Overall, ethically, it is acceptable to change details for art photography; however, not acceptable for changes in press photography. The two types both require time and care for the good end product; it is just the required attention to detail that differs.

Art Photography:

http://www.natureproducts.net/Wu%20Jialin/Wu_Jialin.html

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/07/photo-op-richard-avedon-at-the-icp/

Press Photograhy:

http://www.worldsfamousphotos.com/index.php/2007/04/19/the-power-of-one-2007/

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2009/2/13/1234532309826/World-Press-Photo-Awards--018.jpg

Virtual Essay - Charlie Waite

For this assignment, I chose Charlie Waite as my photographer of choice. Waite is a landscape photographer from Britain. His work caught the eyes of audiences through the lighting clarity and simplicity of his pieces. The photographs are very composed and give a feel of calmness in the environment. The images below will be ones that I believe have been influenced by Waite's style in photography. 

1)         

The photo on the left was an image I found online that I thought had some similar qualities as a photograph that I saw taken by Waite (right). One similarity would be the depth that both photographs show; both have a natural component lining the side of the image that leads the eye to a vanishing point in the center. The image on the left with the man standing in the center and the tree opening in the right image.  

2)          

In this example, both these photos display symmetry through the usage of the waters reflection. I think the photo by Waite (right) was more effective as a full image due to the fact that he was able to capture the clouds as well as the land in the reflection. Whereas in the online image (left), the water was only able to capture the detail of the structure with no clouds visible in the water. However, I particularly like how the photographer of the online image chose a structure that would make the photo more interesting with the use of the reflection creating a circular shape.

3)    

As a landscape photographer, Waite (right) has many images that include a tree as the focal point. The two are similar in use of the main focal point. In my opinion,  I believe both of these tell a similar story. I think that the two images show movement in the clouds and lack of life around the trees. With that, it seems as if the trees have been in the spot for a very long time while all other natural life has died around it. However, I think Waite was more successful in capturing the movement of clouds because of the empty space, on the left side of the image, that makes it seem as if the clouds were moving towards it.

4)       

In these two photos, it can be seen that there is a lot of repetition occurring; the gaps on rocky ground and the pumpkins. Aside from the pumpkins, Waite was able to also capture the repetition of the flowers in the background as well as the tree. I think the tree was able to help balance out the image to avoid making it seem as if it was just a bunch of pumpkins then a bunch of flowers; it helped separate the two ideas. In the online image (left) the photographer had the same idea. Instead, he had the repetitions of separations on the ground as well as the mountains at the background. His object of balance would be the large rock that he had at the foreground of the image, as well as the slim shadow just before the mountains. From these two, I think the online image was more interesting because it also displays isolation with the rock, whereas in Waite's it was just a dividing point between the pumpkins and flowers.

5)  

Lastly, in these two photographs, three of four elements can be seen; land, water, and air. Both photographers had their own ways of showing the three. Waite (right), had equal spacing for all three giving each one the full area of the foreground, middle, and background whereas the other photographer had the three scattered throughout. In Waite's, he had also included a duck that is center point of the photograph while the other photographer had used a canoe as his focal point. Although darker, I think Waite's photo is more appealing with the defined lines of separation between the three elements. The other seems too disorganized with the patches of lands scattered in the background. 

Overall, I think Waite was able to influence the five images through his attention to detail and uses of focal points. I believe with the addition of depth and movement in his photographs, he was able to bring life into his photos while still being able to achieve an clear and calming image. 

Discussion 11 Response

Sarah and group, great assignment! Your choices in picture really helped retaliate what each artist was trying to achieve when taking the pictures. 
In my opinion, photojournalism is all about the natural element that occurs when the picture is taken. With Eugene Smith and Sabasito Salgado editing their pictures into what they believe is better for the viewer, it defeats the whole purpose of capturing the moment. In the example picture that was included, 'The Walk to Paradise Garden', I think Smith developed the photo to be much darker than what the reality of it was. As a result, it made the overall image have a darker, gloomier feel to it. Ironically with the title hinting at a happier place of Paradise Gardens. 
In a way, it can be seen as an artistic tweak in the photos, however that is the opposite of what photojournalism is. It takes away the candid moment that people are expecting to see from these specific type of pictures. It's kind of like, taking a picture in a storm, but changing the lighting of it so you can see the lightning bolts clearer. It takes away from what is real. 

Overall, I throughly enjoyed this assignment and your opinions between the two takes of photojournalism! 

Discussion 9 Response

I really enjoyed reading this presentation because I never really saw photojournalism as the reality of how things were happening. To me, photos were just seen as a picture that told a story; never realizing that there was a difference between a picture taken just because, and a picture taken to describe an event. With photojournalism, it is basically news bought to the viewers in an image form. I would've never thought that there would be actual ethnics when taking these certain photographs, but it makes a lot of sense of have. For example, with the picture that was provided along with presentation, the photographer must have had a hard time taking a picture without being able to change the naturalness of the situation. It seems like a moral thing, but at the same time it is the job description. Also, the point about editing pictures really stood out. Depending on some situations, it would be hard not to change the lighting or adjusting a few things with the camera. But in the end, does that mean the picture isn't 100% realistic? I think that if there needs to be changes made to help the viewers see a better quality image, that there should be two pictures taken; one with and one without editing. Overall, I enjoyed reading the presentation and was able to learn a lot about being a photojournalist.

Discussion 6 Response

The presentation about the Great Depression was very enlightening; I especially liked the photos that you provided as examples of the photojournalism projects taken place during that time. If it weren't for these photos, it would have been hard to be able to imagine the depression if it was described by only words. The caption that was provided with the "Migrant Mother" photograph really told the story of the subject in the picture and what they were going through at the time. The image itself already resembles the heartbreaks and hard times, but the caption lets us explore more into the situation. It's hard to imagine what life would have been during that time, and it shows just how much we take things for granted in present day. I think these pictures were taken as a historical factor as well as a reminder for us to be thankful for what we have.

The Subject with a Story.

Louis Marie Autissier

Portraits of people have been seen for centuries; in museums of past loyalties or in your living room of a loved one. When portraits began, they served as a memory from the past generations, portraits were created only for the wealthy; the ones who could afford the high costs that followed in the newly discovered technology. Before photography began, miniature portraits were taken. This portrait was the bust view of a person, created with watercolours on stretched vellum, copper or ivory. This typically left the 'photographer' as anyone who was able to paint. This had changed when physionotrace was created (a portrait that was the profile form of a silhouette) and portraits were taken by craftsmen who would handle the cut-out pictures. Not quite through technology, but rather a new idea, Chretien, son of a past engraver, created a device that would quicken the time a portrait was done; the physionotrace, which reproduced images mechanically with rods over a blank piece of paper. 

Vincent Van Gogh

President Barack Obama

There were not very many types of portrait options in the past with the lack of technology. The major difference between portraits now and before would be the final look. Due to the increase of technology, it has greatly impacted what we can visualize as a portrait. In the past it was typically painted out trying to get all the little details as well as trying to achieve realism with the piece. With technology, portraits can be at different angles (front, side etc), different colours (black+white, tinted etc.) or taken with different cameras (fisheye, birds-eye). Portraits are still generally of the top half of the person even with all the changes. The fun thing is that now we have achieved realism within our pictures, cameras are developed with options to create abstract pictures, for example the Mac application of Photobooth which can create distorted pictures. Having said that, the photographer has greatly changed over time. As it is still considered a profession today, portraits can still be achieved as long as a person knows how to work a camera. Or even know how to click a button on a computer to take the picture. The major difference would be the different options one can choose from now opposed to before. Even with technology, they all contain the same idea; the subject with a story

Sources: 
http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/new_official_portrait_released/


http://artroots.com/art/art18_index.html

http://www.nationalmuseum.se/sv/Om-Nationalmuseum/For-press-och-media1/Pressbilder1/Miniatyrer/Louis-Marie-Autissier-iSjalvportratti/

Weynants, Thomas "Precursors of Photography: The Physionotrace Portraits". Early Visual Media. Januaray 20, 2011 <http://users.telenet.be/thomasweynants/precursors.html>

Readings : Excerpt from A History of Photography by Lemagny and Rouille 

 

6 Ways Photography Changed Society

Excuse as I write down the significance for all 6 of the ways photography has changed society. Final thoughts at the very bottom. 

Who We Are

Photography changes many things of the person; their outlook in life, their opinion of people, attention to detail. It helps shape character and builds on personality. It's something magical that can spark someones interest or help someone understand more about society.

What We Do

Having a career is one thing, but being able to photograph and appreciate what we do is another. As a baker, photography changes what I do on the daily basis. We always see picture-perfect photographs taken by others; the perfect lighting, angle, spacing. Picture perfect. Not only as a baker, but as any other occupation, photography does alter how we look at it. Politicians use it, and so do scientists. It really changes and helps people exceed what they want to accomplish. 

What We See 

For obvious reasons, photography changes what we see. Sometimes it's somethings that are right in front of us at the moment, but only later do you realize what was happening in the background. Or it could be the close-up of something that changes what we see. For example, a close-up for any insect or flower is much more complicated to the naked eye. It opens us to a whole new world. 

Where We Go

Travelling is something that probably everyone has on their bucket list. Unfortunately, economy is holding us back from doing so. With photography however, we are able to see what the other side of the world offers. How society lives like there, what buildings look like there, what main attractions exist. Photography is a way for us to be on one side of the world, and still lets us experience everywhere else. 

What We Want

Photographs are taken of people, products, food, places etc. It shows us something that we may not cross everyday, and instead introduces us to so many more things that we were unaware of. As a result, it shows us what we desire; it could be from the perfect dish, to human features. It's kind of like the beauty of online shopping; we get to see what we want from a store without having to actually own it. 

What We Remember

The world dates back thousands of years, and being without time travel, it is hard for us to understand the past and what exactly happened before. Through photographs kept and handed down from generation to generation, we are given an image to help us imagine what the world was like thousands of years ago. It helps us remember the roots of our existence, where we were before technology began taking over. It's a reminder of the simplicity of the past. 


All-in-all, photography can't be said to have altered only one of these 6 aspects. It has changed society through all six. It helps shape us as a person, as well as helping us understand the roots of our existence. It helps build our career and helps spark an interest to something new. All have been a significant contribution to society and continues to progress as technology advances. Leaving only more space of exploration and understanding in the future. 

Intro to Me!

Hi! Welcome to my Picture Perfect blog!
My name is Jasmine and currently taking the Baking and Pastry Arts Apprenticeship Program at GBC. I've haven't actually been to school since, I don't know, September? But co-op has got my hands full for sure. Currently working at LouisXIV cake boutique, I get to create a ton of cakes and bake a lot of amazing treats. 

What else about me. . .
Born and raised in Canada, I'm practically in love with the cold weather and snow, although I can't ski, skate or snowboard for my life. Aside from baking, I love going out with friends for movies or just hanging out enjoying the company. I'm pretty much an all around person, listening to music from Lil Wayne to Taylor Swift to yes, the Jobros. I wouldn't mind a nice conversation once in awhile, but the spontaneous ventures are exciting as well. 


So that's just a little about me, hopefully with this photography course, I'll get to learn a little more about the art of photos etc. As well as a way to have a little more fun away from the stress of jobs and school. 'Til then, enjoy : )