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.