PHOTOGRAPHY: AN ART FORMPhotography is an avenue of visual communication and expressionism. It embodies unique aesthetic abilities and is able to reach the viewer in ways that no other art form can. In order to understand these qualities, it is essential to recognize the process of image making. When exposed to light the lens from a camera captures an image and a negative is imprinted on the light sensitive celluloid film strip within the camera. The image becomes visible in the development process by adding sodium thiosulfate to the film strip which is later used to create the prints during the printing process inside the dark room. Through this form of image making the main qualities of an image are usually permeated at the time of exposure. This inherit sense of authenticity is what initially distinguished photography from other mediums and where the popularized notion: “The camera does not lie” arouse from. This view of photography as a mechanical process due to its dependence on technology has dominated many discussions about its role in the arts, disclaiming the medium as a form of fine art and expressionism. As John Berger phrases in Understanding a Photograph “In twentieth‐century terms, photographs are records of things seen. Consider them no closer to works of art than cardiograms.” When photography was first invented its purpose was mainly to document and reflect existing realities. An image was attributed value depending on its indexicality. In earlier photography images strove to be indexical, rather than artistic or interpretive. This notion generally had to do with the affordances of the medium. “By their nature, photographs have little or no property value because they have no rarity value. The very principle of photography is that the resulting image is not unique, but on the contrary infinitely reproducible.”– John Berger. Berger’s theory and other popularized notions on photography are completely mistaken when trying to understand the principles of this medium. Even though the camera might limit the photographer’s capacities of capturing imaginary and fictional objects, a talented photographer is able to introduce creativity, innovation, and brilliance to their final compositions. An image can be altered by using different lenses and filters, or by modifying the cameras exposure, shutter speed, or aperture. The photographer even has control over contrast, highlights, shadows, and coloring. For example, the same image with high contrast lighting can evoke a totally different sensation and transmit a different message than that same image with low contrast of lighting. An image with high contrast may evoke a harsh, intense, and dramatic response, while the same image in low contrast may produce the opposite emotions. By mastering all these techniques, a photographer is able to compose a distinctive and unique image of even the most infinitely reproduced landmark, or able to completely alter the aesthetic of an object or creature. Below are two collections of images of the same architectural structure. I took each image from a different angle and perspective, proving the extend to which an image can change just by how it is framed. Shadow and lighting were also very important in making these images because it contributed to the complexity of the shot. These images were taken around 12 pm where a strong light casted a shadow onto the surface of the structure creating multiple geometrical shapes and forms which enhanced the composition. I colored the second series of images in black in white in order to demonstrate the change in subjectivity by just altering color.
Digital photography revolutionized photography as a practice and art form. Digital technology in image making arose in the late 1980’s and Adobe Photoshop, a software that allows for editing and adjusting digital images, was first released in 1990. Photoshop was initially seen as a replacement to the dark room, but allowed the editing process to go further than any photographer could imagine. The program allows the structure and contents of a digital image file to be completely manipulated and altered. “In a world of high technology, will you still believe in the truthfulness of a photograph? And does it matter?” –Misha Gordin states in his article Conceptual Photography. The creation of Photoshop forever changed the perception of photography and challenged the relationship between the photographer and the medium. As William J. Mitchell writes in his book The Reconfigured Eye “Today the very idea of photographic veracity is being radically challenged by the emerging technology of digital image manipulation.” The use of Photoshop calls into question the truthfulness behind images, and to what extent the rise of technically-altered photos depletes the credibility of photos used as documentation. However, what people fail to realize is that photography has always inherently had subjective elements. The photographer decides how to document or depict their subjects; every creative and technical decision is thought through and has purpose. Images are framed through someone’s perspective and intended to be viewed through the photographer’s eyes. Below is an example of how an image can be altered with Photoshop. The first image is the the original landscape shot, in the second image you can see how I enhanced the coloring by saturating specific colors, and in the third image I created a kaleidoscopic effect by reflecting the same image 4 times around its axis. Digital photography and post production software’s have allowed the medium to take on innovative affordances and created a new wave of photographic styles, enabling and facilitating the rise of abstract and conceptual photography. The post production process of image making can be as important as the actual capturing of the image given the extent to which an image can be modified. Typical perceptions of the use of postproduction image altering software’s; such as Photoshop may have negative connotations given the aged idea that an organic image has more value. Nonetheless mastering Photoshop is also an art and requires a lot of visual intelligence and creativity. How I edit my images is one of the most important parts of my creative process given that I take images thinking about the postproduction process. While shooting I make decisions about framing, lighting, pattern, and contrast depending on what my vision and conceptualized idea of the finished product is. In the series of images below you can see my visual thinking process while editing this image. The subject in my original shot was a small crater made by erosion in the rocks next to the ocean. Before taking this image I saw something interesting in the form of the rocks, I studied and observed the space intricately by taking numerous pictures from different angles and perspectives because I knew there was something interesting that could arise in the editing process. The original image is not that interesting or compelling, however it had potential to become something mystical. I wanted the final image to resemble some sort of galactic look and was interested in creating my own reality. Through Photoshop I am able to take the world around me and modify it in order to create my own version of nature, existentially, and livelihood. I am able to create definitions without words or explanations through this outlet that allows for vigorous aesthetic and conceptual exploration. An image that is Ambiguous beyond the artist’s intensions naturally leads the audience to discard such ambiguity, rather than continue to explore the unknown. Photography is a unique medium of art because it allows this exploration of depths that were not an object of artistic intension. A photograph is so intricate that there are always aspects subject to interpretation that were not a product of intension. “All too often, the photographer’s individual approach to image-making is hijacked by conventionally accepted photographic aesthetics; that is, how things “should” look.” – Lois Greenfield. Art has many forms and types, but it does not need to tap into the viewer’s experiences and pre conceptions. Rather a good abstract photographer is able to create non existing conceptions, and display a balance between the unknown and known in order to intrigue yet captivate the viewer. He is able to take creative risks and introduce new realms of vision through image making. As Salvador Dali states; “I strive to systematize confusion and discredit reality” So why do we judge photographs so harshly and not appreciate them for what they are but what we think they should be? The purpose of my photography is not to capture what is expected and conventional, but to revert expectations and break down all structured barrios in order to create art that confuses and stuns the viewer. For some reason there tends to be an expectation for photographs to tell a story or have some deep meaning. However, this does not need to be true, as Lois Greenfield wrote in Moments beneath the Threshold of Perception “I prefer that my photographs tap into the unconscious rather than tell a story.” Photography is a powerful medium that has the ability to make you question the reality in which you live in. The best photographers are able to create strong complex compositions out of simplicity and mundaneness. They see beyond what is presented to us on a daily basis and are able to look at their subject in a unique framework. As Misha Gordin writes in Conceptual Photography “Am I taking photographs of existing reality, or creating my own world, so real but nonexistent?” Photographers are essentially creating their own representations of what they see through their camera, in other words framing the world through their eyes. “Conceptual photography is a higher form of artistic expression, it employs the special talent of intuitive vision, by translating personal concepts into the language of photography.” –Misha Gordin. Photographers must have a certain level of creative intelligence and the ability to not only conceptualize but also turn their ideas into art. Through my works I aim to create visually complex images by utilizing the structures that surround my environment focusing on their symmetry and geometrical qualities. I combine basic elements and principals of design, such as linearity, primary colors, and repetition in hopes of producing an interesting piece that challenges, intrigues, and speaks to the viewer. The abstract quality in my images produce a sense of ambiguity and mystery, intended to provoke the viewer and incite them to question the world in which we live in and the space we consume. I Provide an alternative perspective onto mundane objects, and a reframed presentation of realities. Therefore, through my photographs I am able to create my own world, and invite the viewer to experience this world through my framed perspective. Works Cited:
All images by Dahlia Dreszer Gordin, Misha. "Conceptual Photography: Idea, Process, Truth." World Literature Today 87.2 (2013): 76. Web. Berger, John. "Understanding a Photograph." The Look of Things (1972): n. pag. Web. Mitchell, William J. The reconfigured eye: visual truth in the post-photographic era. Cambridge: The MIT Press, 2001. Print. Greenfield, Lois. "Moments Beneath the Threshold of Perception." World Literature Today 87.2 (2013): 38. Web.
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The "Teach In" was about the truthfulness of the media in todays political climate. Several students presented their works regarding this subject. One group of students talked about fake news, what it is and how to detect it. They had done a project on this subject for their class "Children and The Media." They said they had interviewed a group of elementary students asking them what they understood about "Fake News." I found it interesting how they said that many children thought fake news was when the weather channel would be wrong at predicting the weather. They also talked about Facebook engagement levels during the election and the most popular articles during this time period. I was surprised to learn that the most popular stories were fake news. They gave us tips in order to identifying fake news. For example, pay attention to the domain and URL, it seems obvious but sometimes we forget to check. Something that I did not know was to do a reverse image search in order to figure out if the article is fake. I thought their presentation was very interesting and enlightening. Cinematheque Screening Response Jerusalem is Proud to Present by Nitzan Gilady Jerusalem is Proud to Present is an Israeli documentary by Nitzan Gilady about the 2006 World Pride Festival in Jerusalem. It does a good job at telling the story objectively by interviewing and following the lives of Israelis who were in favor and against the LGBT parade. Its main characters are members of the LGBT community and Rabbi Yehuda Levi, an orthodox rabbi that actively fights against the parade. I later learned during the Q&A part of the screening that the Rabbi was very pleased with the film even though the directors believes are clearly not in line with his. This just shows how successful the film was at depicting the characters as they see themselves. Something that Gilady admitted to being one of the biggest challenges in making documentaries. The documentary tracks the timeline of events leading up to the LGBT festival held in Jerusalem. This event created a lot of chaos and disagreement within Jerusalem because it is known to be “The Holy Land” and predominantly run by the ultra orthodox community. Hosting a pride parade in Jerusalem was seen as an act towards corrupting the city and its morals. The film gives us access to the lives of members of Open House, which is the organization that was in charge of planning the event. We are able to see how difficult their lives are made by the cities opposition to the event. Multiple members of the organization receive death threats, encounter assault, and were constantly being black mailed. The ultra orthodox community even organized an anti Pride Festival revolt, resulting in aggression throughout the city. After this particular event many members were scared and feared for the safety of their lives and the ones they loved. The film did a very good job at introducing the viewer to this fear and creating a connection to the characters by capturing their reactions and responses to these breakouts. Many scenes in the documentary took place in the Kneset (Israeli parliament) and showed how the representatives of the LGBT community were humiliated, laughed at, and not even allowed to speak when given the floor. The Mayer would even get up and leave the room whenever he would speak. It also tracked a woman from the right wing political party and her efforts to get signatures petitioning the dismissal of the parade. The film humanized the characters that were in favor of the parade by shooting in their homes and with their families. It gave the viewers an inside look into their lives and how much they had to suffer in order to express themselves. Contrasted to the scenes that depicted the opposition, which were usually in public areas or on the street. The documentary had a direct cinema style, by catching the most interesting things that happened but also tried to blend into the situation. Many shots were filmed from hidden spots or felt unstable and brusque. This camera usage reflected the context of the situation. Fore example one scene that demonstrates this is when one of the members of the right wing political party was speaking to another colleague about the situation and their intents to ban the parade. The women was making it seem as if they were very close to cancelling the parade, which naturally would make the viewer nervous and worried given how the film sets up the viewers expectations. The filming of this shot was shaky and the camera was placed between two columns as if the viewer were to be ease dropping on a very revealing conversation. The director also revealed to us that most of the times he did not have a camera crew behind him and was just shooting himself. He explained that this was due to how controversial the topic of the parade was and how dangerous it could be for him to be discovered filming the opposition. During the Q&A Gilady answered a lot of questions and spoke about his experience filming the documentary. When asked how he was able to get access to people from the opposition he explained that he used to be an actor and he had to grow his beard in order to blend in with the religious people of the city. He also talked about the situation in Jerusalem after the documentary was released and said that in 2010 the man who had stabbed one of the main characters in the film in a previous pride parade had been released from jail three weeks before another march and killed a 16 year old boy at the parade. The director also gave his advice on documentary making and said that it can get very unpredictable, and the story might develop into something else, he admitted that he had lost control of the plotline at one point but realized he had to allow the natural course of events to create the story. “I discovered when I was there, what this march meant for so many people that where being pushed aside and thinking they were the only ones in Jerusalem.”- Nitzan Gilady Many dominant discussions on photography disclaim the medium as a form of fine art and expressionism. As John Berger phrases in Understanding a Photograph “In twentieth‐century terms, photographs are records of things seen. Consider them no closer to works of art than cardiograms.” When photography was first invented its purpose was mainly to document and recreate existing realities. An image was attributed value depending on its indexicality. This notion generally had to do with the affordances of the medium. Film photography uses celluloid filmstrips that are light sensitive and used to record the environment. “By their nature, photographs have little or no property value because they have no rarity value. The very principle of photography is that the resulting image is not unique, but on the contrary infinitely reproducible.”– John Berger. With digital technology that relationship between the photograph and the medium has been challenged in many ways, we do not see digital images as recordings anymore. As William J. Mitchell writes in his book The Reconfigured Eye “Today the very idea of photographic veracity is being radically challenged by the emerging technology of digital image manipulation.” I would like to challenge these discussions and provide an alternative outlook onto photography as a medium of self-expression and art. Photography is an artistic medium and not necessarily just a medium through which one can document and represent realities. A photograph can be as abstract and unrepresentative as a painting. However, many like to believe that a picture automatically depicts the subject it is representing in its whole, and if it does not we are quick to judge the image and discard it instead of trying to appreciate and understand it. “All too often, the photographer’s individual approach to image-making is hijacked by conventionally accepted photographic aesthetics; that is, how things “should” look.” – Lois Greeenfield. Art has many forms and types, but it does not need to be a depiction of reality. So why do we judge photographs so harshly and not appreciate them for what they are but what we think they should be? “I strive to systematize confusion and discredit reality.” – Salvador Dalí The purpose of my photography is not to capture what is expected and conventional, but to revert expectations and break down all structured barrios in order to create art that confuses and stuns the viewer. For some reason there is an immediate expectation for photographs to tell a story or have some deep meaning. However, this does not need to be true, as Lois Greenfield wrote in Moments beneath the Threshold of Perception “I prefer that my photographs tap into the unconscious rather than tell a story.” Photography is a powerful medium that has the ability to make you question the reality in which you live in. The best photographers are able to create strong complex compositions out of simplicity and mundaneness. They see beyond what is presented to us on a daily basis and are able to look at their subject in a unique framework. As Misha Gordin writes in Conceptual Photography “Am I taking photographs of existing reality, or creating my own world, so real but nonexistent?” Photographers are essentially creating their own representations of what they see through their camera, in other words framing the world through their eyes. “Conceptual photography is a higher form of artistic expression, it employs the special talent of intuitive vision, by translating personal concepts into the language of photography.” –Misha Gordin. Photographers must have a certain level of creative intelligence and the ability to not only conceptualize but also turn their ideas into art. The use of digital photography has also enabled the notion of abstractism given the nature of the medium. Digital tools such as Photoshop enable the artist to tamper with the image in numerous ways, either to enhance it, alter it, or create a whole new type of image. “In a world of high technology, will you still believe in the truthfulness of a photograph? And does it matter?” –Gordin. The post production process of image making can be as important as the actual capturing of the image given the extent to which an image can be modified. Typical perceptions of the use of postproduction image altering software’s; such as Photoshop may have negative connotations given the idea that an organic image has more value. Nonetheless mastering Photoshop is also an art and requires a lot of visual intelligence and creativity. How I edit my images is one of the most important parts of my creative process given that I take images thinking about the postproduction process. I may alter the framing or the lighting when taking a picture depending on how I envision the edits. Digital photo technology has completely altered the art of photography and it should not be studied and understood as the same type of art. Nonetheless many people still judge an image based on how organic and true to the subject it is. The images above depict how my finalized website looks. I wanted my website to be fun and exciting as well as representative of my personality. I am very proud of all my blog posts for this class, especially because I have been able to write about topics that are interesting and relevant to what to my career. My blog has allowed me to express my ideas and given me an outlet to communicate fluidly. My website also includes a page called Media Gallery where I display some of my professional as well as personal artistic work. I feature a gallery of digital collages where I display different types of pieces I have created on Photoshop utilizing my photography. I also include promo videos I have created for my internship at Cartoon Network. I have had trouble designing my website exactly how I envision it given the restrictions of Weebly, but I have tried to make it as interactive and engaging as possible. Netflix revolutionized the television industry and has become one of the most innovative companies over the past decade. Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph first founded Netflix in 1997. The company initially began as a DVD rental service where you were able to pay a monthly subscription fee and rent as many DVDS as you wanted. It took Blockbuster out of business and forever changed the way we watch and consume entertainment. Netflix soon realized that the tendency was to transfer onto digital and released the Netflix online platform in 2007 while still maintaining the DVD rental service. In 2010 the company made its streaming international and by 2016 Netflix online platform reached over 190 countries. Netflix’s platform originally revolved around its quantity and had a larger variety of content than any of its competitors. However its content lacked in quality and newness, it usually only featured older movies and TV shows. Nonetheless, it only charged $9.99 a month so viewers deemed it worthwhile and Netflix quickly gained popularity. “Netflix and Chill”, a phrase that we are all so familiar with was first coined in 2009 by a twitter user referring to the act of watching the online service. The euphoria of the phrase gained power mid 2014 and the company kept gaining more and more popularity and market value. Other leaders of the industry such as Fox, Turner, Warner Bros, and The Walt Disney Company realized they had to keep up with this new digital tendency of online streaming and created their own non-linear streaming platforms as well. Nonetheless, Netflix had already gained most control of the market given its rapid rise in popularity and user subscription. However, when companies such as HBO, CBS, FOX, Amazon Prime, and HULU began releasing their services and featuring their own original content, Netflix saw a potential threat. Netflix quickly realized that in order to survive it had to focus on creating original series. This generated a whole new experience for the consumer. Netflix would release episodes of a season all at once instead of having the viewer wait each week for the episode premier, creating the “Bing Watching” phenomenon. Some of their first and most popular Netflix original series were; House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Narcos, and Black Mirror. Their shift towards content production rattled its competitors and led the whole industry to move towards the same direction. Recently, YouTube launched “YouTube TV”, following the industry trend of relying on original content. Amazon also has its own original series and TV service platform. At this point the race for market value is predominantly dependent on original content creation. I predict that soon enough Facebook will also produce its own content and television service. In What is Web 2.0 Tim O’ Reilly talks about some of the big companies that formed part of the Web 2.0, such as, Google, Amazon, and eBay, and how they served as platforms enabling an online participatory culture which facilitated the massive flow of information. What drove their success was their ability to process huge amounts of data and keep their users constantly and actively engaged with their platform and with each other. This participatory culture has led to a saturation of content and user activity on the web, and these companies no longer need to focus on this aspect of their business as much as before. The era of Internet virility has reached its peak, and even though there still exists a massive flow of information and users constantly creating, sharing, liking, posting, following, etc. it has become much harder to organically reach fandom. Therefore it makes natural sense that the next move for companies such as Facebook, YouTube, Google, Amazon, and Snapchat is to focus on creating their own original content. I worked for HBO last summer and one of the main concerns of the corporation was the rapid rise of Netflix. Even though HBO had already developed their non-linear platform HBO GO and HBO Now they feared the ever growing innovative company. One of the reasons why companies such as HBO had such difficulty keeping up with Netflix was because their whole business model and corporate structure was centered around cable and linear television depending on revenue coming in from Ads placed on programing. Therefore they were always a year or two behind Netflix’s innovations, given their lack of capacities and business structure. In 2014 Turner Broadcasting cut its total workforce by about 10%, leading to 14,000 people being laid off. They over went a complete corporate restructuring, replacing many directives. They claimed it was for budgeting purposes, but in my opinion they saw the need to keep up with the new tendencies in the media industry that Netflix had originated and the only way to do so was to completely restructure their business. I have first hand seen these changes, working at HBO and currently in Cartoon Network. Even though media corporations know that the industry is leading towards digital their business model still is dependent on on-air programing, there is still a huge demand for cable television and it is a primary source of income for the industry. At HBO I worked in the On Air Networks department where I had to create promotional videos for TV shows and movies that would air on linear television. I also gained experience in their creative, out of home, and digital marketing departments, and most of our efforts and projects where in line with the programing schedule. For example, in out of home marketing we would work with PR agencies to create launch events for different TV show campaigns. Digital marketing, consisted mostly on Internet add placement, as well as maintaining the social media platforms. In Creative Marketing I had the chance to be part of the ideation and conceptualization process of the marketing campaigns of different TV shows. In Cartoon Network, I currently work with games marketing, social media, and YouTube. So I have been able to get more experience with digital marketing and content creation. While being here I have realized that original content, innovation, newness, and excitement is what drives our subscriptions and viewer engagement. The ability to keep up with technology use it appropriately for social media marketing is key. Even though Cartoon Network does an amazing job with promoting its brand through social and is updated with all the trends of the industry, it is not a trend creator. Netflix has been a trend creator and a company that perfectly represents innovation, technology, and brilliance. The way it was able to over take the market and completely change the game for all other competitors is something I consider we should be analyzing more and learning from. Not only did Netflix create a new technology and digital habit but it resulted in all other media corporations following their path. Sources: Gershon, Livia. "Will The Fall of Cable Mean Darker TV?" J Store Daily . JStore, 21 Oct. 2014. Web. Musser, John, and Tim O'Reilly. Web 2.0: principles and best practices. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly Radar, 2007. Print. |
AuthorI am from Panama and a sophomore at Emory University. I am passionate about photography and media making. Archives |