Photography Essays (Examples)

Photography and Images

Our Memory, Our Identity, Our eality: The Affects of Photography

"In teaching us a new visual code, photography alters and enlarges our notions of what is worth looking at and what we have a right to observe. They are a grammar and, even more importantly, an ethics of seeing."

~Susan Sontag, On Photography

"Hence it is essential that any theoretical discussion of the relationship of black life to the visual, to art making, make photography central. Access and mass appeal have historically made photography a powerful location for the construction of an oppositional black aesthetic. "

~bell hooks, In Our Glory

Based on the short story of his younger brother, Jonathan Nolan, Film Director and Screenwriter Christopher Nolan created the film Memento, released in 2000. Guy Pierce stars as the lead character, Leonard Shelby. The film is a highly non-linear, thriller film-noir mystery. Leonard Shelby was once…

Photography in Iran

Early Photography in Iran

Paintings and photography started in Persia just like any other country i.e. slowly but there was a huge difference in the timeline. When paintings and art were highly appreciated and exhibitions were held in Europe, the Persian painting and photography had just started its journey. There are only few portraits and photos available from Iranian history because the world did not know of great painters and photographers of the country. Also, the early Persian painters faced the problem of theft of paintings. Thus their master pieces are saved in the history by the name of some other European artists. The Persian artists slowly and gradually grew in expertise from painting sceneries and flowers initially and then the human portraits. The initial portraits are of royal or soldier men and the European women. The local women were, in beginning, illustrated only doing household tasks.…

Nevertheless, Cartier-Bresson chose to stay true to his format and take the picture in black and white which helps in the translation of what is seen and not seen, in this writer's opinion. The rag pickers are standing in a sea of fabric, most likely discarded by manufacturer's shipping from an impoverished to an industrialized country. The very people who make the fabrics from the natural resources of their native lands, cannot afford to own them outright. As such, it is necessary for the men to clothes themselves and most likely their families with the remnants that are left over.

The last photograph that I chose as a part of my review of the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson was unnamed, and therefore I refer to it as "Children at Play." There were a plethora of photographs to select from as the photographer worked extensively for more than 7 decades. However,…

Figure 9 - Fujitsu Tablet

Computer Reviews and Discussion

The two finalists in the Laptop category were the Dell Studio series and the Fujitsu Lifebook Tablet PC. The Dell Studio was chosen for its processing power, its customer support ratings, and its display's size and resolution (CNET). The tablet pc was chosen for its versatility in input methods, its processing power, and also because you can easily carry this in one hand and use it comfortably when standing (CNET). This makes this computer very flexible and a better fit for its intended use and therefore it is our recommendation that this tablet pc be purchased for the photography business's use.

Figure 10 - Fujitsu Review

Short List Losers

Primary Reason(s)

Apple Laptop

Expense, Lack of Features

Dell Vostros

Entry-Level, Quality, Poor Resolution

Canon EOS 1DS

Extremely Expensive, Difficult to Use

Canon EOS 1D

Extremely Expensive, Difficult to Use

Conclusion

Our…

Above all that lays the fact that photography possesses the unique power of leaving an impression in the minds of every viewer. Moreover, it may seem that every viewer gets the same meaning out of the picture, but that is not really the case. The most beautiful thing about photography is that every viewer perceives the image differently and recreates it in his or her mind, thinking of it to exist in different situations, every time telling a different story. This idea of framing thoughts inside peoples' mind, just by choosing a certain composition and angle to take a picture, stuns me!

Let us take an example of a theme that I had to shoot on the other day: "Love." Most people would take pictures of a man and woman holding hands, or hugging, or any other romantic moment, probably at a sunset, but I realized that love could be…

Hine was able to leverage the extraordinary power of the camera's image, which "went beyond logic and language" to the heart instead of the mind. Photography was now being used as a tool for social change. The photographs spurred people to work toward state and federal legislation to enact child labor standards. These changes did not happen overnight, by any means, but the photographs were the impetus of other advocacy to come. The widespread publicity of Hine's photographs continued to encourage attempts at child labor reform and states began to pass stricter laws that banned the employment of underage children. Eventually, in 1938, Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act, or the Federal age and Hour Law, which was declared constitutional in 1941.

ith all the magazines presently on the newsstands, it is difficult to understand why Life Magazine made such an impact for so many years. Yet, its introduction…

Photography

In this photograph, the prominent motif is a flag of the United States. The lines on the metallic roof converge in linear perspective, drawing the viewer's eye to that flag. Based on the number of stars in the flag, the photograph was taken prior to the admission of Alaska or Hawaii to the Union, possibly dating the picture to before Hawaii's statehood of 1959. Three white men are walking in front of the flag, which is painted on a brick wall in what appears to be a traffic tunnel. Two cars occupy the middle ground of the composition. Neither of the two cars is fully within the frame. The car in the front is painted white, whereas the car in the back is painted black. Moreover, the drivers of the car in the back are African-American. The photograph thus makes commentary on race relations in the United States of…

Dye transfer was developed during the 1920s and 1930s by printing the negatives with a variation of the carbon process (dye transfer), which is now called "assembly printing;" however, this was both tedious and time-consuming -- even though the pictures were beautiful. It wasn't until 1935 that Eastman Kodak came to market with a film that was made up of three-color emulsion coated on a single piece of plastic film (Davenport 1999). This film needed to be sent to away to be developed until 1942 when Kodak and a Germany company, Ansco, came up with films that a photographer could process himself. At the same time, Kodak announced a new negative-to-positive film, called "Kodacolor." By 1947, a photographer could take, expose, develop, and print his own color photos (1999).

Another revolution took place in 1947 when Edwin H. Land developed Polaroid instant photography (Davenport 1999). Chemistry was no longer necessary…

Also referring, however, to the way photography can either reflect reality or create illusion, the author does understand the importance of the evolution of digital media. "Straightforward photographs can be used legitimately and effectively to show that things exist. But mislabeled or manipulated photographs can be used to create illusions of existence," ("How to Do Things with Pictures," p. 195). There is also a middle ground between these two extremes. A good photographer with deep familiarity and confidence in using multiple types of photographic equipment can represent reality while also transcending the problems that besiege the amateur. Any student of photography understands the frustration of not being able to capture an image that a more skilled artist can, due to the most basic elements of the science such as exposure, aperture, and shutter speed. Digital photography covers up for ignorance in many ways, allowing the crudest photographer to take what…

In a short time, China has firmly grown into a superpower. Therefore, the title of the exhibit in relation to the content is possibly ironic. On the one hand, China is growing in power and influence globally, but on the other hand, the people of the country are still suffering and living harsh or brutal realities, as illustrated in many of the photographs that compose the exhibit "Rising Dragon."

There are several photos in the exhibit of young people -- adolescents and children. The children are often poor looking and dirty. There is a consistent presence of humility and necessity in the photographs. There are children that are unkempt and yet still beautiful. The photographs are moving and very harsh.

There are also photos of places where homeless or impoverished looking children might live. There domiciles are flimsy and there is a sense of protection, but also vulnerability to the…

The new question is now how to create this business and make it a prosperous one. The initial step as in all business planning is to create a business plan. What do you want to do? The name of the new photography business, what are your initial goals, will it just be a sole proprietorship, corporation etc. what type of staffing is necessary, why do you want to do this business, and what are you bringing to the industry that no one else is bringing. What resources are available right now, how will you fund the business etc. Do you need investors, is there any initial capital, is this business necessary in today's market, and is there a niche for the prospective business. How long will it take before the business is making a positive cash flow, do you have a building etc. These are all necessary aspects of business…

Forensic photography is also known as crime scene imaging and it refers to an art of producing accurate reproduction of a crime scene or a scene of an accident using photography for the purpose of being used in court to help in an investigation . Forensic photography has evolved into a steadfast part of the process of investigation. Together with the statements from witnesses, reports made by officers and other physical evidence which is provided by the crime forensic photography is used in providing an accurate account which can not be changed. This is part of an evidence collection process. It provides those investigating a case with photos of the victim, items and places involved in that crime. Pictures taken on an accident scene show broken machinery or the car crash and so on. This type of photography involves the choice of correct lighting, accuracy in the angling of the…

It was an overall experience that modern life was more and more broken along the lines of the public and private as also the rising speed of industrial society. Photomontage and photo collage along with their blending of typography and photographic pictures generates expression to these conditions while extending photography beyond what had come to be fine art photography's confines and convention. Although believed as radical, these ingenuities were premised on the trade secrets of the latter part of 19th century work of commercial photographers that included double-exposure, timed exposures and dark-room procedures like masking, burning and dodging. The major differences between the initial manipulation of images and those of the 20th century professional photographers and artists remained that the latter stressed its fracture rendering it obvious that the photographic images are all the time a construct. (Peres, 184)

Scholars understand that the earliest photograph of a work of art…

Introduction
Photos are just as crucial as journals and diaries when it comes to educating on, and comprehending, history. The bibliography that follows covers books outlining key elements of photography in the form of war publicity, memoire and a representation of war-time cruelties and realities.
Zarzycka, Marta. Gendered Tropes in War Photography: Mothers, Mourners, Soldiers. 2017.
· Zarzycka questions the framework as well as propagation of modern experiences of war, dissent and brutality. It is of interest to experts and advanced pupils in the fields of visual studies, gender studies, cultural studies, memory and trauma studies, cultural anthropology, media studies, and photography theory. Most especially for this book, the author has cut out class-based, ethnic, racial, national, gender-based, religious, and citizenship status-based groups and replaced them with photographic tropes that accord a combined status to heroism and victimhood at war despite war regimes primarily operating based on the above groupings.…

Reframing The ArchiveWe dont need the new sentence; the old sentence re-framed is good enough, said Kenneth Goldsmith.IntroductionThe last two years have radically altered the way most of us live, work, and create, forcing us to reconsider our connection with our previous photography work. How do we frame our previous work when the world doesnt appear the same? Images of rush-hour pedestrians or pals lazily flinging their arms around each other have taken on new meaning[footnoteRef:1]. The COVID-19 period and the measures put in place to curb the spread of the disease have had a major impact on art, particularly in the conceptualization of space. This change in how we do things has caused many to reimagine how we can get the common and ordinary things done differently. The archive, which has a pronounced role in our daily life, has been compressed, not just because of COVID-19, but generally…

Jeff all's interview with David Shapiro is interesting because all talks about how he began as a painter before moving to photography and then into art theory (though he doesn't consider himself an art theorist). hat I liked was how each transition made sense the way he described it. Essentially, all was looking for a new mode of expression and the form that he chose, whether photography or writing, was the only one that could suitably work. For example, his essays on aesthetics and theory grew out of his teaching. He taught for a long time and had certain ideas regarding art history and making notes for his lectures gave him the inspiration to elongate certain concepts into essays, which were then published in retrospectives or in collections. In short, it was an organic evolution and not just a matter of, "Oh, I'm a theorist now," but rather a natural…

Photography: Jacques-Henri Lartigue's Photography ork

Jacques-Henri Lartigue's Photography ork: Photography

Jacques-Henri Lartigue's Photography ork

Jacques-Henri Lartigue's success as a photographer was due in part, to his prowess and skill in painting; however, we cannot deny the fact that the honesty, passion and realism that come out quite clearly in his works also had a hand in propelling him to glory. The subsequent subsections detail the strategies that he used to achieve this.

One of the fundamental elements of photography is to communicate crucial aspects of culture to the intended audience. Lartigue concentrates his photography on one specific of element of culture -- family. From a very early age, he uses his photography to stress the importance of family -- he includes in his earliest portfolios unadulterated snapshots of family outings, some of his older brother's inventions, and the happiness and satisfaction that one derived from being around family. He captures…

Matthew Brady's Photography And Its ole In American Empire

Matthew Brady was the famous photographer in the American history that played an important role in creating American empire. He not only made innovation in the field of photography but also made portraits of the important celebrities. His contribution in capturing the images of Civil War is another contribution that makes him memorable photographer of the history. His photographs are the only valuable source of information for both historians and the common people for knowing the story of Civil War and remembering the sacrifices made by the soldiers.

Matthew Brady is remembered as one of the most celebrated photographers of 19th century in the history of America. He is famous for his portrait work of celebrities and his contribution towards the American Civil War. His countless efforts and hard work has given him a title of the father of photojournalism (James,…

The Impact of Photography on History: Ethics of the Photography of AtrocitiesPaul Watsons iconic photography of the Vietnam War and Somalia brought to life those far-off wars to viewers at home. One image that won the Canadian Watson the Pulitzer Prize particularly haunted him, that of the desecrated body of an American soldier being torn apart by crowds in Mogadishu. The article The Haunting of Paul Watson actually notes how Watson had to go back for a second, less explicit photograph, because he was afraid newspapers would not publish the first. Watson himself later hunted down the dead mans family to ask for forgiveness. He has said that, while powerful, that such photographs can be taken out of context and misinterpreted, dehumanizing the subjects. He felt this had been the case of his own prize-winning photograph, which he initially took to make a political point about how the American presence…

(Robinson, 2002, p. 180) According to Robinson (2002) the shutter speed used can have a "dramatic effect" on the photograph.

Summary and Conclusion

Many technological advances took place in the 19th and 20th century and included in these changes were developments in camera and film that enabled the field of photography to expand greatly. Photographs began to be used in new ways and particularly in documenting not only events but lives and this included those in the public eye and the lives of individuals throughout society.

The adjustment of the shutter speed enabled photographers to make the dull dramatic and enabled those who would influence politics and society through a creative tool to do precisely that. The increase of shutter speeds further allowed the photographer to have more control over their work and specifically, the increase in shutter speeds allowed the photographers to produce clear and sharp images as compared…

Digital photography leaves the mechanical work in the "hands" of the camera and the photographer has only to choose the visual effect, without going through the process of adjusting devices that capture it. This also implies that the image is more accurate to the original, since digital cameras can not be "tricked" as manual cameras could be. y changing the time of exposure, for example, a clever artist could forge the light and contrast of the image, to make it harder or sharper, for the benefit of the result.

As much as it was already the most popular art, photography has become even more accessible with the invention of digital technology. It allows the photographer to make many variations of the same photo without wasting expensive material in the process. Even from the very beginning of photography, when the daguerreotype was the only version available, those that complained insisted on…

Advancement in the Technology of Digital Photography

Digital Photography

The subject of the paper is the advancement of the technology of digital photography. The paper will provide a concise review of the history of this aspect of photography. Film photography came first in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Moving pictures followed after the invention of film photography. Several decades later, the first attempts at digital photography were made by the mid-20th century. Photography in general is the progeny of painting and so digital photography is a part of that same artistic lineage. The advent of digital photography reflects a shift in attitude and goals during the time of invention; not only does the technology from that time, but also the forward thinking of the period continues to infuse and inspire digital photography today, surely continuing into the future.

The beginning of digital photography is the era of…

They will not just stand under the influence of someone else who came before them (Meyers).

These techniques are, however, mere adaptations of older ones (Meyers, 2004). Chinese philosopher Mo Ti in 300 C used a camera obscura to capture an inverted image. Aristotle, Euclid, Arabian scholar Hassan ibn Hassan of the 10th century, and other artists, like Leonardo da Vinci, also used the camera obscura. The same simple law of optics applies. When a box of any size is blackened and the wall covering is pierced with a small hole, the focused image will appear on the opposite wall in an upside-down position. Pinhole photographers now make all kinds of pinhole cameras in creating all kinds of images. Artists, like Jessica Fergusson, use a pinhole camera to capture something mysterious or unexpected. She believes that this is how memories or dreams work (Meyers).

Photograms can be less manipulated by…

suppliers? ho are the demanders? hat determines each groups ability and willingness to supply and demand the good? hat determines the quantity sold in a year and the average price at which it is sold?

Analog camera market started to fade away as digital photography came up to the market since 1975. Digital photography expanded simultaneously as technology developed. It started taking over the market. Analog cameras weren't enough for people. People wanted to take more photographs at a time, wanted to store more images in a card, and wanted to see the picture clearer. As everything develops and gets qualified more, photography market were getting better and better as well. Cameras are tool to discover and observe life; a new product will always make money. Rather than using for aesthetic purposes, purpose of documenting is the most logical decision to purchase the newest product. Demand for a brand new…

Ansel Adams - Overview

Born on the 20th of Feb 1902, Ansel Easton Adams was an American environmentalist and a great photographer. He is particularly known to the world as black and white landscape photography, who captured the American West in such a beautiful way that the legacy he left behind is unmatchable. Adams' photographs of the Yosemite National Park are still reproduced on posters, calendars, as well as in books.

In association with Fred Archer, Adams worked on the Zone System, and was successful in developing it. The objective behind the development of the Zone System was to establish proper exposure so that the contrast could be adjusted while making the final print. The clarity that resulted in the photographs as a result of the Zone System became the characteristic of the Adams' photography. Primarily, Adams made use of the large-format cameras. The main reason behind this preference was…

Introduction
Photography has been accorded a significant place in art theory and history, particularly with respect to the twentieth century development of the avant-garde. One of the major factors that have played a crucial role in the history and development of photography is surrealism. Surrealism in photography has come a long way since the 1920s when photographers started to transform their work from illustrations of the real world to something unreal and bizarre. In the history of photography, surreal photographers have developed concepts and pieces of work that seek to transmit the world beyond the real into a bizarre and unusual one.
Helmut Newton, Henri Cartier Bresson and Guy Bourdin encapsulated the changes taking place in photography during the middle of the twentieth century. The surrealist photographers of this time coincided historically, even if they did not work together. Despite their peculiar style, these three photographers unintentionally transformed commercial photography…

Keller: The History of Photography
Keller’s (1984) essay on “The Myth of Art Photography” was written before the explosion of Internet photography and this is evident in quotes such as: “The strategic purpose behind this generous sponsorship of Art Photography was, of course, to persuade the ordinary amateur that he too, could produce ‘artistic’ wonders - if he only invested enough money in technical equipment” (p. 268). Keller argues that the explosion of the photography industry and the elevation of photography to an art form has a commercial basis, in other words, to sell photography equipment. Photography has the seductive allure of allowing anyone the illusion that he or she can become an artist simply by purchasing a camera, in contrast to the decades needed to learn the fine art of sketching and painting by hand.
Of course, today, all an amateur photographer needs is a camera phone and an…

Just as painting and drawing require an interpretation by the artist, so too do photography and printmaking. While amateur artists may just splash paint on a canvas and amateur photographers may simply take pictures and hope for the best, truly outstanding artists use their mind's eye for interpreting what they want to communicate and in a similar fashion, outstanding photographers select the right combination of camera settings, filters, lighting and scene elements to create their works of art. In the final analysis, it depends on the definition used, but it does not take much a stretch of the imagination to see how photography and printmaking can be legitimately considered to be fine art.

eferences

Margolis, J. (1962). Philosophy looks at…

Great Depression, Walker Evans worked primarily as a photojournalist and documentarian, using the medium of photography to capture American life in visual detail. Many of Evans's most famous photographs appear in his book, co-written with James Agee, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. The book was in part funded by grants issued by New Deal programs the Roosevelt administration designed to address systemic poverty. Photojournalism was integral to achieving the goals of the New Deal, which is why Evans and Agee were able to compile their historiography. In the photo of Allie Mae urroughs, Evans depicts the primary purpose of his research: to offer proof of the effects of income disparity and economic exploitation. In 1981, Sherrie Levine reproduced several of Walker Evans's images, including that of Allie Mae urroughs. Reproducing the photos transformed the original images, not necessarily in terms of its content or form, but in terms of…

When we look at Starkey's works we appear to be looking at moments captured from everyday life, in particular the everyday life of women. In fact Starkey's photographs are constructed, the people we are looking at are actors.

Her images of modern banality also suggest ennui, despair, depression and listlessness, which are conveyed as central facets of the reality of life for women in society. As one critic describes her images; "apathetic teenagers, usually girls, languish, slack-limbed and expressionless, in dimly lit cafes, nondescript interiors, and anonymous shopping malls."

Furthermore, the images also emphasize the sense of loneliness and isolation that she considers to be the existential situation of working women in the city.

In these images and others like them, individuals stand apart from the world, separated from it by a screen of indifference. It is not that they actively refuse to invest in their surroundings; they simply do…

Evaluation

The purpose of the research is to obtain factual information about the evolution of fashion photography, but not only. A descriptive analysis of the data can serve as the departure point for the very interpretation of the facts. In order to be able to provide the reader with a relevant interpretation one must also take into consideration the changes and developments which have taken place in other areas (such as science, technology, philosophy, art, etc.)- since they have also influenced the overall direction of development of society. All these elements must be researched and correlated in order to achieve an objective analysis of the manner in which fashion photography has evolved.

Research Sources

As far as the research sources are concerned, they must include books, scientific essays and online information, ranging from blogs to specialized case studies. The books could help with the history of fashion while the academic…

Infinite Megapixels

Digital photography presents a whole new world of opportunities for casual and professional photographers alike. Probably the most significant contribution of digital photography is the ability to change pictures at any stage. The act of taking a digital picture itself is akin to first mixing the paints on a palette before actually applying brush to canvas. Taking the picture is only a jumping off point. Digital cameras convert a scene from humanity into countless zeros and ones which best approximate that reality. We as photographers or simple beneficiaries of the digital photograph may then take the zeros and ones and add or subtract countless other zeros and ones.

In other words, we may modify the picture as we choose. We may invert the colors, touch up areas of dullness, covert the photograph into a black and white sketch and even put the photo in an impressionist painting style.…

History Of Photography

egardless of how beautiful photographs appear, they have one limitation. They always project a two-dimensional view (2D), as opposed to three-dimensional (3D) view of phenomena. In essence, therefore, stereoscopic photography has got to do with the presentation of two photographs of the same item so as to create a perception of depth (3D). The said photographs are presented from positions that slightly differ. It should be noted that stereo-photography, as some authors have in the past pointed out, is almost as old as photography itself. This text concerns itself with the stereoscopic technique. In so doing, it not only focuses on the introduction of the said techniques, but also defines how the technique correlates with the psychedelic movement.

Discussion

The stereoscope, its discovery as well as development, is closely associated with Sir David Brewster and Charles Wheatstone (Crary 104). These two figures had, as Crary points out,…

Annie Leibovitz's images of celebrities in costume or a photographer who dresses him or herself up as a different persona in a clearly ironic fashion (such as a woman who might dressed in drag to show the culturally constructed nature of gender) may be examples of more emotionally and intellectually truthful forms of photography than candid snapshots that falsely show a happy family.

Even a journalist taking photographs of a subject can create an inaccurate image, simply by cropping a photograph, or providing or not providing a particular type of caption. A city undergoing difficult economic times can be made to look even worse than it actually is, if the journalist only shows photographs of the worst sections of town, not the areas which are thriving. This has been called 'ruin porn' -- where journalists crop out images of prosperity to create a more convincing visual depiction of blight (Garfield…

S. To undergo surgery to correct a congenital heart defect (Fairfax Digital, 2005, found online at (http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Vietnam-war-picture-that-touched-a-nation-can-still-surprise/2005/05/22/1116700595259.html)..

One of the most disturbing photographs of the war was that of then 9-year-old child, a little girl, running with other children, fleeing a recent bombing. In the background, there are soldiers, carrying weapons. The children are the survivors of a 1972 napalm attack on the Vietnam village where they had gone to hide and find safety. This photograph was responsible for a loud - even louder than usual - outcry and protest by anti-war protesters state side. The photograph can be viewed, online at http://www.slate.com/id/1896.The photograph, copied from that site below, is as disturbing today as it was when originally published in 1972. It should be noted, too, that the child was identied as han Thi Kim huc, who, in 1996, 24 years later, was photographed laying a wreath on the grave…

Photography has been accorded a significant place in art theory and history, particularly with respect to the t h Century development of the avant-garde. One of the major factors that have played a crucial role in the history and development of photography is surrealism. Surrealism in photography has come a long way since the 1920s when photographers started to transform their work from illustrations of the real world to something unreal and bizarre. In the history of photography, surreal photographers have developed concepts and pieces of work that seek to transmit the world beyond the real into a bizarre and unusual one. The 60s were marked by Helmut Newton, Henri Cartier resson and Guy ourdin. The surrealist photographers of this time coincided historically and despite their peculiar style three of them unintentionally transformed photography through surrealism. They transcended the conventional photography of the time because of their unique ways of…

Alfred Stieglitz: The Changing Face of Photography

Alfred Stieglitz is considered to be one of the primary early definers of the nature of photographic art. His life and career spanned from 1864 to 1946, encompassing the tail end of the Civil ar through orld ar II. "Stieglitz witnessed New York transform from a sleeping giant of cobblestone streets and horse-drawn trolleys to a vibrant symbol of the modern metropolis, with soaring skyscrapers becoming visible emblems of a new age" (American Masters: Alfred Stieglitz). Although photography was well-established as an art form in the 19th century, Stieglitz was one of the first to defend the unique gifts of photography as an expressive medium in and of its own right. hen he became the editor of Camera Notes, the journal of the Camera Club of New York, Stieglitz used the platform provided by this "association of amateur photography enthusiasts" to make a…

ealism as a Social Movement

ealism as an art movement established itself around the time when there were many social changes and political movements, enlightenment and industrial revolution. The 1940s saw hard times both economically and socially and realism as a form of art and a social movement came in to defy the traditional trends of art depicting heroic figures and towing the political lines. ealism achieved a democratic political dimension that depicted the true living conditions of people in society and the despondency that existed. It had a leftist origin and it was art against social decadence and advocated for social change especially from the political class. This break brought about by realism made realism to be considered the beginning of modern art. The artist call for social change through their painting at time displayed unflinching and a lot of time ugly moments of life as it was hence…

Disposable Camera

Taking pictures of memorable events and people is a wonderful way capture a moment, and it is widely practiced around the world. Boxes and albums of pictures that take hours to thumb through line the living rooms and coffee tables of homes everywhere. However, pictures galore for all to share were not always quite as available to the average person. A series of inventions and developments in photography made this possible. Among the greatest of these inventions and developments in the history of photography is the disposable camera. I think the invention of the disposable camera made self photography affordable, easy, and versatile for the consumer and an explosion of sales for camera companies.

The invention of disposable cameras made photography affordable. Before disposable cameras, one would need to purchase a camera, buy the film, and pay for the developing. The disposable camera makes it possible for people…

Critical Thinking Essay Photography

Examining Photographs: Bias in Photography

A picture is worth a thousand words. Yet, what goes on behind the scene to make that image possible in reality? Photography as a genre is incredibly powerful. On the one hand, it is seen as more realistic than any other art form; yet at the same time, many within the field have constructed tailored messages within this preconceived preference within the public mind frame.

The philosophy behind photography is actually much more complex than it may seem. Examining the writings of Sontang (2005), there is clearly a much more abstract conception of the power of photographs and their position within society. As such, Sontang presents a very interesting view of the paradox with photographs in contemporary societal life. Photographic images are everywhere in society. As our technology has continued to evolve, so has our fascination with images. As photographs are…

Personal Narrative: Hobbies

Everyone has one or two favorite photos of themselves, family members, or special occasions that they like to treasure. But for me, photography is more than a way of preserving memories. It is an art form. I love to take photographs that do more than simply capture a moment in time. A good photograph can reveal something about the subject’s character that they may not even have known existed. Or it can show a different view of something very ordinary that changes the gazer’s perspective on life. Although I do not have any formal artistic training, I love how the simple technology of an iPhone camera can give me a different voice in the form of being able to create permanent visual images of the world I see.

A good example of the power of photography can be seen in a photograph I recently saw showcased on…

Art

Thinking Critically about Photography

The photograph that I have chosen to think critically about for the purposes of this assignment is "Paris, Montparnasse," by Andreas Gursky. The photograph is rectangular. The primary object in the photograph is a large building or edifice, full of homes or of offices. It is unclear from the vantage point because the picture is taken as an extra wide shot. This object takes up most of the area in the photo. There is some unused or negative space in the top fifth of the photograph. That empty space is of the sky. Toward the bottom fifth of the photograph, there are trees, plants, and what could be a parking lot or another section of the roof of the building. Again, while there is detail and sharpness to the photograph, these sorts of contextual details are ambiguous or unknown. The side of the building that…

City of Ambitions.

Alfred Stieglitz

Modernist Photography

Photogravure

By the early 20th century, photography had established itself as more than a means of documentary evidence. The medium had the potential to convey the artist's impressions as well as political content. Photographers like Alfred Stieglitz capitalized on the power of the medium to depict social and political realities without sacrificing aesthetics. "The City of Ambitions" is one example of Stieglitz's early work, a large portion of which uses urban life as its focus.

"The City of Ambitions" is New York, the American -- even global -- hub of capitalist enterprise. Stieglitz captures New York's industrial side. Not only does the photographer wait for the time of day during which factory smoke is at its most visible, but Stieglitz also includes in the composition multiple features of urban architecture including the river dock and the burgeoning high rises sprouting up around it…

This is a valuable social and interpersonal skill, which will help kids to grow into effective and cooperative adults.

Goals:

The approach of the Kids n Clicks program will function on a personal, educational, and technological platform.

Personal assets kids can expect to gain from the program include:

Increased self-confidence, self-esteem, and independence;

Respect for each other, the community, and technological equipment;

The ability to work effectively as team members and leaders;

The ability to give and receive constructive feedback;

A more positive attitude towards education.

Educational benefits associated with the Kids n Clicks program will include:

For kids:

Creative self-expression and learning by means of visual media.

Cultivating marketable skills like digital image production, graphic design, web page design, digital and online publishing.

Small groups, including no more than eight children in a singles session.

A combination of classroom and field work.

Collaborative learning.

Quality output.

Potential income from…

ealism, Impressionism, and Nineteenth-Century Photography

The Village Maidens

Artist

Gustave Courbet

Date the Piece was Created

Art Movement and/or Style Media

ealism / Oil Paint

Description and Analysis

This 1852 painting, which sparked the creation of a collection of pictures dedicated to women's lives, depicts the artist's three sisters -- Juliette, Zoe and Zelie -- taking a stroll along the Communal-- a little valley close to Ornans (their native village) (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2016). Despite nothing of significance being depicted in this painting, it tells a story. Courbet uses a dark and dull color tone and the overall painting is neither overly dark nor overly bright. The weather may be taken to be pleasant and warm, considering the clear sky Courbet portrays in the painting's background. His brush strokes and paint choice impart a realistic texture and tone to the picture. As no activity is shown in the…

Nan Goldin: Punk Expressions

Nan Goldin captures a raw, energetic visual spirit in her photography -- images of individuals outside the mainstream, persons who live in the sub-culture of the modern day world. These people are transsexuals or drug addicts, some of whom are involved in the punk music scene, others of whom are part of the underground by virtue of their "third gender" status, which Goldin applies to them. She does not photograph them as one who is reviled but rather as one who admires them and wants to be around them. Thus, her aesthetic judgments of her subjects are never scathing or attacking: rather, she presents them as they are -- boldly, objectively, almost defiantly, with their poses, attitudes, facial expressions (the eyes staring directly into the camera and hence into the viewer's saying, "Take me as I am" as in Misty and Jimmy Paulette in a Taxi,…

Pictorialism is a photographic movement that developed in the last 1800's and continues to the present. The main feature of the movement is the focus on photography as art where the value of the photograph is not based on the subject of the photograph, but the composition and how the subject is presented. This broad definition being given, it must be noted that pictorialism is far from a simple approach that can be easily defined. It has changed and developed over time, it has created new techniques, it has impacted on other forms of photography and aspects of it can be seen in modern approached to photography.

To consider pictorialism further, it is necessary to begin at the beginning. This will involve providing on overview of pictorialism and a history of its development. Two pictorialists will then be described as a means of giving example of the approach. Finally, it…

Ansel Adams: An Analysis of the Importance of America's Most Popular Photographer

Of all the great black-and-white photographers, Ansel Adams was the blackest and the whitest. -- Kenneth Brower, 2002

Today, Ansel Adams is widely regarded as the most important landscape photographer of the 20th century, and is perhaps the most best known and beloved photographer in the history of the United States. As a firm testament to his talents and innovations, the popularity of his work has only increased over the years following his death in 1984 (Szarkowski 1-2). This photographer's most important work concerned the last remaining vestiges of untouched wilderness in the nation, particularly in the national parks and other protected areas of the American est; in addition, Adams was an early and outspoken leader of the conservation movement (Szarkowski 2). This paper provides an overview of Adams and his historical significance, followed by a discussion of…

Wall, Tapies, and Goldin: Photography and Painting From the Theoretical Perspective of Susan Sontag

The relationship between photography and painting, according to Susan Sontag, is that neither is really "capturing" the world that each attempts to depict. Rather they are capturing or depicting a perspective and the reality remains elusive. They are, in other words, projections of the artist's viewpoint; they are filtered through a particular zeitgeist -- and it is the zeitgeist that needs to be interpreted at root, not the painting or the picture. Painting and photography are merely means of identifying the spirit or ideology of a particular culture in a particular time and place. [footnoteRef:1] This paper will use Sontag's theoretical framework to analyze the relationship between photography and painting by examining three different works: A Sudden Gust of Wind (1993), photographed by Jeff Wall, Composition with Figures (1945), painted by Antoni Tapies, and Misty and…

Furthermore, the defiant and different poses of each model allows for uniqueness of each model, showing their individual personalities and dispositions. In "Cyborg Hybrids" the montage structure is different than that in "Useless Beauty." hile "Useless Beauty" combined a series of photos of both material images and models in an upside down "L" shape, Cyborg Hybrids" is a single horizontal line of models wearing the same necklace and white T-shirt. In this photo, models look directly at viewers, daring them to make assumptions. The uniformity of uniform makes a sarcastic statement about the belief that persons of one ethnicity and race are all the same. Despite their similarity in pose and dress, the models are each very noticeably different.

Though his photographs are certainly unique and socially important, K.C. Adams's photographs can be characterized by both positive and negative traits. Positive traits of K.C. Adams's work include the socially responsible…

Art

The Material Image is a photography exhibition at the Marianne Boesky Gallery, which is curated by Debra Singer. The exhibition includes work from eighteen artists: Michele Abeles, Lucas Blalock, Sam Falls, Ryan Foerster, Amy Granat, Rachel Harrison, Leslie Hewitt, John Houck, Barbara Kasten, Jason Loebs, Nick Mauss, Ken Okiishi, Arthur Ou, Anthony Pearson, Marina Pinsky, Mariah Robertson, Matt Saunders, and Chris Wiley. The material images are displayed throughout the Marianne Boesky Gallery, a heritage building imparting a naturalistic feel and setting for which to view and interact with the imagery. Warm wood finishes and doorframes in the interior enhance the presentation of the photographs, while the stark white walls allow each image to stand out. The classic heritage building serves as an ironic counterpoint to the exhibition, which challenges the definition of photography and stretches the ultimate boundaries of the art. The style of The Material Image is eclectic,…

Ed Burtynsky

My immediate response to Burtynsky's work was to think that the artist had managed to find a relevant aesthetic response to the most serious issue of the twenty-first century, which is climate change. he difficulty with climate change is that it does not lend itself easily to artistic representation or commentary: any small child knows that slowly and painstakingly building up a castle made of Legos is not as exciting as destroying a Lego castle. Ecology can seem tedious and destruction can seem fun. Burtynsky's work sidesteps this difficulty because in some sense he is documenting the destruction.

his does not mean Burtynsky's work feels message-driven. In photographic work documenting the large-scale changes that human beings make on their physical environment, such as "Mines," "Quarries," and "Railcuts" (all of which are large enough to be actual geological phenomenon but are in fact manmade, and each of which is…

Photography

Grace Taylor

Intro to Digital Photography

The Landscape of Vermont in Black and White

I have had the wonderful fortune of being able to live in Vermont for most of my life. The splendor of the landscape is what first motivated me to pick up a camera over thirty years ago and endeavor to capture its beauty to tell a story. My photographic images are an extension of the world in which I grew up and live in today.

The images in this portfolio of Vermont are in black and white. I chose this medium because for me, black and white, or monochrome photography, comes naturally. When I am photographing, I try to look at how I can use the light, shadow, and composition to capture the character that black and white photography has to offer.

Having both black and white in a shot is important, but just as…

Sontag photograph in Plato's cave with Yves Klein leap into the void.

Susan Sontag's "In Plato Cave" as applied to Yves Klein's photograph, "Leap into the void"

According to Susan Sontag, photographs possess tremendous power. "Photographs alter and enlarge our notions of what is worth looking at and what we have a right to observe" (Sontag 3). To be a photographer is to be in a position of power over one's subject: the creation of a still life appropriates the object being photographed and turns it into something else. A good example of this might be an indigenous person photographed by a tourist. By him or herself, the indigenous person is simply 'real life' and equally human to someone in the developed world. By taking a photograph of the individual, however, the photographer renders the indigenous person into an object that is representative of local culture.

This is very dangerous…

art of Helmut Newton and state a vision of modern fashion photography through his work and visual influence on the 20th century art. The conception of the female figure as a subject of art has changed through history and evolved according to the demands of society at any specific time or place. From the invention of photography the vision of nude photography has changed following the changes of society, and the fashion woman, the one that characterizes the world of publicity and media, took different shapes and sizes with each decade. From the flunky, fluffy nymphs that were on vogue from the late 1800 until after World War I, evolving into the thin, almost boy-ish model that was the standard image of the 20's, the curvy and voluptuous vamp of the 50's, to the skinny, dominating woman that portrays the second half of the 20th century. The image of woman…

" Photography may not, as Susan Sontag has claimed, symbolically reduce its subjects to "corpses,"

(Guimond 18)

It should also be pointed out this is to often not a specifically intentional attempt at disguise, but rather forms part of the cultural views and milieu of the time. This becomes evident if we take an cursory look at some of the photographers of the period.

Francis Johnston

Frances enjamin Johnston's Hampton Album was possibly one of the first photographic attempts to document and 'explain' in images the concept and reality of the American dream. Her work particularly relates to the above problems: the question of the other or minorities in the nation. Johnson created her images at Virginia's Hampton Institute in November and December 1899. This was an institution which was concerned with the education and training of lack people.

Many of the aspects relating to nations building and the American…

When looking at furthering ones education it is important to note that schools have characteristics, markers if you will that provide insight into the capabilities of a prospective student. A school is looking for a candidate that proves to be determined, focused and one that will continue to carry on the legacy of that particular school. The candidate is looking for a place to fine tune, build, and create a stronger way of expressing there knowledge, and they want to do this at the best school for their particular craft. This in turn makes a relationship that takes two sides that in fact want the same outcome. This proves even further why it is my strong belief that I am a good candidate for the Institute. We are looking for the same things even though they are from different perspective the same outcome sought after.

I believe that I am…

The first segment is represented by other teenagers. They are most likely to want to buy products that have a social impact, such as t-shirts or mugs with photos of teenager activities. At the same time, they are also the greatest consumers of Internet products, so disseminating the product in an online environment, not only through Snappysnaps, but also through its own website.

The only potentially negative aspect of this fact is the idea that this category of consumers does not have a discretionary income, but is rather constrained by what money their parents are offering them. Another potentially negative element to be considered is the fact that the product competes with other teenage products with social impact.

A distinct other group of consumers are the teenagers' parents, from two different perspectives. First, they are likely to encourage an activity for the teenagers such as this business is. Second, they…

Fashion Photographer

Although I could not find any specific job advertisement for a fashion photographer, I found some entry-level positions in the fashion industry. A copy of these appears after the reference list. It appears that a career choice of fashion photography would be extremely rewarding in terms of the interesting situations and people the professional would come into contact with. It also appears to be a highly creative and satisfying job for a person with the right traits.

According to the "Creative Skillset" Website (2012), some colleges and universities offer courses in fashion photography, which are generally led by established photographers who act as visiting lecturers for these courses. While these courses can provide a valuable grounding knowledge of the industry, most fashion photographers begin their careers by assisting established fashion photographers. This provides not only practical experience in the industry, but also practical knowledge of the way in…

While at Otis, I can collaborate with fellow students and professors on design ideas and learn how to best execute my visions. I already possess a passionate eye for jeans, a definite vision of how each pair can be as personalized and unique as a work of art. What I hope to gain while I am in the fashion design program is practical knowledge: how to start a fashion business, how to network with other designers, garment manufacturers, the fashion media, and publicists. At Otis, I will work with other students who, like me, will be passionate about their creative work but who are also seeking ways to prosper from their talents.

A also believe I will be able to learn much from the Otis instructors, who can help guide me into a direction that will suit the needs of my future business. A degree from Otis will help me…