Assignment 5: Virtual Essay

Assignment 5: Virtual Essay
    Ansel Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist best known for his black-and-white landscape photographs of the American West, especially of Yosemite National Park. With Fred Archer, Adams developed the Zone System as a way to determine proper exposure and adjust the contrast of the final print.(from Wikipedia) This system still be widely used in recent years photography.

Ansel Adams, El Capitan 

Phil Hawkins

      The photo took by Phil Hawkins remind me the photo took by Ansel Adams in El Capitan. First, I think these two photos are both landscape. They are all show  breathtaking mountains. Second, The two photographers were using light and dark to create drama and scale in a photograph. In the picture of El Capitan, the dark,  trees in the foreground and the ethereal grandeur of the mountain in the background. This kind of frame makes the photo has more impact. Phil Hawkins also took this advantage on his photo the mountain in the foreground is dark, and the mountains in the back ground more light.

The most direct different between Ansel Adams and Phil Hawkins are color, Ansel Adams is good at black and white landscape photography and Phil focus on colorful landscape photography. These two photos  show this difference very well. Even, two photographers both use light and dark in a photograph, but there are many differences in two photos. Ansel Adams used two thing, trees and mountains, make a comparison, but Phil Hawkins just used mountains that create contrast between the more shadowed mountain and bright mountains.

Ansel Adams, The Tetons and the Snake River(1942)

Galen Rowell, Buttermilk Road, 1971

The photo took by Galen Rowell remind me the famous "The Tetons and the Snake River" by Ansel Adams. they have many  similarities in these two photographs. First, two photographers shows the majestic mountains and have a connection from background to foreground. Also, both of them let sun shine in the middle of the photos.

The differences between Galen Rowell and Ansel Adams are one is used river as the connect and another is road. The place photographers took photos also different. Galen Rowell stood on the road, Ansel Adams was high place near the river. The obvious differences are one is color, anther is black and white photo.

Ansel Adams Lake MacDonald, Glacier National Park 1942

Trey Ratcliff, Driving Along The Lakes Of New Zealand

    I do not know why I can associate these two photos together because I have totally different feelings to these two photos. But I cannot stop connect these two photos with each other. The photo by Ansel Adams makes me feel the lake is mysterious and peaceful, but this kind of peaceful is very cold in my mind. Another photo by Trey Rarcliff makes me feel more happy and looking forward to this place. This lake is also very peaceful, but this kind of peaceful is full of vigor. Also, Adams' lake looks like a mirror, but Ratcliff's lake looks like a sapphire blue ribbon. Ratcliff's photo has some plants that Adams' photo does not have. On the other hand, both of them choose to use high mountains far away as a background which sets off the subject thing. 

Ansel Adams

Jeff Lynch, Big Sky Country

Gilad Benari，The city turns Orange

The similarities among these three photos is they chose sky as the topic. All of them show how vast the sky is. Also, all of them used some "support roles" to set off incredible sky. Last but not least, all of them have similar frame; sky is 2/3, and "support role" is 1/3.

The differences among three photos are they used different object as their support roles. Adams's photos is still a black and white photo, but other two photos are colorful. Even though, both of them are colorful photos, they are still have some differences. Lynch's photo has pure white cloud and blue sky, but Benari's photo has a colorful sky and dark cloud. Adam and Lynch's photos made me feel it is a very nice noon, and I want to do some exercise. On the other hand, Benari's photo made me feel it is time go home and have a wonderful meal with family. Those are two different feeling.

Each group of photos have a very similar frame and topic. Adams as a very famous landscape photographer, I think many photographer were influenced by him.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Adams

http://www.outdoorphotographer.com/how-to/shooting/legacy-think-like-ansel-adams-today.html?start=2

http://www.masters-of-photography.com/A/adams/adams_lake_mcdonald_full.html

http://www.stuckincustoms.com/2012/11/14/driving-along-lake-hawea/

http://www.sierraclub.org/books/photos/rowell/

http://gilad.deviantart.com/art/The-city-turns-Orange-67780269?q=gallery:gilad/17078&qo=82

http://jefflynchdev.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/landscape-photography-big-sky-country/

Compare the work of Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson versus the work of Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado

 

Andre Kertesz 

       Andre Kertesz was well-known as a successful photo journalist in the world. His photography was not intended to record the major and excited moments or events but to cast attention on images seemingly “unimportant.”  In his photos he believed photos contents and photo composition were same important. His unique camera angles and style had gained him world-wide recognition. From these three pictures I choose we can see that Andre Kertesz composed his pictures perfectly and his photos concentrated on the “unimportant” subjects.  Because of these “unimportant” subjects demonstrated his photos are more realistic and Authenticity.

 

  

 Henri Cartier-Bresson 

         Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French photographer. He was considered as a famous candid photographer. He developed the “street photography” style and it has big influence on the world photography. He traveled the world in order to capture different slice of life. His photos were taken on the street with candid shot. Therefore, his photos were more naturalistic and realistic.

      Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson were both photojournalists were both like being invisible when they taking pictures. Their approach to photography are same, they are both taking pictures in naturalistic way. They don’t like photos edited by artificial light and cropped photos. They believed that all images should be done naturally when the pictures were made. They took realistic photos and telling true stories to their audience. Also, they took a lot of pictures from the daily life to describe their meaningful ideas. Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado believed the photographers should influence the photo. That means the photographer is more like a artist or a painter. They can choose the object and make the layout match what they want, so the photographer "make" the photo. Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado are perfectionist that is "I can't show it. This face up here needs toning , needs burning in. This thing down here needs changing . The eyes are wrong" (Lasko, 1989). They always made the picture impeccable, so they cannot take picture naturally, always have some changes on the picture.

 Eugene Smith

        

Sebastio Salgado

          So, I think the differences between the work of Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson versus the work of Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado are if photographers should influence the photograph, and if should photographs edited by photographers.  On the other hand, these two kind of  photographers are focus on describe their ideas though their photographs. Second, All of them have a strong passionate about photography and have a lots of world-famous photos. Also, all of them have very large effect on the development of photography.

2.What’s the better journalistic approach?

         In our opinion, we prefer Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson to Eugene Smith and Sebastio Salgado. First, we think photography is different from other artistic forms because photography is more reality and directly. we think if photographers edited photos, there is no different between painting and photography. Addition, we think a artist can use object from daily life will have struck a responsive chord in the hearts of its audiences. We can read the ideas more easier from reality than edited. So we think Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson is the better journalistic approach.

Source:

https://sites.google.com/site/shootingthetruth/Home/modules/week-11/course-notes-week-11

http://erickimphotography.com/blog/2011/08/10-things-henri-cartier-bresson-can-teach-you-about-street-photography/

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/w-eugene-smith-i-didnt-write-the-rules-why-should-i-follow-them/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_Cartier-Bresson

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/andre-kertesz/about-andre-kertesz/645/

Assignment 2: Press photography versus art photography

1.The main differences and similarities between art and press photography
In my opinion, the main differences between art photography and press photography are if the photo can edit.  Art photography can be edited by photographer's idea. Just like this photography named Nude playing piano. The photographer used time-lapse photography in this photo. And try use this way to show his or her idea in this photo. I can feel how fast is this pianist played the piano, and how surging songs he or she played. May be what I feel is different from the author, but we can see author used a lot of  tools edit this photography for match his or her idea. On the other hand, press photography is different from art photography. Press photography has to keep the photo true, nature and fair, so press photography cannot edited by photography. The photography may be not perfect but it has to be true. 

I think the main similar is both of them are try to told audience something. They want to though those photography express their opinions. we can understand what happened from the press photography, and we can feel what author think from art photography.

nude playing piano 

Michael Appleton


2. Is it ethical and acceptable to alter art photographs? Why? Why not?

Yes, it is ethical and acceptable to alter art photographs. Because art photography can be edited by author's mind, idea or emotion. They can use tools to edit photography for matching author's idea. So I think it is ethical and acceptable to alter art photographs. Also, we have see a lot of art photographs are edited and those photographs become the world famous  photographs.

Bernard Faucon

we can very easy to understand this photography is talk about friend because "ami" in English means "friend". This way can directly show the object in this photo.

3. Is it ethical and acceptable to alter press photographs? Why? Why not?

I do not think it is ethical and acceptable to alter press photographs. The purpose of these photos is show the truth, we cannot alter the facts. The news is show to public, not only for people who interested in. If press photographs can be altered, authors will put their own emotions in them. That will effect on public, and will effect on the event. That is not fair for the public or event participants. 

According to "Pelosi defends decision to alter congressional class photo" shows
"This combo of two photos shows, at left, an Associated Press photo taken Jan. 3, 2013 of female Democratic House members on Capitol Hill, and at right, a screen grab from Rep. Nancy Pelosi's Flickr page of an altered photo. Four additional members who were late to the original shoot were added in the back row". I think this action is unfair to those female Democratic House members who actually been there. Also, maybe next time, nobody will show up because they can let journalist alter the photo. So I think it is unethical and unacceptable to alter press photographs.











Source:
http://photographybybitel.artspan.com/large-multi-view/gallery/1922305-10-164649/Photography/Black%20&%20White/Abstract.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2009/nov/10/100-years-press-photography
http://www.sanary.com/652-photomed-2012-les-artistes-iv-bernard-faucon-une-fete-en-mediterranee
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/04/pelosi-defends-decision-to-alter-congressional-class-photo/

DB 9 - Presentation Week 9: Shooting the truth: Photojournalism

What's the role of photo journalism?

         The responsibilities and duties of the photojournalist varies from newspaper to newspaper. The primary duty of the photojournalist is to take pictures. They are responsible for providing clear, easy-to-read, high quality, truthful images, that communicate a meaningful message to the readers of the publication they work for. Photo journalism is not only required, but essential in the journalism because photo can prove the news and made the news more vivd and complete, so photo journalism is a very mprtant part in the journalism.

Are there rules that photojournalists should follow? Why? Why not?
          In my opinion, photojournalists should follow their rules. According to "A Brief History of Photojournalism", " ... the principles of journalism: timeliness, accuracy, fair representation of the context of events and facts reported, and accountability to the public."  Those rules make the news more fair, crediable, timely and convincing. Because photojournalists have to make sure their photo "must be concerned with producing accurate news for the public". If they do not follow those rules, we will see a lots of fake news or tendentious news that are not public wanted. We can get ture news only those photojournalists follow those rules.

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

I think it should not be much difference between the ethics of taking journalistic photos and the ethics of writing a news story. Althought they have difference way to be processed until headining news to the media. But the same things is they both need to ensure if it is appropriate to publish. The aim of journalistic photos and news story are trying to tell pbulic the truth, so they have similar ethics.

What's the impact of altering press photographs? Should they be edited (at all) in postproduction?
I think photojournalists will put their own emotion in the photographs. orignal
edited

They cut off women in the photo. That totally discriminates against women. As a
publication, this kind of photo will mislead public and push the struggle became more acute.
So I think they should not edited in postproduction

Source:http://www.photography-schools.com/photojournalismhistory.htm

Assignment 1 - Photo Manipulation Assignment

Hi, this is my first assignment about Photography and ethic. I love taking picture and I would like to show pictures took by me. I use Picasa 3 to edit those pictures.before

after

       

       This picture is I shot in a very nice mountain named YuLong in south-west of china. YuLong mountain is a subtropics mountain, and there is a primeval forest around the mountain. I took this picture in that forest because I wanted to record the totally different view between a normal forest in the park and a primeval forest.

        I want to show the primeval forest is mysterious and ancient, but the colour of original picture is too bright to this topic. I think I did not adjust the aperture when I took the picture, so the picture is too bright.

So, what I edit is that I crop a little bit right side of original picture because I think that tree is unnecessary showed in the picture. When I crop it, audiences will more focus on the depth of field that can help me to show the mystery of primeval forest. After that, I used neutral color Picker to pick the neutral color that I think is wonderful to remove the color cast. Finial, I choose the color of a tree lie on the grass to be the neutral color. I think the edited picture can show the mystery of primeval forest.

after

before

        I took this picture for my girl friend, and she wanted this picture more colorful and romantic. So, I chose the topics that already prepared in the Picasa 3. First, I chose the "Warmify" effect to improve skin tones by boosting warm tones. After that, I was putting "Soften" effect on the picture to make the picture fuzzy. The picture became more romantic than before, but I still think that is not enough, so I used "text" function to add some words on the picture. Then i put “Sharpen” effect from 0 to 30 and “Film Grain” effect to give gloomy atmosphere. Finally, I adjust the transparency of those words, so those words can different feelings.

      I think my edited images would not confuse or misguide the audience if they can't see the originals. I did not change any subject in the photos, and I just cut some things that is not related to the topics. Some effects that just make the picture more close to the author's idea or topic like make the picture more colorful or beautiful. I share pictures with others because I want them know what I want to said, so I used edit software to enhance what I want to said, but it does not mean I misguide the audience.

Q1:When something is reproduced for so many times is that art? What's the importance of the mechanical reproducibility of the art? What was the impact on mechanical reproducibility on the society?
I do not think one thing is reproduced for so many times is art because we can see a lot of garbage information reproduce thousands of times on the internet. we can not say those things are art. But mechanical reproducibility of the art is very important to the art spread aboard among people. For example, Mona Lisa Smile is one of the most famous painting in the world and it is in the Paris, so other place of the world can not see this great painting. we need some copies to let other people who do not live in Pairs can see or learn from this painting. when people made those copies, they used mechanical reproducibility of the art. So in my opinion, mechanical reproducibility of the art is very importance. On the other hand, those copies have a bad effect on the society. Some lawbreakers use those copies to crime. In the news "Mystery of the fake Matisse painting ends in jail time" shows " someone had switched their genuine Matisse for a fake." Mechanical reproducibility is still have a bad impact on the society, so we should use it carefully.

Q2:Is photography art, or contribution to the art? Is it just a tool used by artists?
Photography absolutely is one kind of art because the photographers use their heart and mind to take picture. They can record the moved things and people, they use their camera to catch the moment that they believe is beautiful, shock and  miraculous. Those pictures are full of photographers' emotion and discourse. I did not think photography has any different from other arts like painting or sculpture, so photography is not just a tool used by artists.

Q3:How and why Henry Pitch Robinson created Feading Away? What was the reason?

According to "Henry Peach Robinson", " a picture [Feading Away] skillfully printed from five different negatives." Because he can not get what he want from real life, so he need to made by himself. For example" Although he sometimes used natural settings, he more often imitated the out-of-doors inside his studio. Costumed actors or society ladies modeled for his many bucolic scenes, since he found actual country people too awkward and dull to fit his ideal of the picturesque." He needed to made some thing or change something to cut the theme that he wanted to show.

[Feading Away ] by Henry Peach Robinson

Q4:Photography has impacted the world of art and influenced some changes in the area of accessibility to art. If mechanical reproduction created revolution, what is happening now with the digitalization?

Some artist are using digital product to describe their ideas. The artists can use it to make very different ways  from traditional art. They can make dynamic image and use a lot of software to process their works what makes more close to artists wanted.

Joseph Nechvatal birth Of the viractual 2001 computer-robotic assisted acrylic on canvas

"Henry Peach Robinson". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 25 Jan. 2013
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/505726/Henry-Peach-Robinson>.

first time

This place is called Xi Tang in china, and I love this place. I went to there in 2008, and I still can not forget that place because rivers, buildings, and relaxed lives in there. The style of those house is very traditional that is my favourite.