Montage: Activity 3

As editors exercise their ever-increasing power over information control, what limits would you impose on them as to the extent to which they can manipulate the photographic image?

Devise a series of guidelines that will control the release of images that have been constructed for media use so that the public is aware as to the extent of the manipulation.

Doctored image of President Hosni Mubarak at Mideast peace talks!

Un-doctored Photo

Personally, I don't see why it matters. I'm sure the government has been lying to us for longer than we think, and they allow the news to lie and manipulate the truth, as well as media. It's to make the people happy, or to keep the people distracted. Photo manipulation is too common now a days and its almost impossible to see any photos without them being manipulated somehow. And I don't believe there is any way to stop it, you would pretty much have to stop all photography together. Just like photos, there are headlines and stories made up for the public to read because its interesting, the stretched truth is what sells. I'm sure we can stop it and ban photo manipulation but nobody will be interested, nobody will buy it, and our country is built off of money, they wouldn't eliminate this if the amount of money they are making is jeopardized. 

Montage: Activity 1

Briefly discuss why you think painters of the Victorian period might have criticized these early photomontages and why the pictures were popular with the general public. (This technique of piecing together separate images to create one picture is again very popular with both artists and the media).
What two reasons can you think of for this revival of an old technique?

The Victorian period might have criticized these early photomontages because this type of photography, although sometimes obvious, is manipulative. Shows what is untrue and gives photographers a bad name because anyone can use this to their advantage to lie. Although, making photographers more and more famous while proving that photography is an art and can be creative/artistic. The only reason to revive this technique other than it being an art form, is to be manipulative, the media can use this to their advantage and make us believe whatever they want.

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 3

Collect four portrait images with two to five subjects.In at least one image the subject should have been placed in the foreground.Comment on the arrangement of the subjects in relation to the camera and the effectiveness of the design.

Mitchell Kanashkevich

The placement of the children was natural, and they don't look like they were placed there, they just sort have happened to be standing the way they were, which was convenient for the photographer.

Lisa O'Dwyer

The placement of the three women was not natural, They definitely were placed, yet this photo is interesting and the placement was important because the two woman to the right are staring at the bride; the obvious subject of the photo. Also, they are below her, making her look the most desirable in a way.

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activty 2

Find four portraits that demonstrate the different ways a photographer has framed the image to alter the design and content. Discuss the vantage point, depth of field and subject placement in all of the images.

Courtney Ortiz

Dave Hill

Julia Tsoona

Vinit Bhatt

Each of these images show a different vantage point and angle the photographer has used to take the photo. The top left taken from underneath the face and body, top right taken from her side profile, the bottom left taken straight on, and the bottom right taken from above the face and body. Subject placement matters for the bottom right and top left, The person has to be taller or shorter in some way to get these angled shots. The photo taken from underneath has their subject sitting on some sort of ledge or roof higher than the photographer. The one taken from above is of a child, a child being smaller than the adult photographer. The only photo with an obvious change in depth of field is the one in the bottom left, where her face is the only thing in focus and the background is unrecognizable; shallow depth of field. The top right photo of the racer has everything in focus, but most detail is shown on the subject; great depth of field.

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 1

Look through assorted media, magazines, internet and collect four portrait photographs. The environment should be a key feature in two of the four images.Describe the subject’s character in each of the images. What can you see within each image that leads you to these conclusions about the subjects’ character.

In this image, it shows the girl carrying a baby, possibly her sibling. Nature and the environment plays a big part in this image in the background. The girl is outside somewhere in the mountains hiking with the baby on her back. This girls character comes off as being responsible at a young age, and loving in a way where she is willing to carry this baby on her back who knows where or how far.

This image shows an older man with a cigarette in between his fingers. This photo also shows an environmental background, somewhere green, possibly a jungle or forest. This picture shows a fairly happy man, someone who looks pleased with the life he was given, regardless of the clothes he wears, or the physical features we might consider as flaws. Out of the four pictures I've chosen, this one stands out to me he most and makes me smile. To think of the lives we live here, it makes me happy to know that people like this exist, appreciative and happy with what they have.

 

 This photo shows a man with some kind of torn book. The subject's character is serious, deep in thought about something it seems. The different settings, cultures, and ages seems to show through these pictures as well. The day seems to be ending as the lighting becomes dimmer and the shadows are harsher, and for me, as the day winds down, so do I, just left with thoughts about the day and about events for tomorrow, and I think that explains this picture perfectly.

 

 

 

 

 

In this last image, you see a young girl. This is possibly one of the mot beautiful little girls I've ever seen, her eyes are so captivating. In all honesty, when you see a child, you imagine some sort of innocence, playfulness, and joy. In this photo, she isn't smiling, she is actually pretty serious for a child, and all I can think is 'I have no idea what this child has seen or what her way of life is'. I mean typically you don't see a child with a nose piercing, so you already know that traditions and cultural are different than what we are accustom to.

Self Image: Activity 3

Consider some of the social pressures that you think may shape your behavior and personal image. List the images most commonly associated with the categories or ‘boxes’ you have already listed in Activity 1.

How have you responded to social pressures to conform by adopting an appearance that relates to the categories that you feel you have placed in or have chosen?

 

In the first activity, out of all the words listed to be defined in this generation, 'Personality' has the most to do with social pressures today. What we like or what our interests are, what we do or what we say, and what we think or how we act makes up who we are and our personality. And all of those things are very easily influenced by the people around us. A way that I have responded to social pressure is looking at the larger picture. This might be the biggest and most important four years of my life, but realistically, high school isn't all that important when it comes to social pressures, yet it's hard to see it that way when you're living in that time frame. But I try my hardest to always see it this way, to not let what other people think about me, and what I like, or what I wear, or what I say, or what I do affect me, because their opinion is irrelevant and I know who I am and what I;m capable of.
Everyone should know their value, and have confidence in themselves, and believe they are greater than what anyone else might think. I think people should make that a social pressure; being confident and be an individual with your own morals and beliefs and goals, stop being each
other. 

Self Image: Activity 2

List the physical characteristics that we have come to admire in both the male and female face and write 100 words in response to the following questions:

Beyoncé Knowles

1. Do you believe that media images or public opinion are responsible for the characteristics of beauty becoming universal stereotypes? 
2. Do you believe people admiring media images of glamorous models can do any harm?

• Eyes
• Lips
• Teeth/Smile
• Nose
• Complexion
• Hair
• With/without facial hair
• Ears
• Chin/Jaw
• Cheekbones
• Freckles/Dimples 

Kylie Jenner

Media definitely has a huge impact and influence on everyone's opinion of beauty. And although it doesn't look like that could be harmful, it is extremely dangerous to play with someone's idea of what is beautiful and what isn't. Not even the physical characteristics of a female/ male face but their body, their opinion, their intelligence, their personality. It is all too often we see more and more teens struggling to "fit in" with what is socially accepted and fail, because that's just not who they are and that isn't who they were meant to be, and instead of excepting the reality that we all cant be the same or the most ideal beautiful/ handsome person, we beat ourselves up for it and we ask those questions regarding what we did wrong, why were we made the way we are, and why can't we just be as attractive. 'Maybe if I just did this different", or 'I think if I just didn't have this', and even 'Maybe I can get surgery to change this'. It's completely wrong, we are all fearfully and wonderfully made, there isn't anything we need to change besides the attitude towards ourselves. It's time for this generation of depression and self-consciousness to pass, and there needs to be more and more individuals standing up, regardless what size they wear, and say that they are beautiful, a generation of confidence.