ASSIGNMENT 1; PHOTO JOURNAL PART 2

 1. What are the main differences and similarities?

Press photography (or Photojournalism) is a type of photography made to deliver current events to the world. The role that the photographer plays to share press photography is mainly to report about different events and display facts, with never altering the true being of the situation. 

Henri Cartier-Bresson stated "…If you made yourself obvious, even just by getting your light-meter out, the only thing to do is to forget about photography for the moment and accommodatingly allow the children who come rushing at you to cling to your knees like burrs." What he is trying to say is that if in the situation of a photojournalist, you become invisible to let the photograph speak for itself, that is when you will have the best chance to capture the TRUE meaning of the photograph. Even taking a moment to check what the light meter says, the photographer makes him/herself visible, ruining the moment to capture something that isn't the truth.

Help to Father. Sierra Lione.

Unsuccessful Jump

 I chose to bring out two types of Press Photography photos. One of a sad but inspiring photograph of a son who helps his father button up his shirt because he has no hands. and one of a woman failing to clear a jump off of a diving board during a diving competition. We see in the news different types of news, whether it be the cause of war, or just pure entertainment of a simple miscalculation.

 Art photography is another for of photography used to showcase creative talents of the artist. As McDarrah stated "photography that is done as a fine art -- that is, done to express the artist's perceptions and emotions and to share them with others." Many of this kind of photography is altered or staged to get the message of what the artist wants across.

In the society today men are made to act as "real men", that being vulnerable is not attractive and should never be done. 

"Crying Men" 2004 Hayden Christensen

Add caption

 

These are photographs from a collective series called "Crying Men" by Sam Taylor-Wood. It isn't a picture captured at a moment of vulnerability, these pictures were taken to capture the "...vulnerable masculinity..." that Taylor-Wood wanted to convey.

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

The photographs of the Crying Man series I posted, even though they do not look altered, they were. The actors chosen for the shoot knew how to cry on demand, it was just a matter of capturing the picture at the right moment. I feel that is it very much so acceptable, it is their sense of truth. There shouldn't be a line as to whether or not an artists point of view is wrong or right.

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

In the case of Press Photography it isn't ethical nor acceptable to alter the photo. This type of photography has its own code of ethics and rules that the photographer MUST follow, to be able to convey the truth. The purpose of these photos are to show reality, if they are altered they are no longer the truth but are now an interpretation of the truth.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Blog about ... - Blog about ... Web. 25 Apr. 2011. <http://greatblogabout.org/?p=31>.

 

"Gender Across Borders » Sexism in the Media." Gender Across Borders. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. <http://www.genderacrossborders.com/tag/sexism-in-the-media/>.

My Blackboard. Web. 24 Apr. 2011. <https://gbc.blackboard.com/webct/urw/lc5122011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct>.

"Photojournalism." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_photography>.

"Sam Taylor-Wood." Ifinks. Web. 25 Apr. 2011. <http://samkirkfinks.blogspot.com/2010/10/sam-taylor-wood.html>.