Gregory Crewdson is one of those photographers whom you hate to love. The way his images are constructed sometimes either merge or push the boundaries of realism and surrealism.
His work I would classify as an art piece rather then as a documentary photograph. They are precisely constructed, taking away what is real, and replacing it with something with real "in mind".
Gregory Crewdson, I also found it interesting to know, was that he was apart of a band in the 70's. He's had the chance to do alot of things before he even thought about being a photographer. Here below is a youtube video of his band called "the speedies" and ironically their hit song was called "let me take your photo".
Monday, March 14, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Assignment #3
The decision on which side to choose in this never-ending debate about the innocence of children and artistic interpretations, is way to hard. If we look at this issue from the perspective of demoralising children and misusing innocence, then the final choice is easy, children, especially young girls, SHOULD NOT be used in any creative way, for advertising or art puposes.
There are many arguements found through all the sources provided, that suggest that there are a few loopholes in this fairly one sided debate. Melinda Tankard Reist, in her blog she uses examples from other blogs that give reason to believe that these images are inappropriate when selling consumer goods, for advertising, or selling themselves, yet it is fine when being used for "artistic" purposes.
But the definition of "art" itself, is really unstable. That is why it's art. Anyone can create something, in any medium from painting to sculpture, to photography, with a justifiable reason, which classifies it as an "artwork".
If the same advertisments where painted or scultpted, it would be socially acceptable. The defintion of a photograph is what makes this debate so overwhelming. A photograph can be anything, it can be for documenting or for a creative purpose, but for many, seeing a real human child in a picture, they see that child as a person, not as an artwork, or an idea. They personify the image and give it an emotion, which then brings out a humanitarian side of society to protect the innocent and those who cannot defend themselves.
Photographs of this nature, similar to Bill Hensons work, are designed with a concept in mind, just like an art piece. The thought process is long and well maintained. They are not designed to demoralise or "demonise". The photographs are a fantastic use of the medium. They criticise everything that is wrong with modern culture and the fashion industry.
There are many arguements found through all the sources provided, that suggest that there are a few loopholes in this fairly one sided debate. Melinda Tankard Reist, in her blog she uses examples from other blogs that give reason to believe that these images are inappropriate when selling consumer goods, for advertising, or selling themselves, yet it is fine when being used for "artistic" purposes.
But the definition of "art" itself, is really unstable. That is why it's art. Anyone can create something, in any medium from painting to sculpture, to photography, with a justifiable reason, which classifies it as an "artwork".
If the same advertisments where painted or scultpted, it would be socially acceptable. The defintion of a photograph is what makes this debate so overwhelming. A photograph can be anything, it can be for documenting or for a creative purpose, but for many, seeing a real human child in a picture, they see that child as a person, not as an artwork, or an idea. They personify the image and give it an emotion, which then brings out a humanitarian side of society to protect the innocent and those who cannot defend themselves.
Photographs of this nature, similar to Bill Hensons work, are designed with a concept in mind, just like an art piece. The thought process is long and well maintained. They are not designed to demoralise or "demonise". The photographs are a fantastic use of the medium. They criticise everything that is wrong with modern culture and the fashion industry.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Assignment Two (ethics and photojournalism)
Some themes that arose regularly through the text are:
Socially aware/conciousness.
Open mindedness.
They follow ethical guidelines.
Is there always two sides to a story?
In the case of genocide, there is only one.
Honesty through photographs.
Capturing truth.
Observer of the human condition.
Representation of truth must be truthful.
When we consider these things above we go through stages of sympathy, anger, regret, faith, most likely anger again and then hope, that there is someone out there in those parts of the world that wants to fix the world as much as you do. When you stop and take time to look at this image below it is hard to imagine a totally healthy photographer just standing there in amongst all this famine and disease just easily taking pictures. This is one of the big themes in ethics of photography. When is it taking pictures too far? If you were in those children's shoes, would you like to photographed? If you even knew what a photograph was. Imagine not even knowing about the wonders of photography and to understand that your face will be shown to millions of people around the world.
In africa, according to the studies from the UN, someone will die every 5 seconds from starvation. These children, much like the indigenous photographs that are found in the national library, are faces but no names. Because of that rapid rate of death in africa, these children are most likely not alive anymore.
(this image was taken from: http://momiqazi.wordpress.com/)
BAGHDAD, IRAQ - APRIL 8: Blood is seen as Iraqi women cry for their relatives killed in an alleged U.S air strike on April 8, 2008 in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq.
(this image was taken from: http://www.life.com/image/80560156)
Socially aware/conciousness.
Open mindedness.
They follow ethical guidelines.
Is there always two sides to a story?
In the case of genocide, there is only one.
Honesty through photographs.
Capturing truth.
Observer of the human condition.
Representation of truth must be truthful.
When we consider these things above we go through stages of sympathy, anger, regret, faith, most likely anger again and then hope, that there is someone out there in those parts of the world that wants to fix the world as much as you do. When you stop and take time to look at this image below it is hard to imagine a totally healthy photographer just standing there in amongst all this famine and disease just easily taking pictures. This is one of the big themes in ethics of photography. When is it taking pictures too far? If you were in those children's shoes, would you like to photographed? If you even knew what a photograph was. Imagine not even knowing about the wonders of photography and to understand that your face will be shown to millions of people around the world.
In africa, according to the studies from the UN, someone will die every 5 seconds from starvation. These children, much like the indigenous photographs that are found in the national library, are faces but no names. Because of that rapid rate of death in africa, these children are most likely not alive anymore.
(this image was taken from: http://momiqazi.wordpress.com/)
BAGHDAD, IRAQ - APRIL 8: Blood is seen as Iraqi women cry for their relatives killed in an alleged U.S air strike on April 8, 2008 in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq.
(this image was taken from: http://www.life.com/image/80560156)
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