Assignment 5: Virtual Essay
1. Select a photographer. 
2. Find images in his/her style
3. Post the images and links to the images of the selected photographer on your site. 
4. Post the images and links to the images of the followers on your site (five or more).



Theme:
Surrealistic Photography

Selected Photographer:

Robert and Shana Parkeharrison

Photographers selected as followers:
Thomas Barbey Rodney Smith 
Tommy Ingberg
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Examples of works with comparison. 
(Provided is a short comparitive statement about each work.) 
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(1)
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Flying lesson (2000)Robert & Shana ParkeHarrison

"Suggestive of imprisonment."
compared with

Unnamed  by Tommy Ingberg
(Suggestive of Liberation with consequences. This image is in extreme opposition with its comparison above and seems to suggest true and complete liberation. However there is the free fall that suggests consequences to too much freedom.)

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(2)

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(Procession) Robert & Shana ParkeHarrison

"Suggestive of uncontrolled flight the subjects showing a desire to steady their vantage but unsure of where to drop anchor"
compared with,

(Blown away) Thomas Barbey

"I think it indicates a desire to take flight, perhaps suggesting that these are the same men who later sought to land in the comparison above"

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(3)

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Study for the Lesson (1995) Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison
"The subject is listening to his environment."




Unnamed by Tommy Ingberg

"In a similar vein to the comparison above save for the fact that the listener seems more eager, while his environment isn't as vocal as it was before."

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(4)

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Tethered Sky (2004) Robert & Shana ParkeHarrison

"The weight of the land keeps the subject from the freedom of the heavens."

Unnamed by Tommy Ingberg.

"Again the subject is kept from floating away to freedom. Note that his choice of transport are balloons rather than clouds and though the weight of the land has been reduced to a single rock, it is just as effective.
Also the subject isn't struggling to break free.

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(5)

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The navigator by Robert & Shana ParkeHarrison.

The subject looks for his destination above the clouds using a simple instrument (sextant) (simple compared to present day navigation tools)

Unnamed by Rodney Smith

The same suited subject now seated comfortably on the ladder has traded his sextant for a pair of binoculars.

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Photographer bio's

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Chosen photographer: 

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Robert and ShanaParkeharrison -  

Robert & Shana ParkeHarrison began collaborating on photographs shortly after graduate school, when they began constructing and choreaographing scenarios about mans affect on the landscape. In these stagings, Robert would dress in a black suit and starched white shirt – often referred in the press as Everyman – and interact with the land, creating environmental performances [1]

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Followers:

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Thomas Barbey:

Traveling photographer Thomas Barbéy uses his keen, artistic eye to see the world a little differently than the rest of us. Along his travels, Barbéy proceeds to capture a variety of scenic images, still life, and portraiture, mixing and matching them all into some wildly creative composites. His resulting manipulated photo montages reveal a new world that feels both familiar and unusual. [2]

Rodney smith: 

Rodney Smith graduated from the University of Virginia in 1970. He went on to earn a Master of Divinity in Theology from Yale University in 1973. While at Yale, Rodney also studied photography under Walker Evans. [3]

Tommy Ingberg:

 Tommy Ingberg is a passionate Swedish photographer working primarily in black and white and is fond of creating surrealistic montages, which he often creates after photographing in his studio. [4]

5. Explain the similarities and differences between the photographs of the followers and the work of the selected photographer. 

The main similarity between the photographs is that they are all taken in black and white.

Their subject is a man in a suit (save for one photograph where there are several men, though they symbolize a single subject as a collective)

Also the environment has significant impact on the state of the subject. This impact can be immdiately identified as being surpressive and isolating though the narrative created is, as a whole, open to interpretation of the viewer.

The photographs utilize the black and white medium to convey a sense of contrast and depth, the subject stands out as the focus of the photographs and as the center of the narative which the photographs seek to weave.

There are many differences in the degree of surrealism that the photographers seek to evoke through the photographs.

As far as the images of Robert and ShanaParkeharrison go, they prefer to utilize simpler compositions with little or no technical photomanipulation.

Their subject "the everyman" is a slave to his environment always striving to break free, or healing it of industrial abuse.

This is echoed in their own reasoning as 

"These (our) surreal images addressed issues about the earth and mankind's responsibility to heal the damage he has done to the landscape.

Often acting as earths protector, healer and communicator, Everyman used low tech instruments, creating settings more akin to cinema than the family photo album." [1]

6. Explain why you believe that the followers were impacted by the selected photographer

7. You must explain the most important aspects of the work of the selected photographer through the images of his/her followers. 

The significance of their work is emphasized further by comparing their distinctive reasoning behind the capture as opposed to the vision of their followers.

The reasoning Robert and ShanaParkeharrison is defined principally in the ethical and honorable purpose that fortifies the artistic composition.

It is the single most important aspect that distinguishes their work from those for their followers as described below which also underlines my selecting them as followers.

The works of Tommy Ingberg are even more simplistic in their portrayal of the solitude of the "Everyman" (or his distant relation) and utilize subtle or heavy photomanipulation to depict the the narrative in the scene.

The "Everyman" in this image isn't as affected by his environment as is seen from his lack of resistance sometimes culminating in the absence of his face and limbs.

This either signifies tolerance, apathetic acceptance or lack of awareness of the situation affecting him.

Tommy Ingberg's inspirations are books, movies and art in any form [1] He is not particularly driven by environmental hardships as are the images of Robert and ShanaParkeharrison.

As stated, "His artistic creativity strives for simple, scaled back compositions with few elements, where every part adds to the story, but where there are still gaps for the viewer to fill, many of which produce a “surrealist” end result."

Thomas Barbey chooses instead to view his compositions on a more humorous note. While his work does not focus on an interpretation of "Everyman", it does emphasize the effect of perspective within a scene establishing the enormity of the setting against a character or several characters placed within it and compelled to adapt to it. 

Rodney Smith is versatile in his compositions, being described variously as a commercial, fine art and surrealistic photographer.

His works are not restricted to black and white photography, and his emphasis is again on the setting which he portrays variously emphasizing either the detail in the scene, or by presenting it with a simple prop and character with objective to complete it (as in the example)

He is known to emphasize on creating images that make little to no use of extensive photomanipulation for abstract or artistic effect.

In conclusion, 

The works of these photographers are significant contributions to encourage the perceptions of the artistic eye of even the most uninitiated, broadening the scope of what purpose is to be accomplished by monochromatic visual narratives.

Sources and citations:

[1]http://www.parkeharrison.com/
[2]http://www.mymodernmet.com/profiles/blogs/thomas-barbey-surreal-photo-manipulation
[3]http://gedisas.wix.com/rsmith#!__home
[4]http://www.photographyoffice.com/2011/10/reality-rearranged-black-and-white-surrealist-photography-by-tommy-ingberg/

Assignment 2

Q. Find two press photographs and two art photographs (provide the names of the authors and sources/links for all images).


Please explain:


1. The main differences and similarities between art and press photography;

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

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

You should use at least two sources from the readings. (500 words).




Press Photographs

"Tank Man" temporarily stops the advance of a column of tanks on June 5, 1989, in Beijing, in what is widely considered among the most iconic images of the 20th century. This photograph (one of four similar versions) was taken by Jeff Widener of the Associated Press.

Sources:
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/behind-the-scenes-tank-man-of-tiananmen/

Floor Speech on Tiananmen Square Resolution. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. June 3, 2009.
Corless, Kieron (May 24, 2006). "Time In – Plugged In – Tank Man". Time Out.







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Photographer Fausto Podavini's series offers an intimate look at the challenges of caregiving through the lives of an Italian couple coping with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. In this image, Mirella, 71, helps her husband Luigi dry off after a shower. The couple has been together for 43 years, and Mirella's life is now devoted to assisting Luigi with daily activities.


(This image has a artistic element that is visually striking)

Source:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/02/pictures/130219-56th-world-press-photo-best-news-pictures/#/world-press-photo-2013-italy_64496_600x450.jpg




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Art photography

Anne Geddes: Pea in a pod, Art Photography, Babies
http://curezone.org/ig/i.asp?i=36365




Alberto Polo Ianez an artist/photographer from Granada, Spain.






Differences between art photographs and press photographs

An art photograph has aesthetic reasoning behind its capture, while a press photograph is often informative but may be perceived aesthetically as being artistic. While both art photography and press photography put heavy emphasis on the subject matter, an art photograph does not rely on its subject matter exclusively, rather it encourages the perceptions of its audience to gauge its significance.

The content of press photography is usually presented as is, with little or no editing of the images. Art photography many times will insist on heavy editing of the images, altering them to speak volumes about its content usually drawing the viewers attention away from the subject matter.

A press photograph may be taken on the spur of the moment (during a crisis) an art photograph requires more time in its preparation.

The medium of presentation for art and press photographs is different, in the sense that while press photographs are more likely to be publish in newspapers, art photographs are commissioned by magazine publications.

The target demographic of art and press photography also differs and that extends to the reactions elicited by their respective audiences.

A press photograph is taken by a team that is usually on standby covering a crisis. That said the duration in preparation of a shot is unregulated, but none the less closely monitored.

An art photograph requires considerable preparation prior to actually capturing the moment.

Also the editing in post processing for an art photograph involves a lot of use of additional mediums and props.




Similarities between art photographs and press photographs.

Both art and press photographs convey information, the basis of the photographs requires a traditional capture of the subject matter (to a greater extent when it comes to press photographs.)

Both art and press photographs require basic technical knowledge for proper execution prior to post processing. both elicit a reaction from their respective viewership.


Is it ethical and acceptable to alter art photographs.

Variation is expected in Art photography simply due to the fact that it encourages the viewer to perceive it in a different way. Altering an art photograph can also be considered as vital since more versions of the same photograph provides more subject matter to comprehend, critique and inspire the viewers.

A few art photographs may be considered unethical to alter, such as a vulgar (pornographic) alteration of artistic nude photography.

In my opinion thus altering an art photograph is for the major part not only ethical but also necessary.


Is it ethical and acceptable to alter press photographs.

A press photograph does not encourage alteration in the extreme sense. It may necessitate editing for reasons of viewership (such as blurring out gore in violent images) but the editing is seldom done for extreme aesthetic reasons and is usually restricted to light touch ups of the images to emphasize the subject matter.

Altering a press photograph for comic relief may be considered acceptable for the most part with greater emphasis on the effect the altered image would have on the sentiment of the viewership.

In most cases it is frowned upon, but it depends on the circumstance.

Is it ethical and acceptable to alter art photographs.

Variation is expected in Art photography simply due to the fact that it encourages the viewer to perceive it in a different way. Altering an art photograph can also be considered as vital since more versions of the same photograph provides more subject matter to comprehend, critique and inspire the viewers.

A few art photographs may be considered unethical to alter, such as a vulgar (pornographic) alteration of artistic nude photography.
In my opinion thus altering an art photograph is for the major part not only ethical but also necessary.

Is it ethical and acceptable to alter press photographs.
A press photograph does no encourage alteration in the extreme sense. It may necessitate editing for reasons of viewership (such as blurring out gore in violent images) but the editing is seldom done for extreme aesthetic reasons and is usually restricted to light touch ups of the images to emphasize the subject matter.

Altering a press photograph for comic relief may be considered acceptable for the most part with greater emphasis on the effect the altered image would have on the sentiment of the viewership.

In most cases it is frowned upon, but it depends on the circumstance.

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ASSIGNMENT 1

ORIGINAL IMAGE

EDITED IMAGE

The first image was taken in February last year, by the lakefront. I was intrigued by the lionhead sand sculpture in a children s park and then decided to capture it.

When I brought back the picture for this assignment it immediately reminded me of the cave of wonders from Disney's Alladin and I wanted to see if I could manipulate the image to appear like what a child would perceive the sculpture had he seen the movie recently.

I colored the image and used the crosshatch filter in photoshop a couple of times to give a more artistic look (like the image was painted on canvas)

I decided to keep the ships in the background and actually highlight one as a ghost ship or rather a mirage of a ship that one sees on the desert sands.

I added text to the image using an font that resembles that used in the movie. I am considering removing it so that the audience is allowed the benefit of doubt (about its origins) when presented with this image.

While I did not intend to confuse the audience I thought that its portrayal in a fantasy setting might intrigue it and bring back childhood memories!

Original Image 2

Edited Image 2

This second image was also captured on the same day at the lakefront in the evening.

I enjoyed seeing a fighter jet soar through the sky and then disappear almost as suddenly as it appeared leaving only a trail of jetstream as evidence in the wake of its short lived existence.

Bringing the image back for the assignment brought back memories of the imperial blockade by the Galactic Empire on the planet of Hoth (The empire strikes back)

I looked into compositing the image with a model of a imperial star destroyer that was provided for free from an open source model site, and used zbrush, a digital sculpting software to position 3 copies of the model in perspective against the image as a background.

I desaturated the image and using linear dodge increased the contrast on the ships and allowed the jet stream to become visible above the ships.

This gives the impression that the aircraft (or in this case the millenium falcon) is escaping over the imperial start destroyers that are converging on its position.

I removed the branches using clone stamp and turned the clouds into Nebula's by coloring them and blending them into the rest of the composition with Linear Burn and outer glow.
The stars were added into the composition using a modified brush and the background was darkened to give the impression of space.

This composition intrigues me because the original presentation of the picture is from the perspective of the audience looking skywards, but its manipulation and lighting has turned the perspective into a 3/4 presentation.

I am hoping this image intrigues the audience as much (or perhaps more) than the first, and makes them remember their affection for this pivotal moment in science fiction cinematic history.