Virtual Essay

Andre Kertesz

Andre Kertesz is one of the major photographers of all time. He is a photographer who never creates the moment himself to take picture, but wait for the right moment. His photographs indicate patience. There is a quote of Andre Kertesz, “… Time and time again I went back to the same place, but it was never right. Then one day I saw the lonely pigeon. I took maybe two three pictures. The moment was there. I had waited maybe thirty years for that instant.” (Kertesz, 1985, p.100)

 

Lost Cloud

Andre Kertesz

http://www.photographersgallery.com/photo.asp?id=2895



This photo is one of Andre Kertesz's photographs shows a lonely cloud in the sky. This kind of photograph is not what Andre Kertesz can intentionally create the moment to take.

Golden Gate before the Bridge
Ansel Adams

http://www.anseladams.com/v/vspfiles/photos/1701238102-2.jpg

I found a photograph on the internet taken by Ansel Adams. Ansel Adams' photographs are mostly taken of nature. The photograph above is similar to the photography style of Andre Kertesz. It is in black and white color. Every moment is different to each other. The moment that has past is not exactly the same as the moment right now. As my understanding of Andre Kertesz’s work of photography, therefore, he wanted to show true feelings, emotions, stories, and views of that moment on his photographs.

Moonrise

Unknown

http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/images/Nature-pics/Moonrise-1.jpg

While I was looking for photos online, this photo drew my attention at a glance. This photo is not in black and white color, but this photo also indicates patience. It is not the photo can be taken at anytime, but has to wait for the right moment to be taken.

Kertesz believed that he needs to be invisible when taking photos, so he always had a small camera instead of a huge camera of official photographers (Photography Lecture, 2011). He’s usually inspired by the events that were happening around him, and he took the photographs in the right moment. Another quote of Andre Kertesz is “My work is inspired by my life. I express myself through my photographs. Everything that surrounds me provokes my feeling.” (p.29) He didn’t care about his photographs to be heroic, but wanted his photographs to be realistic and true.

After School at the Tuileries

Andre Kertesz

http://www.photographersgallery.com/photo.asp?id=2887

I, personally, don’t know the exact story of this photograph. However, I assume that this photograph is about the students at the Tuileries in France. It shows the life of students after school looking calm and peaceful. Also, the people on this photo seem not know their photos are taken, Andre Kertesz’s photography style – invisible. As the people don’t know if their pictures are taken, the photo shows their true feelings and behaviors which look very natural.

Flag Rising on Mount Suribachi

Joe Rosenthal

http://www.sandrophoto.com/2010/05/06/famous-photographs-that-changed-the-world/

I have seen this photo in high school when I’m learning U.S. history. This famous photo is taken by a Marine Photographer, Joe Rosenthal. The photograph is showing four marines who are trying to raise their country flag on Mount Suribachi. As the photo “After School at the Tuileries”, “Flag Raising on Mount Suribachi” is also taken invisibly. The four marines surely look not recognizing the camera. Also, it looks there is no sign of interrupting the scene.

Unknown

http://www.achildsstudio.com/images/Children7.jpg

This is one of my favorite photographs among the research pictures. Invisible is applied to this photograph as well. This photograph shows the two children’s pure love and happiness of being together. I guess that this photograph is taken invisibly as well, and interruption of the scene is not needed as the children are not an actor and actress.

The lecture presentation mentioned that “Kertesz was not a journalist, but his pictures tell the stories as they happened. He was able to freeze the information on his photographs,” and “He admits that the camera for him was a little notebook, a sketchbook, connected with his life, not obsessed with following the news events.” (Photography Lecture, 2011)

 

62nd Anniversary of Japan's World War II Surrender

Unknown

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/shang_kenneth/japsurrender.jpg

It is a photo of a terrified baby who was almost the only human being left alive in Shanghai's South Station after brutal Japanese bombing. Even without description of the photo, the photo itself tells the story of the situation. As the baby is alone and almost everything is destroyed on the picture, it is can be assumed that the baby is only one who survived from bombing or something if there was no description for it. Therefore, this photo reminds the work of Andre Kertesz.

Reference

Danilovic Sandra, Photography Lecture Week 10, 2011

Reference

Danilovic Sandra, Photography Lecture Week 10, 2011

            Photos took from:

http://www.photographersgallery.com/photo.asp?id=2895

http://www.anseladams.com/v/vspfiles/photos/1701238102-2.jpg

http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/images/Nature-pics/Moonrise-1.jpg

http://www.photographersgallery.com/photo.asp?id=2887

http://www.sandrophoto.com/2010/05/06/famous-photographs-that-changed-the-world/

http://www.achildsstudio.com/images/Children7.jpg

http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/shang_kenneth/japsurrender.jpg

Assignment 1 Photo Journal PART 2

Art Photographs

Photographer: John Burton Griffiths

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.jbgphotography.co.uk/images/landscape_photography/landscape_photographer_chester.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.jbgphotography.co.uk/chester_photographer/art_landscape_photographer.html&usg=__HofKSozqi9c8h16O1NzZ7NAHZY8=&h=735&w=490&sz=49&hl=ko&start=1&sig2=e03WCL2wkrJxxaLvtmWdJQ&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=Gla4gzuFv0knGM:&tbnh=141&tbnw=94&prev=/images%3Fq%3DJBG%2Bart%2Bphotography%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dko%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1R2SKPB_enCA381%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=eWmFTbvgDOmV0QGsxvDECA

The Massive National Archives

Photographer: Scott Speck

http://www.lightweaversphoto.com/fine_art/pinhole/page001/pic16.html

Press Photographs

Barack Obama Inauguration as 44^th President of the United States

Photographer: Charles Ommanney

http://www.hahaha.com/worldpressphoto/en/

Suicide Car Bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan

Photographer: Adam Ferguson

http://www.hahaha.com/worldpressphoto/en/

The main differences and similarities:

The main difference between press photographs and art photographs is obviously art photographs are for expressing the artist’s perceptions and emotions to share them with others, and press photographs are showing the facts that happened around the world. Also, art photographs are more likely for decoration while press photographs are used to support news or writing. Art photographs are more likely focused on aesthetic of a subject.

The main similarity is that both press photographs and art photographs have meaning and stories to tell about the subject. For the viewers, it can be just one picture but it contains meaningful stories in the photographs.

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

It is ethical and acceptable to alter art photographs because as I mentioned above, art photographs are meant to be shown the artists’ perceptions and emotions. Usually, emotions are abstractive, meaning it can’t be shown as fact. It is more likely a self-expression, not to show the facts to the public. Therefore, they can choose whatever they want to be on their pictures, and can manipulate their photographs however they want them to be seen.

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

As press photographs are telling the facts about the events to the public, it is not ethical and acceptable to alter press photographs. The press photographs are meant to be shown the reality what have happened around the world, so the press photographs can’t be exaggerated or even lied. The only change is acceptable when the press photographers want to make it more realistic and helpful to the readers understanding or feeling the situation that had taken on the picture. The book, Shooting the Truth, mentioned that “Kertesz had intuition to capture some events that were happening around him. His small camera on the front line was not concerned about heroic images, but about the life that was going on there.”

Not even on the news, but in history, it is not ethical to alter photographs. According to the University of Minnesota article, “The most common examples of photograph alteration and falsification come from communist Russia. Unwanted persons, so-called "enemies of the people" were not only killed, but also removed from photographs where their presence was unwanted.” As you can see the four photos below, they are exactly the same except Trotsky is removed from bottom of both photographs.

 

Photographs with Trotsky

Photographs without Trotsky

As the photographs altered, the history of Soviet Union also altered. Similar to this, altering the press photographs can lead to altering the facts. Therefore, the press photographers can’t see things only in their perspective and change pictures as they wanted to be expressed.

References

-        Gordana Icevska (n.d.) How Photographs in the media betray us. Shooting the truth (P. 3-17)

-        University of Minnesota (n.d). From: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~hick0088/classes/csci_2101/false.html

DB 6 RESPOND

Great presentation :]

I like the pictures that you chose. It explains the situation in the era.




As FSA photographer Arthur Rothstein stated, "It was our job to document the problems of the Depression so that we could justify the New Deal legislation that was designed to alleviate them." This means that the photographers took picture about Great Depression, and these pictures support those of poors.
This simply says the documentary photography had power to change people's mind. It even changed the U.S. Congress to pass New Deal legislation.

The role of Migrant Mother photograph in the period or great depression was letting the society to recognize the problem and help the poor farmers to overcome their miserable situation. Nowdays, its role is to educate descendants and give ability to overcome the situation faster and easier when it happens to them.



History Matters (n.d.) Every Picture Tells A Story. Retrieved on March 14, 2011, from http://chnm.gmu.edu/fsa/

Photography Assignment 3

ORIGINAL

EDITED

I have taken this picture when I travel to New York with my friends in 2009. The place where I took this picture was right in front of the World Trade Centre, where collapsed due to 9/11. The black guy on the picture was a security of the construction of new World Trade Centre.

I made a change to make it brighter which is obvious. Also, I have made it more focus on us; made the back ground to be darker and put spot light on us. The first clear reason for this change is that this photo is too dark that the people on this picture can’t be seen clearly especially the security. As I have changed the photo brighter, the people on the photo are easier to be seen. Spot light helps to gather people’s attention on us rather than the back ground.

ORIGINAL

EDITED

 This photo was taken in New York as well. It is New York City night view from Empire State Building. What I have changed on this picture is to make it brighter as well as previous photo. The reason that I have made this change is that it doesn’t seem correct on the picture and in real life whenever I take night view. Even though the lights are shinier and more vivid in real life, I wanted to express the similar atmosphere that I’m seeing in real life on a picture. The adjusted picture is not exactly the same as what I wanted to express, but it is closer to my image of New York City’s night view than the original one.

ORIGINAL


EDITED

This photo was taken at an apple farm with my friends. It was heading from autumn to winter. As I was passing by this tree, I held my camera and took this picture. What I have changed on this picture is to darken the background and coloured the maple tree. The reason that I have made this change is to emphasize the maple tree. Even it is already standing out by its distinct colour, but I wanted it more stands out. In my opinion, the maple tree is a symbol of autumn, and it doesn’t last long as autumn has been shorter and shorter. Therefore, I wanted it to be special as it appears in autumn.

ORIGINAL

EDITED

The last picture that I adjusted is for my little hope. What I have changed on this picture is that I did put some colours on my cheek and lips. I could have put on my makeup and took picture, but I forgot so I put it through Photoshop. The biggest change is the color of my hair; I changed it from black to light brown/yellowish brown or something like that. The reason that I changed my hair color is that I’m not allowed to dye my hair. My parents never allowed me to dye my hair.

My friends say I can dye my hair since my parents are not here with my in Canada, but I don’t think that is a good idea. Also, I wanted to see how I look like with other color rather than black.

Assignment 1 Web 2.0 Photo Journal Topic 1

1. What are main differences and similarities between portraits in the early days of photography and portraits today?

·        Differences:

In the early days, portraits were mostly available for those who have political and economic power. Therefore, having self portraits shows how wealth and power the person had. The portraits were either drawn by a painter or taken by a photographer in the early days. Photographs were expensive early in the days because it was the new technology to the people in that era. However, it was available to the middle class as the time passed and more photographers appeared. Usually, the photograph and portraits were done in a studio in the early days while we can take photos anytime and anywhere today due to the technology advancement. The photographs were taken in black and white color back in the days. Also, it could take hours to set up of one photograph in the early days.

·        Similarities:

I see very few similarities between portraits in the early days of photography and portraits today. One of them are people in the early days tend to have the portraits of others for memory and remembrance like today when others were far away.

A painting portrait

 

Black and white color photograph portrait

 

Portrait with color

 

2. Who was the photographer and who was the subject of photographs in the past and today?

·        Who was the photographer?

Photographers were an artist who spends most of their time in photography. The reason for this was that the camera in the early days weren’t easy to operate. The photographers were required to be knowledgeable about the every part of the camera and its functions. Also, the photographers in the past were limited due to the expenses. To being a photographer in the early days was not easy. It required a studio and equipments to become a photographer. Therefore, the photographers were those who were qualified and affordable person. However, anyone can be a photographer today. Everyone has their own cameras with rich qualities.

·        Who was the subject of photographs?

As I mentioned above, the photographs and portraits were for those who have the economic and political power. According to this fact, the subjects of photographs were probably the Kings or Queens, presidents, politicians, or those royal people.

Queen Elizabeth II in 1952

King George VI, Elizabeth II's father, in 1940

 

3. What was the impact on technology on the portraits in the past and today?

·        In the past:

Emergence of photograph portrait was the technology impact on the portraits in the past. The technology made it easier and faster to put the appearance of a person on a paper.

·        Today:

As the technology is advanced since its appearance, the photography is more likely to become a networking. Now days, people are posting their photos by social networking site to let others know how they are doing, where they have been, and so on.


References
Gisele Freund. Precursors of the Photographic Portrait

Lemagny and Rouille. Excerpt from A History of Photography

Anna

Hello,

My name is Minkyung Shin from South Korea. HOWEVER, you can just call me Anna. I'm a student at George Brown College, and  I'm taking Hotel Management Program. I'm about to graduate this year in April. I can't believe that one year past already!

I've been in Canada for about one year. Before I came to Canada, I had been to other countries as well. I had been in China for about two and half years for middle school, and in the States for about three years for high school. Finally, I came to Canada for college. The reason that I moved from the States to Canada is because I heard that George Brown College has a good reputation for Hospitality program. I'm looking forward to graduate soon and be working in a hotel soon.

The first goal for now is to pass this course! LOL

This is all about me!
WELCOME to my blog! ^.^