What does the word "photograph" mean to you? (#1)

A "Photograph" is a means of an artistic expression. It's something that is best explained without words. Like all art it's meant to evoke your thoughts and emotions. 

Imagine a world without photographs. (#1)

When I think of a world without photographs, the first things I think of are... no magazines, tvs, postcards, family portraits, camera phones, fine art...this list can go on and on. Photography is an important means of communication and documentation. Without it we would lose so much.

“If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera.”-Lewis Hine (#4)

I believe that all photographic images tell a story. Whether it's a movie in which the story is scripted or something as simple as a landscape shot. Each image that's been photographed is a documentation of something that has happened at some point in time. Every photograph can awaken emotion in you and enable you to dream up your own story if the plot in the image isn't already obvious. 

“Photography deals exquisitely with appearances, but nothing is what it appears to be.”-Duane Michals(#3)

A friend once said to me, "After you take photography, you look at things in a different way." Looking at things in a different way could mean something as simple as studying a building on a walk to class. In my head I might be thinking about what perspectives, angles, or cropping techniques could be used to create an interesting photo. I think this is what Duane Michals is referring to.

#7 Pay close attention to the types and number of photographic portraits you see in one day. Where did you see them? How do you think that the content of the portrait changes based on the context in which you see the image (news, facebook, magazine, advertisement, television, youtube, etc)? In other words, what is the difference between the portraits you see on facebook vs. those on the news? What is the difference between the “viewpoint” of the photographer in each situation? What is the difference between their “intents”? (#7)

8:30am-
Book covers on my shelf...Viewpoint: Telling a story & advertising.
Personal photographs of friends and family on my desk...Viewpoint: Memories and a reminder of the people that matter.

8:35am-
DVDs on our living room shelfs...Viewpoint: Telling a story & advertising.

8:40am-
Workout DVD being played... Viewpoint: Fitness, wellbeing, beauty.

9:30am-
Magazine covers on the the coffee table... Viewpoint: Advertising, beauty, makeup, fashion.

11am-
Checking facebook... Viewpoint: personal photos, memories, good times, updates, friendships.

1pm-
Drive to work, billboards for Douglas J... Viewpoint: Advertising, artistic.

1:30pm-
Visual displays at work (the mall) & in the windows... Viewpoint: Advertising, fashion, beauty, products.

5:00pm
People magazine cover... Viewpoint:Advertising, beauty, makeup, fashion, trends.

10pm
Post card of Paris on fridge... Viewpoint: Landscape, telling a story.

In your opinion, when is it beneficial, ethical, or appropriate to digitally alter photographic portraits? When do you think it is inappropriate or ethically wrong?(#6)

Digitally editing photographic portraits is something that's increasingly becoming more and more important to photographers, the art world, and the advertising industry. Have we lowered our standards of capturing  stunning images on our own with out the aid of computers? Or has society raised the bar by demanding remarkable photos, then pushing those photos to become even more perfected with the use of photoshop?

Whether or not it's ethical to digitally enhance photographs in my opinion depends on the situation and the context the final image will be used. For example the fashion industry is constantly ridiculed for creating an impossible standard of beauty. Images in magazines consist of thin girls who have perfect hair, nails, and skin. I am a fashion design major and I will admit that I do believe this is an example in which it's unethical to digitally alter images this drastically. On one hand I do understand these images help sell products, which is important to our economy. The more important argument in this case is I believe it leads people to try to live up to an impossible standard which can cause a lot of insecurities from a young age.

Although in some cases I consider it unnecessary to alter images, there are some situations where I consider it appropriate. For example I enjoy looking at photoshopped images in which an artistic perspective is applied. Here is an example:

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“I just think it's important to be direct and honest with people about why you're photographing them and what you're doing. After all, you are taking some of their soul.”-Mary Ellen Mark(#5)

I grew up in a small city near the Indiana border. My mom is a second grade teacher there. Like all elementary schools, the one she teaches at has a "picture" day. In the picture packet the students and teachers purchase is your photograph along with a layout sheet of everyone else's photo with their name listed under it. The one thing that's different about about my mom's class sheet is about half of her students pictures aren't on there.

I can remember from a young age asking her why so many of her students were not on the sheet. The reason is a lot of my mom's students are amish. The amish live a old fashioned life style. They believe that taking a picture steals part of their soul away from themselves and god. As part of their religion they are not allowed to be photographed.

The quote,“I just think it's important to be direct and honest with people about why you're photographing them and what you're doing. After all, you are taking some of their soul", which Mary Ellen Mark said brings me back to this. It's something I've thought about from a young age.

Juliannah Schram. Violon Bohemia. Digital. 2011. East Lansing, MI.

Man Ray. Violon d'Ingres, 1924. Gelatin Silver print. Collection, Princeton, N.J.

Man Ray was born August 27, 1890 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He attended Boy's High School from 1904 till 1908. It was here he studied basic drafting and artistry techniques.

His studies early on in his life lead him master the arts of painting and photography later on in life. The photo above is titled "Violon d'Ingres". It was taken in 1924. 

The title "Violon d'Ingres"suggests music making in connected with love and sexual interaction. The photo is a metaphor in that the back is shaped similar to a violin. 

The subject is framed in the center with a level perspective. There's a high contrast between the dark background and light skin of the subject. There's a stronger light source coming from the upper left of the photograph.

The method used for this photo is black and white photography. The photo itself is a gelatin silver print.

This piece is both metaphoric and sexual, which is what I like about it. At first when you look at it you think it's only meant to look nice, but the longer you look at it you start to understand it has a deeper meaning.

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