DB 6 - Documenting the great depression

why the project has significant impact on the society?

The project has significant impact on the society because documentary photography represents the reality of issues and it reflect certain events. However, "the Great Depression brought a new wave of documentary, both of rural and urban conditions" in the 1930s. (Wikipedia.com,n.d).  The project includes the period of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl and World War II. Through the photograph, it shows ordeal of American including poor surroundings and workplace.  It indicate a significant impact on American society and thus it brought public interest and attention.

What was the role of Migrant Mother photograph in the period or great depression and what is it nowadays? 

Migrant Mother represents the mother in nowadays. In the photographs, we can see a woman who looks exhausted and worn out with kids. Those pictures was taken by Dorothea Lange. She intended to show poverty migrant mother's life during the great depression. After publishing these, many people were moved by these and the public could understand their life indirectly. Moreover, these days we also can have indirect experience by understanding their life and learning the past.

DB 5 - From Robert Fenton's combat photographs to Robert Capa's war photography

Look at the photos of Fenton, Brady, Gardner and Capa, read about their work and try to find/see similarities and differences and explain how and why is Capa different than others. 

The photographers , Fenton, Brady, Gardner and Capa, main interested to take a senesce of relation of war and combat moment. they spend time in the battle field even though the places were dangerous and not easy to take picture atmosphere. However, the photographers had different aspects and view of pictures. Fenton, Brady and Gardner took posed shots such as still frame scenes however, Robert capa interested and took a action shoots. He was middle of war and battle field therefore he face death and violence in the photographs.

DB 4 - From Alfred Stieglitz and Minor White to Man Ray and Laszlo Moholy- Nagy

1) What was the main Stieglitz's interest?

Alfred Stieglitz's main concern was promote photography to define as art. Stieglitz's was one of pioneer of a movement that is Pictorialism. Photography was treated as an advance of science, not art before his movement. However, his movement and the concern affected photography. the people changed and considered photograph as art. Stieglitz and other Pictorialists agreed photography could be an art when they used a camera as  equipment like a brush for drawing or painting. Naturalism was the based on of Pictorialism. The main interest of Naturalism is that main subject and scenes should be more focused than secondary subject and scenes.

2) What was White's impact on photography as a medium? What do you see on his photographs?

Minor White was focus on a textural photographer such as his pictures of items such as a bush, a tree, cracks in the road, or even a rusted up car. moreover, one of the greatest American photographers. He does not worry about try to new thing and different things. He was a very religious and spiritual person through this things, many kind of his photography indecated from moment scens such as "No matter how slow the film, Spirit always stands still long enough for the photographer It has chosen". He want to take to picture about spirit therefore, people can view of relative feeling inside. One of his photography "Pacific Devils Side". Through this picture I can feel loneliness, darkness, and silence emotions.

3) What do you see on Man Ray's photos? Are they similar or absolutely different than Steiglitz's photos?

Man Ray was American modernist photographer and artist who live of his career in Paris, France. He made main works in a variety of media but considered himself a painter above all. He was best known in the art world for his avant-garde photography, and he was a renowned fashion and portrait photographer. In my opinion Man Ray and Steiglitz have some similarity and different.  The similarity two artist try to make photography as a art by their characteristics. The difference is Man Ray's are symbolical, feminine feeling but Alfred Stieglitz photos are more concentrate of main object and scenes. Therefore, viewer can feel through Man Ray's photos derive more imagination and Steiglitz's photos explained more objective. 

4) What do you see on Moholo-Nagy's photographs?

László Moholy-Nagy was a Hungarian painter and photographer as well as professor in the Bauhaus school. He was highly influenced by constructivism and a strong advocate of the integration of technology and industry into the arts. In my opinion his pictures are innovative, modern and an original idea inside. László Moholy-Nagy brought his imagination into action and photography.

5) Are these photographers painters? Do they all paint with their cameras or maybe only some of them?

In my opinion, They were all painters, The photographers were great artists and their photographs were also an art. even though photography was not art that time. however, they were develop new fields of photography such as explore with light, shadow, item and many kind of technique to express their characteristic and imagination in to photography. They were using camera as a paint and brush.

Assignment_5 : Virtual Essay by SungKu Lee

Assignment_5 : Virtual Essay

Assignment_5 : Virtual Essay

This is an Assignment 5 for Photography:Shooting the Truth.

Blog address:  http://sungkulee12.blogspot.ca

Friday November 30, 2012

Assignment_5 : Virtual Essay by SungKu Lee

Option 2

Roger Fenton, self-portrait

I chose the war photographer, Roger Fenton. He was actually a lawyer but he changed his career to photographer and he succeeded.  He followed Federick Scott Archer who schemed out the wet collodion plate first. However he added his own unique correction to his photos and he exposed them to light. After that, he was so famous that he was appointed to public photographer for a museum. Moreover, he worked in public photography for the British government and they asked him to take pictures of the Crimean War in 1855. His role was to comfort people who were separated from their family or relatives who went to the war. Roger Fenton chose subjects such as spacious plains, treated soldiers, uniformed officers and normal people not miserable war subjects like dead bodies or attacking people. Namely, he chose just common scenery we could see anywhere in the war into his photos. He never took pictures of something tragic. However, his photos were actually made by him even though he risked his life for his photos. Roger Fenton has been recognized as the first war photographer historically, and his photos of that time are preserved by the British Royal Association.

photo 1

Photo 2

James Nachtwey is also well known as a war photographer. This photo(2) is of James looking for a place that war, famine and poverty are happening and he’s taking a picture. In this photo, he is like a monk and he is embracing people who are poor and alienated in his arms. Roger Fenton’s photos also show people in the war to readers and James Nachtwey’s photos are the same as his. Both Roger and James were trying to share painful with people who felt miserable, by taking a picture.

 Photo 3

Photo 4

Photo4 was taken by war journalist Robert Capa. He took the picture from the back of the soldiers. After, he took this picture, a mine exploded under his feet and he couldn’t press the shutter of a camera anymore. Robert’s purpose in his photos was to put a person’s real nature in the war into his camera, originally. This means he was supposed to show a miserable war, dead bodies and people’s instinct in the war to readers. It is different from Robert’s purpose but when readers see above two photos, they can think of the war outwardly. Both Robert and Roger took pictures of just people. Officers and soldiers are walking and Roger and Robert captured their movement.

Photo 5

 

Photo 6

During the Civil War, Alexander Gardner who was a war photographer, went from Britan to the USA when Brady, who wanted to document the Civil War with photographers, organized a group to take pictures of that war and Alexander worked with him. However, he acted independently because Alexander and Brady had a different opinion. Photo6 is taken by Alexander named Port Harker of Missouri River from 216. Among Roger’s subjects was scenery and Alexander’s photo remind us of Roger’s as the same subject. These two photos have a similarity that they were taken from a long-distance. Using a long-distance view, they show readers a wide view of age.

Photo 7

Photo 8

Photo 8 is made by Carol Szathmari. He was lithographer and photographer. He was able to capture both sides in the early part of a conflict. He took pictures in the battlefield during the first year of the Russian-Turkish War(1853-1856). Robert’s photo(7) is very similar with Carol’s because both were taken in the Crimean War. If readers see these photos, they know that these were taken in the same age. Plus, Carol and Roger took a picture far from that castle.

Photo 9

Photo 10

Photo9 is Samurai with Raised Sword taken by Felice Beato. He was one of the first people to take photographs in East Asia. He created images of countries, people and events that were unfamiliar. Photo9 was taken by Roger Fenton. Captain Dames of the royal Artilley leans against a wall in camp during the Crimean War in 1855. Both Felice and Roger focused on specific people. By both people in photos grabbing a sword, readers know these photos are about the war. Men who are shown in the photos are armed. They show a straightforwardness and their faces are expressionless.

All photos have similarity. People are dying and someone is treating soldiers who have wound. All these photographers tried to take pictures in the war even if it was really dangerous. Their purpose of taking pictures was a little bit different from each other, but their photos show the war to us and they make readers cautious about the misery of war.

Assignment 2_Press Photography versus Art Photography

Assignment 2_Press Photography versus Art Photography

This is an Assignment 2 for Photography:Shooting the Truth.

Blog address:  http://sungkulee12.blogspot.ca

 Thursday November 8, 2012

Assignment 2_Press Photography versus Art Photography

by SungKu Lee

Option1  

Press Photography

1972. Trangbang, South Vietnam, 8 June 1972. Phan Thi Kim Phuc (center) flees from the scene where South Vietnamese planes have mistakenly dropped napalm. Photo Credit: (Nick) Ut Cong Huynh, Vietnam, The Associated Press.

February 1, 1968. South Vietnam police chief Nguyen Ngoc Loan shots a young man, whom he suspects to be a Viet Kong soldier. Photo Credits: Eddie Adams, USA, The Associated Press.

Eddie Adams

Adams has taken some of the most iconic and devastating photos we know. He won the Pulitzer prize for this photo in Vietnam of Vietnamese General Nguyen Ngoc Loan executing a Viet Cong lieutenant at point-blank range.

Art Photography

Jock Sturges. Fine Art Photography. Line of Beauty and Grace. 

This image emphasis beauty of human and nature that link the human heart with nature.

Jock Sturges. Fine Art Photography. Line of Beauty and Grace. 

This image emphasis beauty of human and nature that link the human heart with nature.

Jock Sturges (born 1947) is an American photographer, best known for his images of nude adolescents and their families. Sturges graduated with a BFA in Perceptual Psychology and Photography from Marlboro College and received an MFA in photography from the San Francisco Art Institute

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

Art photographs and press photographs tell a story to viewers. Moreover, it is very similar to a picture using visual aids. However, there is a difference between art and press because it shows the intention which has a different object.  Art photographs are not restricted by any rules. You have freedom when you take pictures and it is also possible to fix whatever artists want and replace something as they intend another thing. It tells a creative story of artists so doing this, they can go inside the art deeply. Not means it only picture but shares thinking such as insight that includes the meaning inside. Art photographs reflect what communicate with viewers they want. It also emphasis the emotional content of the subject. It need not to shed of true light and not to report picture existing originally. The main goal is to capture an image that represents an interpretation of the subject. 

Press photographs, on the other hand, can not be changed while artist is taking pictures. It is impossible to not only fix the picture also correct this. It is only reported and employed by firm. Press photographs have to be ethical and follow the guideline. Plus, It has to be public and correct. For example, it press photographer manipulate pictures, these are not press photographs. These are art photographs. They should not distort the truth. It has to describe origin picture simply and admit of no doubt. However, It touches viewers as it shows the realty at the moment because it is true. It can be shown on newspapers or magazines and while viewers are scanning, it provides viewers to visual materials and it gives them to focus on the subject. Art photographs are metaphor and press photographs are spontaneous.

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

There is no doubt art photographs are possible to manipulate and revise by the artists when they express themselves. They can fix their pictures and by doing so, they can not only make creative visions of the picture but also show their own world. Not limited by anything but reflecting other thinking. For these reasons, it is ethical then and acceptable to alter art photographs.

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

We can call press photographs to news photographs. These are used in connection and supported with the reporting of news by the media, via the Internet, magazines and newspapers. People want to know what happened around us so they use the media. That’s why press photographs have to follow some specific guidelines and rules. They also have to follow a journalistic code. If press photographers put their thinking into the picture, the viewers are misled by wrong information implied from the altered images. It is not allowed to use untruthful information. It should show the truth. For these reasons, it is not ethical or acceptable to alter press photographs.

References 

http://bitsbypieces.blogspot.ca/2012/03/eddie-adams-good-stuff.html

http://www.amadelio.org/volumes_entries/jock_sturges_photography/sturges_html/content/fine_art_jock_sturges_03_large.html

http://gregorythielker.com/gamle/gamle.html

http://justmarianne.tumblr.com/tagged/illustration

http://www.eccofineart.com/en-fine-art-photos/ecco-photographic-fine-art-photos-photography.htm

Assignment 1- One more edited photo

Assignment 1- One more edited photo

The image I manipulated is the following:
“self portrait” by SungKu Lee

Blog address:  http://sungkulee12.blogspot.ca

Friday October 19, 2012

I try to make creative self portrait.

Using smoke and my picture.

original Image 1

original image 2

Fina Image "Self portrait"

Self portraits are great way to represent myself in photography. when taking the self portrait photography I want to try creative do not just put myself in front of camera and shooting that can provide my portray part of my personality and identity in a simple manner.

that's why I create the self portait for this Assignment 1.

Assignment 1_Photo Manipulation Assignment

Assignment 1_Photo Manipulation Assignment

This is an Assignment 1 for Photography:Shooting the Truth.

The image I manipulated is the following:
“imaginary creature” by SungKu Lee

Blog address:  http://sungkulee12.blogspot.ca

 Friday October 5, 2012

Rough sketch 

Original Illustration

Original pictures

                                                     Final Image “imaginary creature”

The program used for the Assignment Photo Manipulation Assignment that requires creating a new image by changing and manipulating the existing images is Adobe Photoshop. One of the images that I used for this project is one of the drawings of mine. I thought it would be an interesting approach to use both real-life photo and a drawing and I came up with a unique image expressing surrealism. 

In this work, I was inspired byJulien Pacaud who is a french artist and illustrator, currently living in Le Mans, France. Before becoming an illustrator, he was, by turns : an astrophysician, an international snooker player, a hypnotist and an esperanto teacher. He hopes he can someday have enough free time to devote himself to his real passion : time travel. he is good at bring illustration and photo together in a one. The theme of the image is ‘imaginary creature’. I expressed the appearance of a surreal but beautiful creature in a realistic scenery because i like to do imagination of unrealistic creatures such as Unicorn, Phoenix and Nessie etc that is one’s childhood memories sticking in one’s mind.

First, I sketched and composed the entire image using a pencil on paper that improved the efficiency of my work. Then, I sketched the figure of a fish. In order to make it look surrealistic and fantastic, I used various and vivid colours. Moreover, the fish’s feature has distinct figure for creativity. the illustration used colour pencils, markers, and water colours on the paper. Next, I need the images of Harbour front. One of image is daytime of the Harbour front and the other one is sunset scenery. The daytime picture describe clear view of the Harbour front and the sunset image like sunset sky feel warm and comforting. Lastly, I collected all images. After that I manipulated, cropped, changed HSI(Hue, Saturation, Intensity) of the images by Adobe Photoshop.

In this project, I was having trouble to emphasis the reality of the final image because it is difficult to combine illustration and photo for expressing reality. Nevertheless, I was taking pleasure in process with imagination such as appearing the imaginary creature at Ontario lake. Moreover, I wish the work has given pleasure to people. During this project I learned many things such as combining photographs, taking a photograph, and painting a illustration. It was a salutary experience.

This is my blog for PHOTOGRAPHY:SHOOTING THE TRUTH

Illustration "Dream"

By SungKu Lee