What are the ways readers can judge the credibility of an image even in this era of digital manipulation?
First and foremost i feel that credibility of an image depends greatly on two factors beside the appearance of image itself - the photographer and the publisher. This is where the reputations of the photographer and the publisher comes in. If the photographer has a honest and credible reputation, the credibility of an image will be high. The same goes for the publisher. However, the publisher and the photographer are not mutually exclusive. For example, if a credible photographer publishes his work in a very dodgy publication, the credibility of the image will drop. Same goes for the opposite. Thus in this era of digital manipulation, readers can still uses the credibility of the photographer and the publisher to judge the credibility of an image.
Imagine yourself as a reader representative for a newspaper. What would you tell a reader who complained to you about a picture of a car wreck that was particularly upsetting?
If the victim of the car wreak is related to the reader, i will no doubt offer my condolences first. After that, i will explain to the reader that upsetting the picture may be, but if it serves to remind drivers to drive more carefully and henceforth reduce the number of traffic accidents, be it minor or major, it can be considered as doing a good deed.
I would say something along the lines of
"Think of it this way, publishing the picture helps reduce accidents and hence reduce the number of people that are potentially affected by such an accident. In such a case, would you choose to bear with your emotions for chance that others may not have to go through what you did or would you withdraw the picture and potentially let others suffer the same experience as you?"
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Blog Exercise 3 - Reading Images
Theme: : Analyzing a picture
Select any image from one of the following genres of photograph from recent publication (newspaper, magazine, online)
Picture taken from TIME
When the target audience sees this photograph, they see a man in charge. They see a leader. They see a confident look. And they see a glimmer of hope. At first glance, viewers are immediately drawn to the obvious subject of the photograph, Barack Obama.
Light Quality
The background of the photograph is basically split into two parts. The dark and dull lighting of the sky and the bright and lively lighting of the supporters. And in the foreground there is the adequately brightly lit figure of Obama. In this case i believe that the difference between the dark and dull natural lighting and the bright and lively man made lighting can be interpreted by the target audience as "a beacon of light amongst the dark choppy sea", or more simply put a glimmer of hope that rises above the dark turbulent times.
Focus
The whole figure of Obama is in focus while the background is out of focus. The function of so is very simple, it is to bring viewer's attention right at Obama himself. The sharp focus on him brings him out of the photograph and allows attention to focus on him naturally by the viewers. Also, with the whole figure of Obama being in sharp focus, thereby foregrounding him but quite alot, there is a sense of him being "larger than life".
Angle of View
I would say that the angle of view is a low eye level probably just below the waist level. This works great in the photographs because of two reasons. It helps to portray Obama as a leader, someone the target audience can easily look up to. Another reason that it is not taken at a very low eye level is because if the angle of view is too low, the subject can quickly appear overbearing and imposing. The angle of view for this photograph is just right as it shows Obama as a confident and capable leader while at the same time is not overbearing or too imposing to the viewers.
Framing
This is obviously a central composition photo. The rule of thirds will not work in this photograph because it might make Obama appear too marginalized or too common(bearing in mind that his campaign is centered around 'Change'). By placing him right in the middle of the photograph, it only serves to reinforce his image as capable and confident leader.
Examples of other photographs can be found at the TIME website but here are one of the photographs that i feel best supports that image.
Select any image from one of the following genres of photograph from recent publication (newspaper, magazine, online)
- Photojournalism
- Social documentary
- Commercial photography
- List how selected photograph might be read by target audience.
- Length of your writing: 250-500 words
- Briefly explaining rational behind your analysis.
- Formal elements of photograph how they are working
- Examples of other photos which support your analysis
Picture taken from TIMEWhen the target audience sees this photograph, they see a man in charge. They see a leader. They see a confident look. And they see a glimmer of hope. At first glance, viewers are immediately drawn to the obvious subject of the photograph, Barack Obama.
Light Quality
The background of the photograph is basically split into two parts. The dark and dull lighting of the sky and the bright and lively lighting of the supporters. And in the foreground there is the adequately brightly lit figure of Obama. In this case i believe that the difference between the dark and dull natural lighting and the bright and lively man made lighting can be interpreted by the target audience as "a beacon of light amongst the dark choppy sea", or more simply put a glimmer of hope that rises above the dark turbulent times.
Focus
The whole figure of Obama is in focus while the background is out of focus. The function of so is very simple, it is to bring viewer's attention right at Obama himself. The sharp focus on him brings him out of the photograph and allows attention to focus on him naturally by the viewers. Also, with the whole figure of Obama being in sharp focus, thereby foregrounding him but quite alot, there is a sense of him being "larger than life".
Angle of View
I would say that the angle of view is a low eye level probably just below the waist level. This works great in the photographs because of two reasons. It helps to portray Obama as a leader, someone the target audience can easily look up to. Another reason that it is not taken at a very low eye level is because if the angle of view is too low, the subject can quickly appear overbearing and imposing. The angle of view for this photograph is just right as it shows Obama as a confident and capable leader while at the same time is not overbearing or too imposing to the viewers.
Framing
This is obviously a central composition photo. The rule of thirds will not work in this photograph because it might make Obama appear too marginalized or too common(bearing in mind that his campaign is centered around 'Change'). By placing him right in the middle of the photograph, it only serves to reinforce his image as capable and confident leader.
Examples of other photographs can be found at the TIME website but here are one of the photographs that i feel best supports that image.
Blog Exercise 2 - Surrealism
The Elephant Celebes, Max Ernst, 1921For this blog exercise, i am suppose to comment on a selected masterwork in the context of surrealism. Max Ernst is in the Veristic Surrealism camp. The work is definitely firmly in the surreal realm. A mechanical elephant with its head and trunk swapping place apparently looking at a human figure with curious eyes. The human figure appears to be gesturing for the mechanical elephant to follow him/her. Squeezed to the right of the painting is apparently a tree made up of metal plates that resembles discarded metal teapots.
As i try to 'make sense' of the picture, i realized that perhaps the real art of these surrealist work doesnt take place at the material level. The surreal art piece mainly serve as a catalyst to spark off exploration of the viewer's inner conscious. The place where the art truely takes place is withing the viewers themselves and within them, perhaps it takes place at the reagion where the conscious and the subconscious collide.
As i try to 'make sense' of the picture, i realized that perhaps the real art of these surrealist work doesnt take place at the material level. The surreal art piece mainly serve as a catalyst to spark off exploration of the viewer's inner conscious. The place where the art truely takes place is withing the viewers themselves and within them, perhaps it takes place at the reagion where the conscious and the subconscious collide.
Final Assignment - Conceptual Portraiture (Final)
The theme that we have to employ for this assignment is Look into the Ordinary.
Personally, this assignment represents two of the biggest challenge to me.
One being that once i saw the theme and style(conceptual photography) MILLIONS of ideas ran through my head all at once. We have 2-3 weeks to do this but i simply just couldnt stop idea hoping. When i seemingly decided upon an idea, another seemingly better one pops out. So for the 2-3 weeks i am just trapped within this eternal cycle of idea hoping.
The other challenge? Photographing people of course....
Well here is my work, the idea behind it is Succumbing to Temptations (no, not that kind of temptations)
The series is meant to be view in sequence of Apple of Your Eye to Sweet Nothings to Futile Protest to Desire to Own to Succumb to Soul Sold. For Apple of Your Eye, I wanted to show how the prevalence of the advertisements causes us to only have eye for some of the more famous brands. In Sweet Nothings, I wanted to show how all the advertisements are trying to tell us what they want us to think that we want to hear, hence we will think that we want these products simply because what the ads say are like music to the ear. In Futile Protest, I want to show that we have been subconsciously been bombarded by so many of the ads that we have grown to get used to them and see them as the norm and start to live their constructed idealism. In a way, the bombardments of the ads are like putting the finger to one’s lips and bring any protest down. In Desire to Own, once we have been condition to want what the ads are selling, we have developed a need for it. In other words, what I mean is, what we once regard as a want has now upgraded to a need, hence the many hands reaching out for material goods. Once one has reached this stage, one will have completely succumbed to the messages and ads bombarding one. Finally, one may end up selling the soul to pursue all those material objects that the ads are selling and all that left is an empty shell like in Soul Sold.
Apple of Your Eye
I whited out the eye and place a few brand logos(i wont get sued rite?) on the eye, trying to symbolize that all the person can see are those products signified by the logos which are portrayed as so very desirable in their ads.
Sweet Nothings
Besides our eye, our ear are constantly being bombarded by messages to. By weaving together words into a slogan(can you identify all the slogans?) that has impact far beyond the sum of their parts, advertisers hope to entice consumer enough to be willing to part with their money for their products.
Futile Protest
Protest is futile. You are already mentally disarmed. You shall obey. And you shall desire them.
Desire to Own
You don't just merely want them. You NEED them. They are as important as oxygen and water.
Succumb
Soul Sold
Goods once sold are not refundable.
Personally, this assignment represents two of the biggest challenge to me.
One being that once i saw the theme and style(conceptual photography) MILLIONS of ideas ran through my head all at once. We have 2-3 weeks to do this but i simply just couldnt stop idea hoping. When i seemingly decided upon an idea, another seemingly better one pops out. So for the 2-3 weeks i am just trapped within this eternal cycle of idea hoping.
The other challenge? Photographing people of course....
Well here is my work, the idea behind it is Succumbing to Temptations (no, not that kind of temptations)
The series is meant to be view in sequence of Apple of Your Eye to Sweet Nothings to Futile Protest to Desire to Own to Succumb to Soul Sold. For Apple of Your Eye, I wanted to show how the prevalence of the advertisements causes us to only have eye for some of the more famous brands. In Sweet Nothings, I wanted to show how all the advertisements are trying to tell us what they want us to think that we want to hear, hence we will think that we want these products simply because what the ads say are like music to the ear. In Futile Protest, I want to show that we have been subconsciously been bombarded by so many of the ads that we have grown to get used to them and see them as the norm and start to live their constructed idealism. In a way, the bombardments of the ads are like putting the finger to one’s lips and bring any protest down. In Desire to Own, once we have been condition to want what the ads are selling, we have developed a need for it. In other words, what I mean is, what we once regard as a want has now upgraded to a need, hence the many hands reaching out for material goods. Once one has reached this stage, one will have completely succumbed to the messages and ads bombarding one. Finally, one may end up selling the soul to pursue all those material objects that the ads are selling and all that left is an empty shell like in Soul Sold.
Apple of Your EyeI whited out the eye and place a few brand logos(i wont get sued rite?) on the eye, trying to symbolize that all the person can see are those products signified by the logos which are portrayed as so very desirable in their ads.
Sweet NothingsBesides our eye, our ear are constantly being bombarded by messages to. By weaving together words into a slogan(can you identify all the slogans?) that has impact far beyond the sum of their parts, advertisers hope to entice consumer enough to be willing to part with their money for their products.
Futile ProtestProtest is futile. You are already mentally disarmed. You shall obey. And you shall desire them.
Desire to OwnYou don't just merely want them. You NEED them. They are as important as oxygen and water.
SuccumbWelcome to the club!
Soul SoldGoods once sold are not refundable.
Assignment 5 - Depicting Mood (Final)
Well, depicting mood without involving human subjects. On one hand i am glad because i am not good at photographing people. On the other hand, my initial ideas all involve human subjects. Contradictory eh? Somehow, instinctively my first few ideas are all of the sad or lonely category. Somehow i feel that it is easier to portray sadness and loneliness as opposed to happiness? Perhaps because people relate to sad things more?
Trapped
Longing
I did not include this picture in my original tutorial critique. I decide to include this as i feel it depicts the feeling of longing quite adequately. The watch's face is facing upwards as a beam of light shines on it while the rest of the watches are in relative darkness. I feel that it shows "longing to be in the spotlight" quite well.
Alone
When i showed this picture to my friends, the immediate reaction most get is "wah, so emo!". I took it as a good sign and decided to use it for this assignment. It gives the feeling of being abandoned and left to its own demise, slowly melting away with no other company. Alone, sad and waiting for time to deal the final blow.
TrappedThe comments i got from this picture is that perhaps i could photoshop away the borders and walls at the right side and the bottom. Also perhaps i could show the full legs of the chair instead of cutting it afloat like in this picture. However, i feel that if i leave it as it is, it gives the feeling of trapped pretty well. There is the whole "driven into the corner" feel to it. Hence i just leave it as it is.
LongingI did not include this picture in my original tutorial critique. I decide to include this as i feel it depicts the feeling of longing quite adequately. The watch's face is facing upwards as a beam of light shines on it while the rest of the watches are in relative darkness. I feel that it shows "longing to be in the spotlight" quite well.
AloneWhen i showed this picture to my friends, the immediate reaction most get is "wah, so emo!". I took it as a good sign and decided to use it for this assignment. It gives the feeling of being abandoned and left to its own demise, slowly melting away with no other company. Alone, sad and waiting for time to deal the final blow.
Assignment 4 - Urban Phenomena (Final)
The theme of this assignment is surrealism. Which is rather tough as when I start to conceptualize the idea and theme, I am already deviating from the surreal.
Concept: First of all, my concept of surrealism is things that appear normal at first glance but is actually absurd if closely examined. Trying to show from the photo that people are working day and night just to earn money. Perhaps it is to pay all the bills, perhaps it is to pay back the debts or perhaps it is a way to get rich. Regardless of reasons, in a way people are a slave to money. The invert face which looks normal on first glance but on examining further, one will realize that the face is actually distorted when they turn the photograph around. This is to show people not to take things a face value and see deeper into what is the true face of money and that we should not be slave to it.
Technique: I simply inverted the eyes and mouth of the person’s face. I then layer the cut out of the person over a picture of a 50 dollars note(with everything else photoshopped away). I then overlay two pictures (one day and one night shot) of the Singapore skyline and using layer mask, I merge them in such a way such the bottom area reflects the night view and the top reflects the day view. I then overlay this picture between the dollar picture and the person cut out. I then change the tinge of the person to be closer to the 50 dollars bill.
And here is the end result! I am not sure if it is surrealistic enough, if i had one more week(hahaha, this is like NM3216) i will attempt my original idea of a man looking into a mirror. At first glance the viewer will see nothing wrong. However with deeper examination, the viewer will find that the world in the mirror is actually correctly reflected while the 'real world' is the mirror image. The room is basically very ambiguous saved for subtle clues such as the opposite face of the clock.
Concept: First of all, my concept of surrealism is things that appear normal at first glance but is actually absurd if closely examined. Trying to show from the photo that people are working day and night just to earn money. Perhaps it is to pay all the bills, perhaps it is to pay back the debts or perhaps it is a way to get rich. Regardless of reasons, in a way people are a slave to money. The invert face which looks normal on first glance but on examining further, one will realize that the face is actually distorted when they turn the photograph around. This is to show people not to take things a face value and see deeper into what is the true face of money and that we should not be slave to it.
Technique: I simply inverted the eyes and mouth of the person’s face. I then layer the cut out of the person over a picture of a 50 dollars note(with everything else photoshopped away). I then overlay two pictures (one day and one night shot) of the Singapore skyline and using layer mask, I merge them in such a way such the bottom area reflects the night view and the top reflects the day view. I then overlay this picture between the dollar picture and the person cut out. I then change the tinge of the person to be closer to the 50 dollars bill.
And here is the end result! I am not sure if it is surrealistic enough, if i had one more week(hahaha, this is like NM3216) i will attempt my original idea of a man looking into a mirror. At first glance the viewer will see nothing wrong. However with deeper examination, the viewer will find that the world in the mirror is actually correctly reflected while the 'real world' is the mirror image. The room is basically very ambiguous saved for subtle clues such as the opposite face of the clock.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Assignment 2a - Exposure Triangle (Final)
Shallow Depth of Field1/40s f/5.6 ISO200
Title:Overgrown
This is actually a shot of a tree bark. I decided to focus the view near the right hand side of the picture as most of the bark are already covered with the moss like thing and the piece of bark towards the right seem to be the last place before it is fully colonized by the moss.
Deep Depth of View1/80s f/7.1 ISO100
Title: Photographer
Well i feel that this photograph is interesting and fun as i took it during Canon Photomarathon and i got my friend to pose like the silhouette seen on the Canon Photomarathon logo. I guess this picture is pretty self explanatory for a deep depth of view photograph.
Slow shutter speed (Motion Blur)1/8s f/25.0 ISO400
Title: Flow
I took this without the aid of a tripod as i didnt have plans for taking a slow shutter speed photograph that day. However, i am surprised that the background turn out quite sharp while the water have soft feel to it due to the relatively slow shutter speed of 1/8s. Either i am suddenly very stable, or the IS of the lens is pretty powerful. I am guessing the latter.
Fast Shutter Speed (freeze action)1/1000s f/5.6 ISO1600
Title: Jellyfish
Well pretty straight forward. With fast shuttle speed, you get freeze action!
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