Is Photography A Game Of Inventing Meanings

A man may recognize himself in his father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncles faces, men who no longer exist. Photographs provide evidence of their lives, and the changes through time. As someone who enjoys studying people, and culture, the art of Photography has capture moments of absolute joy, the birth of a child, marriage, birthday celebrations. It can be evidence of war crimes, and genocide, destruction and

2. What is special about photographs? Photographs are special because you can tell an entire story with them without using a single word, it can convey emotions, and feelings. Photographs make connections, photographs can show challenges in our world along with celebrating the greatness in the world.

Initially the medium of photography was used to document the environment. After a steady progression, pictorial photography as a movement emerged. Pictorial photographers believed that their field is more than just an objective, mechanical media. Photography was not just about capturing the documentation and information contained by an image, but rather, about the effect and the mood they translate. The images began to have meaning and a reason for their capture, completely transforming the images produced.

Photography gives you a small sample of reality, but these realities have been changed to what the photographer wants to present. However as Sontag stated, “Of course, photographs fill in the blanks in our mental pictures of the present and the past.” Pictures show proof that all of the history that we learn is true, but although it confirms that, pictures does not show us the entire picture of how people felt about the situation. For example, one might have a picture from WWII and show us the setting, but does that picture really show the feeling of the people? That is why we say that photography only goes as far as to how the photographer wants to show the

Beyond the Medium Thorough research of the works and techniques of Tina Barney and Elliott Erwitt led me to a simple conclusion: their art is simple and meaningful but, meaning is what an observer makes of it. What does this indicate one might ask? It means that although they both have very distinct ways of taking a photograph their common goal is to evoke emotion in their observers. Elliott Erwitt put it in the simplest terms when he said, “I think you should just look at the stuff and if it enriches you in some way or knocks you out, that’s all you need” (Danziger 89).

Dorothea Lange and the Farm Security Agency: From 1935 - 1944, the photographic program of the Farm Security Administration, embarked on a nationwide quest to document, collect and create a pictorial record of American life during the 1930s and 1940s. Spanning all fifty states, the photographers produced more than 175,000

A world without photography seems merely impossible to the modern age humans. Photography is seen throughout our everyday lives, from the television, to smartphones, and on our computers, it seems impossible to avoid it. But why would we want to? Photography is a vision, a memory, a moment captured in time that makes it possible for humans to share these moments with others. But more than times than not, these moments, visions, photographs are altered, manipulated, and distorted to influence, and change the audience’s view. By analyzing the many methods the photographer’s ways of manipulating, altering, and the distortion of the truth of their works, one can conclude that not everything shown is accurate and often overlooked by the

Although photography is made to represent reality, the feelings of reality might not be fully presented in every photograph. Susan Sontag noted that a “photograph is not only an interpretation of the real” but also a trace or the footprint of reality. By de-contextualizing the human figure from its “real” environment, Siskind creates a trace of reality. This manipulation allows Siskind to forge the sense of mysteriousness through the high contrast between the background and the figure in the foreground. Additionally, this mysteriousness created by the plain and the unrecognizable background increases the value of the photograph because curiosity is generated. Therefore, this enables the viewers to emerge with various unique interpretations of the motion. If the viewers know that this photograph is a photograph of a kid jumping, it can be seen as a banal representation of the motion and causes the “depreciation of the

“What is important to my work is the individual picture. I photograph stories on assignment, and of course they have to be put together coherently. But what matters most is that each picture stands on its own, with its own place and feeling.” This quote is from Steve McCurry; an

Photography allows us to conserve memories and relive them by simply seeing them again, whenever we desire. Although it can be argued that people are no longer enjoying experiences and becoming narcissistic by the amount of pictures taken, in Susan Sontag’s essay, “Why We Take Pictures”, she depicts her theory that photography can be used as a defense mechanism against anxiety and a tool of power. I personally agree with Sontag on the significance of photographs because it's pleasing have a physical record of an adventure or informational event or even in the remembrance of ones culture, either way photography is a powerful device used worldwide.

NYC-based photographer Lucea Spinelli’s latest series titled Phōtosgraphé explores the movement of light in photography and the perception of reality. Spinelli reminds us instantly of photography’s purpose and origin. It is defined as a process of drawing with light. Its etymology implies a compound of the greek words φωτός (phōtos) “light” and γραφή (graphé) which is defined as “drawing”. The fleeting movement of the illumination becomes the paintbrush on its canvas, the film. “Like a human eye, the camera receives impressions of light reflected off the world around us. “

Photographs can tell a story, for example the pictures Showkat Nanda shared that documented Kashmir’s War in India. His pictures caught my attention because they displayed the truth behind the untold stories of his homeland, Kashmir, was being fought over by Pakistan and India. Although I did not experience the horrendous situation Nanda did, I also have a passion for photography and believe a story is told more understandable with pictures. My interest in photography began when I was twelve-years-old when I received my first digital camera for my birthday. I enjoyed taking pictures of nature such as the sky, flowers, and animals. Before photography I did not appreciate nature as much as I do now. Whenever I see a beautiful sunset or flower

It is said that “The true content of a photograph is invisible, for it derives from a play not with form but with time”. This makes me think that the real content of a picture, which is what the photographer tried to express, is not evident to perceive unless an explanatory text is provided. In fact, I believe that our perceptions of pictures changes over time as the historical context do. In addition, our opinions are never fixed as they are influenced by our environment. Therefore, when looking at a particular picture at a given time, it is certain that our perception of it will be different in the future based on what happen between the first time and second time we saw it.

It is truly amazing to see how far photography has come. With practical cameras only being 1800s when they were extremely large to now where everyone has one in their pocket as part of their phone. To make it even more incredible photos taken now can be shared across the world in the matter of seconds with the simple push of a button. There are even social media applications dedicated to only sharing pictures as a quick glimpse into your life. However, what is truly incredible about a picture is the emotions it can evoke, and the change that it can start.

The violent markings of the photo album and its images, however, produce an equally powerful message that jars the memory as it disrupts and distorts the photographic chronicle of her life and that of her family and friends. The result is a complex visual experience that addresses the use of images in producing knowledge and making history.