#5, #6, #7

#5 Give your thoughts on one or both of the following quotes.

“Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created. It is a major force in explaining man to man.” ~Edward Steichen

I agree with this statement in that photography is an excellent educational tool. Pictures capture emotion, situations, events, and nature in an unimaginable way. By viewing photos from around the world, every individual is able to learn about other cultures and ways of life. Photography truly is the best way to “explain man to man.”

#6 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?

I think it is always acceptable to alter portraits. It depends, however, on how much portraits are altered. For example, simple changes, such as adding more contrast or changing the picture to gray scale, are beneficial to many photographs. Airbrushing, slimming body sizes, and changing facial features are not okay. Magazines and other advertising publications rely on portraits that have been altered beyond belief. It would be appropriate to make simple changes to the portraits in advertising, rather than drastic alterations. By transforming subjects, publications seem unreal. True looks and emotions are not conveyed properly with dramatic changes. Altering photographs is acceptable in small doses and should be used in moderation.

#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”?

The most portraits I see in a day are on facebook and in the media. Portraits in the news are meant to convey emotion, while pictures on facebook are meant to convey actions. For example, it is more acceptable to see a picture one took of her or himself on facebook than it is in the news. Images of groups of friends at local bars clutter my facebook feed while images of reactions to traumatic events take over newspapers. The intent of pictures on facebook is to let viewers know how many friends one has and what he or she did on the weekend. Images in the news are meant to be educational and capture the true essence of a situation.