Montage: Activity 3

• As editors exercise their ever-increasing power over information control, what limits would you impose on them as to the extent to which they can manipulate the photographic image? 
• Devise a series of guidelines that will control the release of images that have been constructed for media use so that the public is aware as to the extent of the manipulation. 

The image above has been altered in a way that can send a different view on a political situation. This can be harmful as media services can basically create a situation out of nothing due to the opportunities that exist when altering images. Limits need to be created in order to provide protection against things like this.

In order for this to happen, companies should have policies that require the photographer to submit both raw photos and the edited ones along with a sort of background stamp that prevents others from making unnoticeable changes. If someone were to alter the image, the stamp would be mis-placed and look trashy. This is one way to create protection for media mis-use, but there are many others that can be thought of as well.

Montage: Activity 2

Find two examples of political photomontages that are either from a historical or contemporary source.
Discuss in what context they have been produced and how effective you think they communicate their intended message.
Discuss the techniques that have been used to assemble the examples you have chosen and offer alternative ways that the artist could have put over the same message.



Flood hood

The image above shows a subject that strongly resembles a terrorist and carrying a nuclear device away from a sort of compound. This is creating a statement that security needs to be higher considering the terrorist just grabbed a nuclear weapon and is walking away. The techniques used include a single image of the building, subject=, and background all in separate images. This clearly shows the amount of work put into it as the artist had to make all the images flow together.

Peter Kennard

This image shows two images. One being a building on fire, and the other being the Earth. The image represents the idea that humans are destroying the world by showing half the world gone and up in smoke. This was created with the overlay of the building on fire on top of the Earth with the rest of the Earth being painted black as to match space. The artist could have gotten a background with stars instead to make it more appealing.

Montage: Activity 1

• Briefly discuss why you think painters of the Victorian period might have criticized these early photomontages and why the pictures were popular with the general public. (This technique of piecing together separate images to create one picture is again very popular with both artists and the media). 
• What two reasons can you think of for this revival of an old technique? 

The idea of dramatic art work was new at the time in the Victorian period. The images were not of portrait style and instead portrayed a sort of family or community issue frozen in time using multiple images to piece together one. 

This photo represents a story that be viewed in multiple ways. The revival of this technique is interesting because the idea of bringing past styles into the modern era is becoming more consistent. It shows that the styles created in the past are still to this day enjoyed and appreciated. 

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 3

Activity 3
Collect four portrait images with two to five subjects.In at least one image the subject should have been placed in the foreground.Comment on the arrangement of the subjects in relation to the camera and the effectiveness of the design.

Danny Santos II

This subject is standing in the foreground of the image and standing in the middle of the frame which is often something photographers try to avoid. The design of the image is poor as the head is also cut off and the eyes do not provide enough contrast.



Rick Berk

This image has stellar design. Even though the subject is standing in the middle of the frame, her body is twisted in a way that offsets the reality of her stance in the center. The background provides perfect contrast with her dress to really bring out the bodily figure.



MISSY MWAC

This image practices shallow depth of field and provides great amount of detail on the subject's face. The subject is also on the side which uses the 'rule-of-thirds' technique. The only thing that bugs me is that the head is cut off slightly.



Stuck In Customs

I will first start off by saying this image is creepy. The photographer used shallow depth of field in this image in order to bring the upper torso and head of the subject into clear view with great amounts of detail. The contrast with the subject's clothes is tremendous with both themselves and the surroundings.

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 2

Find four portraits that demonstrate the different ways a photographer has framed the image to alter the design and content. Discuss the vantage point, depth of field and subject placement in all of the images.





Phil Borges

The vantage point of this photograph is depicted as at level with the subject (child). This captures the shallow depth of field and focuses on the face and emotions of the subject. The subject is shown to be in the center of the image.



Altaf Qadri

This photograph seems to be an up-close portrait where the photographer has to get right in front of their subject in order to capture that amount of detail. The depth of field is very shallow in this image and the background is completely blurred out. Once again, the subject is in the middle of the image.



Dani Diamond

The vantage point in this image seems to be low where the subject's head is cut off at the top. The depth of field is about medium because the foreground and the background are blurred indicating that the aperture is only about half way open. This subject is places in the rule of thirds to add on additional drama and emotion.



Ann Nevreva

The vantage point in the image shows that they are at level with the subject at a perfect distance. The entire desired part of the subject is in the frame. The depth of field is shallow in the sense that the background is blurred out, but still able to show minor details enough to pick up where the subject is and the environment. he subject placement is in the rule of thirds, but only so slightly. She is still in the center for the most part, but leaning more to the left.

Portraiture and Studio Photography: Activity 1

Activity 1

Look through assorted media, magazines, internet and collect four portrait photographs. The environment should be a key feature in two of the four images.Describe the subject’s character in each of the images. What can you see within each image that leads you to these conclusions about the subjects’ character.





CreditPierre Gonnord

This image was taken when workers in a mine were rescued after a fatal accident. The subject stands in darkness as they were rescued during the night time and he is clearly still in shock and very tired. The photographer did an excellent job in capturing the mood in the image and emotions that would arise from a situation like this.



Erik Madigan Heck

This photo shows Adele standing against a blank background as if her body language and facial expressions are the only things that should be recognized. I get a sense that her character in this image is innocent yet frightened. The face tells me that she is frozen in fear or suffering from internal conflicts. The photographer did a great job capturing the mood, especially with the black and white.



Brian Flood

This photo is very interesting especially in these modern times. It is clear that Donald Trump is pointing in the direction of a crowd supposedly after giving a speech with a curious and "dumb" look on his face. This goes along with what many people think of him as a "joker" and an "idiot". The portrait shows that in a public view, he has a dumb look on his face and pointing in another direction as to find a scapegoat to make a bigger idiot out of (voters and other candidates). This photograph could say a million different things, but this is just a few of them that the photographer captured.


MARTIN SCHOELLER

If you have ever seen the Social Network, then you would know how Mark Zuckerberg earned millions of dollars. The way he did it was not a noble one, however. He double crossed his friends and left them without any credit in the product of Facebook. This image can show his guilt years after what had happened. His eyes are somewhat red and pink that indicate he could have been crying (from guilt). His mouth that is partially open sends a message that he is speechless. The image capture Mark as if he is trying to apologize for all he has done wrong and is emotionally speechless.

Self Image: Activity 3

Consider some of the social pressures that you think may shape your behavior and personal image. List the images most commonly associated with the categories or ‘boxes’ you have already listed in Activity

How have you responded to social pressures to conform by adopting an appearance that relates to the categories that you feel you have placed in or have chosen?




Dan Caplinger


This image relates to social pressure in the sense that friends and family may sometimes rely on you or someone else to pay for things. Some people will use the excuse "of they have the money for it" to pretty much walk all over someone. This image by Dan, Caplinger clearly shows the subject with a few stacks of money indicating that this individual is wealthy.

In situations like this, I have responded with saying "I have money because I know when not to spend it unlike others". I do pay for friends on occasion but only with a mutual understanding that I will be paid back equally and the same goes for them if they pay for me.

Categories are set up by some to define others in order to silicate them for things they want. If you know that you do or do not fit into tat category, then you will be fine and all you need to do is tell the truth of the situation when in a social pressured environment.