Marci Warner
Understanding Art
1.What accounted for the fact that portrait became such a staple of commercial photography in the middle of the nineteenth century?
There are key components that accounted for the process of photography being developed. There was the development of photosensitive surfaces, camera obscures, heliography, daguerreotype that all paved the way of photographs. Eventually, instead of using heliography or daguerreotypes, the negative was invented. This changed the face of photography. It rapidly improved photography through faster emulsions, glass-plate negatives and better camera lenses. By the 1850’s, with the technology of photography, photo portraits were becoming available to the middle class. Before this time, only the wealthy were able to afford to pay commission painters for portraits of someone of themselves. Photography is what created the balance to make it so many people could have photographs and photo studios spread like vastly.
As the advances were made in photo technology, photography brought on social equality. The rich and famous as well as the average citizen could now have photographs. They now could have pictures of people to remember even after they passed on. Many photographers and studios began promoting their work, in order to get more elite famous clients. Props and costumes were being used along with other techniques to create predominating middle-range, soft and smooth values. By using these combinations of things, they were able to achieve emotions and strong feelings in their work.
2. In terms of the concept (emotions, mood, symbolism) and visual design (don’t forget this one) compare and contrast Joe Rosenthal’s photograph of Marines raising an American flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima and Thomas E. Franklin’s photograph of firefighters raising the American flag at ground zero. In what ways ae the two photos different? In what ways are the two photos similar? Discuss the special circumstances surrounding the Rosenthal photograph.
The photos give a different feeling behind each battle. The fighter fighters give a feeling more of actual loss. The mood is more of a silence as they watch the flag raise. You see the one man standing back watching as it goes up instead of helping. The picture is colored but not vibrant colors. They don’t seem to be in a rush to get the flag up.
The soldiers show more of a feeling of overcoming the loss. Working together to raise the flag strongly instead of slowly watching. The picture is black and white using shades of grey. It looks gloomier then the other picture. They seem to be in a rush to get the flag up .
Both photos give a similarity of strong emotional feelings of heroism, hope and faith for the United States of America. There is the sense of pride in being an American as the flags are raised. I believe that hope is very symbolic in both photos. You can see and feel the struggle they are having to raise the flag after the hard, long and tiring battle for this country. In both of the pictures the back ground is very simple and lighter contrast, which draws the eye to the firefighters and soldiers. The flags are very distinct and lifelike. The men are very detailed by using shadows light and dark colors or shades.
3. What is the difference between photojournalism and propaganda photography.
The difference between photojournalism and propaganda photography is simple. Photojournalism is used to tell a story of events or real life situations and propaganda is used to sell the viewer on whatever the advertiser wants.
An example of propaganda is the I want you with uncle Sam. It is trying to promote the army. It is an advertisement to get people to come join the army.
An example of photojournalism is the photos we just talked about with the firefighters and the soldiers. It represents something that actually happened an event that took place.
Understanding Art
1.What accounted for the fact that portrait became such a staple of commercial photography in the middle of the nineteenth century?
There are key components that accounted for the process of photography being developed. There was the development of photosensitive surfaces, camera obscures, heliography, daguerreotype that all paved the way of photographs. Eventually, instead of using heliography or daguerreotypes, the negative was invented. This changed the face of photography. It rapidly improved photography through faster emulsions, glass-plate negatives and better camera lenses. By the 1850’s, with the technology of photography, photo portraits were becoming available to the middle class. Before this time, only the wealthy were able to afford to pay commission painters for portraits of someone of themselves. Photography is what created the balance to make it so many people could have photographs and photo studios spread like vastly.
As the advances were made in photo technology, photography brought on social equality. The rich and famous as well as the average citizen could now have photographs. They now could have pictures of people to remember even after they passed on. Many photographers and studios began promoting their work, in order to get more elite famous clients. Props and costumes were being used along with other techniques to create predominating middle-range, soft and smooth values. By using these combinations of things, they were able to achieve emotions and strong feelings in their work.
2. In terms of the concept (emotions, mood, symbolism) and visual design (don’t forget this one) compare and contrast Joe Rosenthal’s photograph of Marines raising an American flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima and Thomas E. Franklin’s photograph of firefighters raising the American flag at ground zero. In what ways ae the two photos different? In what ways are the two photos similar? Discuss the special circumstances surrounding the Rosenthal photograph.
The photos give a different feeling behind each battle. The fighter fighters give a feeling more of actual loss. The mood is more of a silence as they watch the flag raise. You see the one man standing back watching as it goes up instead of helping. The picture is colored but not vibrant colors. They don’t seem to be in a rush to get the flag up.
The soldiers show more of a feeling of overcoming the loss. Working together to raise the flag strongly instead of slowly watching. The picture is black and white using shades of grey. It looks gloomier then the other picture. They seem to be in a rush to get the flag up .
Both photos give a similarity of strong emotional feelings of heroism, hope and faith for the United States of America. There is the sense of pride in being an American as the flags are raised. I believe that hope is very symbolic in both photos. You can see and feel the struggle they are having to raise the flag after the hard, long and tiring battle for this country. In both of the pictures the back ground is very simple and lighter contrast, which draws the eye to the firefighters and soldiers. The flags are very distinct and lifelike. The men are very detailed by using shadows light and dark colors or shades.
3. What is the difference between photojournalism and propaganda photography.
The difference between photojournalism and propaganda photography is simple. Photojournalism is used to tell a story of events or real life situations and propaganda is used to sell the viewer on whatever the advertiser wants.
An example of propaganda is the I want you with uncle Sam. It is trying to promote the army. It is an advertisement to get people to come join the army.
An example of photojournalism is the photos we just talked about with the firefighters and the soldiers. It represents something that actually happened an event that took place.