Creating the Moment/Truth: Digital Photography.

This article intends to define how digital photograph has impacted on society and journalism. 

A) How has digital technology changed the role of photography in the society?

Digital technology has expressly changed the role of photography in the society. As an example we can just analyse the way that people capture their simple routines. For example, dinners in restaurants might greet the arrival of their food with a few excited shots of their phones to capture that juicy and appetizing dish and later posted on the social media. Nowadays photography is seen as cheap and almost effortless which means that more and more people and things are being photographed and shared on internet. Once upon a time every photographer was required set the film speed, compose the photo, manually focus, set the aperture, choose the shutter speed and then hit the trigger. Even when rolls of film were at their most popular, photography could be an expensive hobby for the amateur. But the digital camera has automated the whole procedure which, alongside developments in autofocus technology, makes it harder but not impossible to take a technically problematic picture. "Everyone now is a photographer. Everyone now likes to record everything endlessly." "Photography has become so easy meaning that people don't really think a photo has any intrinsic value. And what concerns me most is that photographers as a profession are being decimated by online theft."(Castella, 2012)

Sushi night with friends by Weberton Chagas (2014)

Thanksgiving 2013 by Weberton Chagas

B) What has been the impact of digital photography on journalism?

“Photographs are trusted by our readers to be an accurate recording of an event. Alteration of photographs in any way so as to mislead, confuse or otherwise misrepresent the accuracy of those events is strictly prohibited. Traditional darkroom techniques such as adjustment of contrast and gray scale are permitted.” (Irby, 2003) “Everyone now is a photographer. Everyone now likes to record everything endlessly." There is a huge contrast, he suggests, between that and the distinguished female photographer he's friends with who takes very few photographs but with huge care.(Castella, 2012)

Digital photography has impacted on journalism in many different ways. For example,digital photography has completely changed how we capture sporting events and in order to fully appreciate its impact it requires a more thorough look. With digital photography it doesn’t have the limitation like 35mm cameras as there is no difference between taking a hundred pictures and taking one. Now sports journalists can take thousands of images at an event and can increase their chances of getting the “one in a million” shot without risking the high cost of taking hundreds of shots using film. (Salama, 2011)

For decades photojournalists have been dependent on film and chemical processes in the coverage of news. Even during a period of digitalization in the 1980s, film was still the primary medium as it was converted into pixels through computer scanning in post-production. However, it was not until the 1990s that photojournalism was to feel the greatest impact on routines introduced by digital technological innovation. In the news business, many saw the digitalization of images produced with film cameras as a way to reduce costs related to chemical processes as well as to increase efficiency by eliminating time spent making prints in the darkroom. Electronic imaging pulled photojournalists out of darkrooms and pushed them in front of computer terminals. One driving force behind this phenomenon began with the Associated Press’ (AP) high-speed digital photo transmission and receiver system, which replaced older analog facsimile-style processes in many newsrooms. (Dunleavy, 2005)

For another photojournalist, “The speed in which digital photography has taken over the photojournalism industry is nothing less than stunning, and that’s exactly what the rapid pace is doing to some people in photojournalism, stunning them” (Galbraith, 1999).

For editors who handle photos for multiple sections of the newspaper, the digital platform allows those editors to simultaneously handle multiple requests, be it pre-press processing or image searches for story development, with greater efficiency. Digital has proved to be a robust medium. The only photographs that survived from photographer Bill Biggart's work at the World Trade Center on 9/11 came from his Canon digital camera. Almost all photographers covered the Iraq war on digital. However, with rapid advances in chip technology, keeping up with the new cameras has outstripped the ability of many freelancers to buy them. The principal worry is that publications that routinely paid for film and processing now think that the processing or post-production costs are somehow without cost. Many of these publications have ceased to pay for digital transmission costs. Yet, the time that photographers must spend finishing the job is growing exponentially. It was clear to these publications that the processing of film cost money, yet moving those costs from the lab to the photographer does not seem to be in the equation. (Halstead, 2003)

Toronto Blue Jays' Russell Martin greets Blue Jays' Edwin Encarnacion, right, after Erncacion hit a third-inning, two-run, home run off New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka on opening day 2015.

World Trade Center as smoke billows from the north tower by Robert Clark 

Works Cited 

Irby, K. (2003, September 5). Washington Post Policy on Manipulation of Photographic Images. Retrieved November 27, 2015, from http://www.poynter.org/uncategorized/15451/washington-post-policy-on-manipulation-of-photographic-images/ 

Castella, T. (2012, February 28). Five ways the digital camera changed us - BBC News. Retrieved November 26, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16483509 

Dunleavy, D. (2005, October 8). The Big Picture: Observing Photograph and Culture. Retrieved November 28, 2015, from http://ddunleavy.typepad.com/the_big_picture/2005/10/the_digital_cam.html 

Galbraith, R. (1999). The digital photojournalist' guide (4th ed.). Calgary: Little Guy Media.

Halstead, D. (2003, September 1). The Digital Journalist Survey On The Impact Of Digital In Photojournalism -. Retrieved November 28, 2015, from http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0309/editorial.html 

Salama, R. (2011, December 29). How Photography Changed our World. Retrieved November 27, 2015, from http://www.qatar-tribune.com/bloom/Bloom_29DEC2011.pdf

Press Photography versus Art Photography

Photographs witnessed events through the history. They have captured important moments through the years and they have also documented public and private histories. (Photograph Shooting the truth: why photograph)

1. The main differences and similarities between art and press photography. 

• press photography and art photography play an important role in conveying messages to different kinds of audiences. 
• photographers in both situations should be able to express creativity while transmitting the message. 
• press photography is used basically in order to document events, news and stories while art photograph is more focused on showing a sense of creativity and skills in ways to express the photographer's point of view. 
• as you can see in the Press Photography 1 below, the photographer aimed to document the tragic episode of a dead Syrian baby who tried to survive during the war in Syria. That picture had a great impact on people's minds and the photographer could deliver his/her message even though many people have interpreted it as disrespectful and aggressive. However, in the art photograph 1 the photographer promoted his view of hope by using a model to portray his vision and idea of someone thinking about your own ideas and thoughts. 
• press photography is more realistic. However, art photography is a result of a photographer's creativity. 

Press Photograph 1: Dead of 3 year old Syrian Refugee. Sept. 2, 2015.

Art Photography 1: Hope by Javier Ideami. 

2. Is it ethical and acceptable to alter art photographs? Why? Why not?

The ethics of manipulating art photographs might cause different opinions and interpretation among photographers and viewers. By defining ethic literally, we could say it is a set of rules of what is considered correct or incorrect, good or bad. Based on that, the main problem when an art photograph is altered is that it might change its essential meaning which might also lose its central value. By doing such thing, the audience might get mislead or misinterpreted. As you can see in the art photograph 2, the manipulation didn't alter the original meaning and was well used in order to highlight and draw the attention to the color of the beer. On the other hands, there are those who is consider manipulations of photographs as a means of art creation itself and it is something that has long been done throughout history. "Sir William Newton, a miniature painter before the First World War recommended liberal retouching of photographs and suggested throwing subjects slightly out of focus in order for photography to be art". There is even a movement called Pictorialism, based on which we can say that photographers certainly are artists, once they use their cameras as a paintbrush.

Art Photograph 2: Niagara Falls trip by Weberton Chagas

3. Is it ethical and acceptable to alter press photographs? Why? Why not?

"We have to learn to understand the context, draw barriers, ask questions, look carefully, think consequently. This is the only healthy attitude with respect to the truthfulness of images, avoiding such excesses as believing that all is fake and nothing is true, or the opposite – that photography is nothing but the exact representation of reality.” ( Laurent 2013). In the press photography 2 we can see that the picture is a "fair representation of the context of events and facts reported" (Photograph Shooting the truth: Photojournalism). The photograph represents the reality that France faced on November 13, 2015 where a terrorism attack occurred in many parts of the country. This picture doesn't have any manipulation and was shooted while the investigation was in process. 

   

Press Photograph 2: Medical staff stand by victims in a Paris restaurant, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015.

References: 

Artists around the world respond to tragic death of 3 years old Syrian refugee. Retrieved on November 05, 2015. http://www.boredpanda.com/syrian-boy-drowned-mediterranean-tragedy-artists-respond-aylan-kurdi/

At least 40 dead in multiple Paris attacks; France seals borders, declares emergency. Retrieved on November 14, 2015. http://www.timesofisrael.com/report-at-least-4-dead-in-paris-attacks/
Gordana (2015). Photograph Shooting the truth: why photograph. Retrieved on November 13,2015.

Gordana (2015). Photograph Shooting the truth: Photojournalism. Retrieved on November 13,2015.
Ideami Creative Studio. Retrieved on November 14, 2015.  http://ideami.com/project/hope-fragile-reflections-beauty/

Laurent (2013). World Press Photo controversy: Objectivity, manipulation and the search for truth. Retrieved on November 12, 2015. http://www.bjp-online.com/2013/05/world-press-photo-controversy-objectivity-manipulation-and-the-search-for-truth/

Module 7: Photography and Society

Comparison between the work of Alexander Rodchenko, Peter Kennard and John Heartfield

"Photography have had huge impact on society by creating public perception about various historical events, people, places, etc. Governments have been using photography as a tool to promote their activities". (Gordana, course content, module 7, page 6)

Alexander Rodchenko (1891–1956)

Already known as a painter, sculptor, and designer, conquered traditional photography with the slogan “Our duty is to experiment!” This resulted in a reconsideration of the concept and role of photography. Conceptual work entered the stage. Instead of being an illustration of reality, photography became a means to visually represent intellectual constructs, and the artist became an “artist-engineer”.

Yet Rodchenko was much more than a dynamic image maker. He wrote manifestos to accompany almost every one of his picture series, tirelessly promoting his concept of Russian Constructivism to the world. Destabilizing diagonals, harsh contrasts, tilted views, and picture and text collages are design elements found in his photographs. To this day they form, together with his texts, a unique document of the indefatigable artistic energy that is also manifest in Alexander Rodchenko’s posters, invitation cards, and publications.

Young Gliders 1933

CARICATURE SHOWING OSIP BRIK, 1924

STEPS, 1930

Peter Kennard

John Heartfield

Similarities between Alexander Rodchenko, Peter Kennard and John Heartfield  

Works Cited 

Books and arts: Pictures and pain; alexander rodchenko. (2008, Feb 09). The Economist, 386, 99. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/223989917?accountid=27351

Assignment 1: Photo Manipulation

Hi everybody!

As I said on my previous post in my introduction, travelling is one of the things that fascinate me, but sometimes you don't need to get out of town to go far. It really depends on your state of mind and on the people around you. That's why I chose to talk about these pictures that I will show you now.

PICTURE #1: A NICE PORTUGUESE DINER IN TORONTO

Original 

Manipulated 

As a good Brazilian, I usually try to keep as close as possible to the things that make me remember my beloved country. I took this picture in one of the most famous Portuguese restaurant located in the lovely city of Toronto. This picture was taken on Sunday October 6, 2015 during a nice diner with my best friends. After being delighted with a famous dish called bitoque, we decided to taste  a traditional Portuguese wine, called port wine.

In order to manipulate this photo, I decided to use an app called Photo Editor. The main reason for this change was the fact that I wanted to give more focus on the glasses instead of the whole photo. I used the avenue effect, studio frame, reduced lightness in 26% and increased shadows in 56%. As the edited picture didn't suffer any modifications that would compromise the places original characteristics, I believe that it wouldn't cause any misleading in terms of its authenticity.

The reason why I chose the modifications I used in the picture is that I wanted it to reflect the feeling of the night in a way the original photo was unable to express. The colours were warmed in order to reproduce the warmth of the environment my friends and I shared. Also I opted to make this second picture in shades of red as a way to introduce the feeling we had as we drank the delicious port wine that night in a synesthetic attempt to have the photo express the taste.

PICTURE #2: EXPLORING AMSTERDAM - BRAZILIAN STYLE

Original 

Manipulated

I took this picture on my last trip to the incredible Amsterdam, on July 17. This was my first time in Europe and I had the opportunity to visit this memorable city. This photo was taken in one of the most famous tourist spot in the place, called Museumplein.

In order to manipulate this photo, I used the Photo Editor app again. I didn't want to make that much modifications as it would reflect on its authenticity.  I used the cycle effect, negative frame, and some stickers with a tie and an open box to give my hello to this magic city. As you can notice, people were having a good time and I wanted to keep the same feeling in the modified picture. As the edited picture didn't go through any modifications that would compromise the places original characteristics, I believe that it wouldn't cause any misleading in terms of its credibility.

I hope that you have enjoyed the original and modified pictures that I shared with you.

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to my blog!!! 

My name is Weberton Chagas and I am enrolled in my last semester of Business-Marketing program at George Brown College.

I am from Brazil and  I have been living in Canada for four years. 

I strongly believe that education is still an important ignition for our growth, so that's why I decided to expand my horizons in search for new experiences and learning in Canada.

This blog was created in order to post assignments for my elective course - Photography: Shooting the Truth. 

I am not very experienced with photography and blogs, however, I decided to take this course in order to improve my knowledge while taking, sharing and editing photos.

I love travel and explore new cultures and countries where basically I register the moments by sharing photos and videos. 

So as a beginning, I would like to share some pictures I took in my vacation trip to Amsterdam two months ago. 

I hope you enjoy this blog and post your comments. 

 

I amsterdam 

Dam Square - Downtown Amsterdam

Boat Cruise