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/