ARTH1100 History of Photography

By Cindy Sherman questions “whats real” shows the amount of realness and motivation a photographer has toward their work. Asking those questions shows how much heart is put into one photo. When Sherman questions whether she is herself or the role she has taken on in the photo makes it clear that she takes her work so seriously she doesn’t know herself. All of this definitely gives a new meaning to pictures don’t lie. From Photoshop to acting photography is changing. I believe it is not a bad thing to alter your picture in order to create your point and alter the perception of your viewer. Just because something is recreated doesn’t make it false, just because something is “loud” doesn’t make it absurd, in fact we do it all the time in our speech and explanations, its called exaggeration, which as we know just gets the point across.

I don’t see anything wrong about staging a photograph. It does involve a lot of creation artistically in order to capture that image that only your eyes could see. Staged photographs continue from the 19th century till now, and I think it will still be carry on to the upcoming. Whether it is professionally done or not, staged photography are being taken at every point in our live. The trick to it will be, whether the viewer finds out that it’s staged or not. In Jeff Wall photo, Dead Troops Talk, I wouldn’t have imagined that the photograph was actually staged if it wasn’t explained. Yet, in comparison to a staged or straight photography, the straight photography would have a deeper meaning and value to the viewer, because it is a moment taken in real life. Moreover, staged photography is more like a moment in real life that one can only imaging and put together so that we can visually see it.

Only a spectacular person like Nan Goldin would be able to transform in an originality form paintings and sculptures by bringing it to real live photography. Her focus of nude beauty is really noticeable in her exhibit, Scopohilia, as shown in the installation video presented by Matthew Marks Gallery. Golding attempt to bring the 1855 painting of Paolo and Francesca in hell by Ary Scheffer to her own version of it “Swan Like Embrace” is a unique style to demonstrate art. However, I feel that her version looks more scandalous than Scheffer painting. Yet, we cannot judge a book by its cover, because this might be her style, to show sensuality in her work.

My opinion on staged photography is not very different from others. I do believe that staged photography is a form of art. Manipulation of photographies has changed a lot throughout the years. Specially with the new programs like photoshopped and others, we can now add or substract things from the picture. Back then, manipulation was different. It only meant placing people in certain possition, or probably switch a few things around in the enviroment. I personally prefer old fashion staged photographies, although, the new style of staged photography can be pretty interesting and fun as well.

There is a big different between the “high art” in Louvre collection and Goldin’s contemporary photographs. To start with, the Louvre collection is more artistic, she concentrates more on sculptures, designs, photo backgrounds, for example; “Cupid with his Wings on Fire.” However, her contemporary photographs are a lot different. They are more realistic. Her photographs are more sensual, intimate, even sexual at times. These are photographs of her close friends, some with HIV, some transvestites that she met around where she used to live. There are many pictures that have never been shown by Goldin,  because she said that “it became a work about love.”  Nonetheless, she said that she would show those pictures to the world, and that she is very happy about it because “they’ve been painful to hide for many years.”

“What the Photograph reproduces to infinity has occurred only once: the Photograph mechanically repeats what could never be repeated existentially.” — Roland Barthes

In this digital era, photography enables us to capture our important moments in our own life, store them and share them with others. While many people are doing this, did you ever think of the real meaning behind each photographs you’ve taken? Do you think that each pictures you’ve taken have a specific and solid meanings behind it? Or are you just wasting your time to record something not necessarily meant to your life?

In Roland Barthes’ book, Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography, he raised an interesting point that photography is related to death:
“For Death must be somewhere in a society; if it is no longer (or less intensely) in religion, it must be elsewhere; perhaps in this image which produces Death while trying to preserve life.”
In which, he sees that death implicit in each photograph while every photograph is a kind of resurrection. As long as you press down that button of your camera, you have recorded the moment that would have never ever come back again. This move also reminds you that you are stepping toward the end of your life. Death is the final moment of a life and the last possible photograph.

This is a really short, but thoughtful book that I’m highly recommended for those who are interested in photography. More information about the story behind this book:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/mar/26/roland-barthes-camera-lucida-rereading

This photograph is so sad and also what happens to the photographer months later and what would happen to the child.  Its sad to see people living like this and people who are privileged are taking advantage of what they do have.  This shows people that there are people that have it worse than they do.

I just realized watching this video that, stage photography can have just as much meaning as a non staged photography, because most times, we don’t know its staged unless someone tells us and we just think that the photographer just caught the moment.  A lot of staged pictures say a lot just by how things and people are placed in the photographs.This video was interesting.