Discussion Topic: Old Processes, New Photos, New Advertising

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Sandra Cheng

Robert Christian Malmberg's "Converse sneakers"

Many photographers today are reviving the photographic processes of the Civil War era. A California news article reports on several photographers in San Francisco who are producing photographs with the wet-plate process. Even Louis Vuitton highlights wet-plate photography in his digital project Double Exposure for the Fall/Winter 2011/2012 ad campaign. Notice how both the news article and film clips emphasize the portrayal of character in wet-plate photography. What do you think are some reasons for the nostalgic return to nineteenth-century processes?

 

Read the article on San Francisco-area photographers here:

Watch a video on Sam Taylor-Woods, one of the photographers on the Vuitton campaign:

Explore the official site of Louis Vuitton’s Double Exposure campaign on Facebook:

Don’t forget to log in to your OpenLab account and join the class (request membership!) in order to add a blog post.
See instructions on how to “post” and “comment” under “Blogging Guidelines” above.
Please post your responses by Thursday, October 6.   Please note: due to school closure on Sept 28, you have TWO weeks to post/comment on this discussion topic
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Discussion Topic: Photography, Tumblr, and Copyright

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Sandra Cheng

Photo District News recently published an article “Why Photographers Love Tumblr.” What do you think of the open access to photographers’ images?  Do you find the issue of copyright troubling?

The photographer Brantley Gutierrez’s success with Tumblr is discussed in the article.  On the right is Gutierrez’s photograph of musician Mike Einziger.

Read the article here

See instructions on how to “post” and “comment” under “Blogging Guidelines” above.

Please post your responses by Thursday, September 22.

 

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“When Camera Takes Over for the Eye” by Roberta Smith, just few thoughts of my own.

Posted on September 12, 2011 by marcicka

Today, the cameras are present everywhere, subway, bus, school, parks, events, EVERYWHERE. It is super easy do snap a picture of something and come back to it whenever needed. The question that bothers me after reading Smith’s article is whether we really start seeing things mostly through the camera. I believe that a talented photographer can capture the beauty of whatever he or she is photographing, but I also believe some places, or situations seen by a human eye cannot be compared to any photograph. Are we loosing our capability of admiring our surroundings with our own eyes? Is a photo of an art piece also an art piece? Or is it just a visual representation of the piece, but it doesn’t fully show us the real thing.

Yes, when I visit museums, or places, I take pictures too. But with my phone camera, and not many photographic skills, the pictures stay just pictures. What I want to capture when I’m taking a photo is the moment. Not what’s on the little screen/viewer.

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Discussion Topic: Pictures of Pictures

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Sandra Cheng

In a recent New York Times article, Roberta Smith notes the increasingly common use of cameras, especially cellphones by viewers when interacting with art. In particular, she discusses the behavior of visitors to the Venice Biennale, an exhibition of contemporary art that is held every two years. Many countries, including the U.S., are represented with their art displayed in national pavilions. Do you agree with her opinions on the usage of cameras in relation to art? What is your opinion on taking pictures of pictures?

Read Roberta Smith’s NYT article here

Explore the Venice Biennale website and videos of installations in the pavilions

Don’t forget to log in to your OpenLab account and join the class (request membership!) in order to add a blog post.

See instructions on how to “post” and “comment” under “Blogging Guidelines” above.

Please post your responses by Thursday, September 15.

 

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Discussion Topic: Fashion + Photography = Art?

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Sandra Cheng

The New York Times interview with photographer David Armstrong raises interesting questions about the intersections of art, fashion, and documentary.  These realms occasionally collide in Armstrong’s work.  What questions does the interview raise?  What does Armstrong think of the history of photography?

Read the NYT interview with David Armstrong here

Click here to see an exhibition of David Armstrong’s and Nan Goldin’s photography (including a photo of the young Armstrong from 1976)

 

 

The cover of Wonderland Magazine was taken by David Armstrong.


See instructions on how to “post” and “comment” under “Blogging Guidelines” above

Please post your responses by Thursday, September 8.

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Welcome!

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Sandra Cheng

Hello ARTH 1100 students! Welcome to the course website for Professor Sandra Cheng’s course of the History of Photography.  Our section will operate differently from other sections of the course.  The web is an integral component to our class this semester.  I look forward to our reading, writing, discussion, and LOOKING this semester. During our first class this week we’ll get everyone signed up on the site, and we’ll take it from there.

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