Whelan made some good points about Capa’s photographs being staged but it is not enough to convince me that they are. When I first saw this photograph, I did not think it was staged and I still do not think so. This photograph looks real because he is being shot. It is extremely difficult to act that you are being shot, especially in the angle the Loyalist is in. Authenticity does not really matter because even though we may not know, it does not take away from the intensity of the shot.
The 2013 Year in Photography
The photo I liked the most was the one by John Tlumacki during the day of the Boston Marathon bombing. It shows the tragic even that took pace during that day and just how quickly the police and emts, and even pedestrians came to the aid of those in need. In this photo, we can see that the police officers were quick to react after the first explosion and how they quickly looked around and protected the innocent bystanders. This event will be stuck in the minds of those who witnessed this tragic event.
Is Arne Svenson’s Neighbors series an Invasion of Privacy?
As I looked through Arne Svenson’s Neighbors series, the photographs are quite artistic. They show everyday life but in an artful vague way. I can not agree that it is an invasion of privacy because they reside in a glass house so you can not be angry if someone looks into your house. I think that he should have asked for their permission because they should have known that they would be featured in a publication. There should have been some type of consent because there are photographers they do ask if they can take your picture; it has happened to me on the F train before. I do like his photographs because they are photographs of normal events but there is depth at the same time.
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The Art of Food Photography
Having originally gone to school for hospitality and having worked in the industry for over a decade, I firmly agree that presentation of food is everything; this holds true whether it is served to you or displayed in a photograph to entice you. It only makes sense that this subject matter would increasingly become the focus of art photography, food can be beautiful and there are people who are passionate about it. From color, to shape, to texture; food has an infinite number of combinations to keep a photographer busy for a lifetime.
Robert Capa and the Greatest War Photograph
To me, it seems that Robert Capa’s photo of a falling soldier may be faked. The one thing I noticed immediately was the fact that there were no other soldier with him and how he did not seem to wear any military uniform as well. Capa might have taken the picture to stir up emotions back home; to sort of make the country feel that this war was necessary. And his photo captures the essence of war with the falling soldier being captured at the right time. I do think authenticity matters since the photos that Capa was taking was for the people too see and get a sense of what is going on during the war. Robert Whelan made some good points arguing that the photo was possibly staged, such as when he gets a homicide detective to look at the photograph.
Arne Svenson’s Neighbors Series
I think Arne Svenson had no right to photograph his neighbors without proper consent first. His photographs are a violation of their privacy and he should have been found guilty of whatever charges the neighbors filed on him. Although people have different views on art, doesn’t mean that they can go snapping photos without any repercussions. Even though his neighbors didn’t bother to put the curtains down, they were not expecting to be photographed while doing personal chores. Who knows what else Svenson captured that hasn’t been published on his website or exhibition. Although there might be people who wouldn’t mind getting photographed without them knowing. I think all people are different, but that’s no excuse for Svenson to photograph a couple without them knowing first.
Robert Capa and the Greatest War Photograph
Early war photographers saw nothing wrong with staging photographs to achieve the desired effect, it was similar to posing people in ones’ studio. Capa’s photograph was very powerful and had a great impact on many. While I don’t believe the image was staged, I also feel that whether it was or not doesn’t matter as it brought to the forefront many issues which needed to be touched.
Is Arne Svenson’s Neighbors series an Invasion of Privacy?
Arne Svenson’s The Neighbors photo series is clearly an invasion of privacy, but the intent does make it art and at the same time raise societal issues. Â We currently live in a society where we essentially have no privacy, especially in New York, whether we like to admit it or not. Â To live in a glass building and be shocked that you don’t have privacy is naive; not only are we in view of neighbors, but also the almost infinite number of cameras and videocameras that capture our lives. Â Svenson is simply bringing to our attention this lack of privacy and showing it to us. Â The images bring me back to Stieglitz’s The Steerage and seem to be more focused on the lines and shapes than the individuals, they are simply part of the compostion the artist is trying to capture.
Walker Evans’ Subway Portraits
By today’s standards many would consider his style of photography unethical and I could see people having a strong reaction if they discovered he was taking pictures of them. Â That being said, I love the timeless quality of the images and think this is an important set of photographs. Â There is definitely a remarkable similarity in the faces then and now, regardless of how much society changes some things always remain the same. Â Public transportation, especially via subway, has a certain effect on people commuting for work that seems to not have changed over the years. Â I’d love to see a present day version of this, which of course you can get glimpses of on the internet.
Photography and Special Effects in Early Film
My first exposure to Le Voyage dans la Lune was Smashing Pumpkins’ “Tonight, Tonight”, so finally having an opportunity to see the source is great. What was even better was having the chance to watch the restored color version with a soundtrack by the French duo Air. It’s remarkable that this was made 111 years ago, yet it can still hold one’s attention; the sign of quality. One of the main similarities I see with the photographic medium is the framing and layering of shots, it brings me back to the high art photography of the 19th century; images such as Rejlander’s two ways of life immediately come to mind. We are being told a story in both examples, except in one the pictures are moving. I think the main difference is that with film the artist is able to expand on the story using motion, sound and effects.
If you would like to see Air’s interpretation, it can be found at:
