Spring 2013 History of Photography

In my opinion I do believe “the falling soldier” photograph taken Robert Capa was staged. Although the picture also makes you think that it might be authentic because in the article written by Richard Whelan says that Federico Borrel Garcia was shot on the head, which is why you see him falling that way. But the reason why I believe it was staged is because; the photo was taken from a perfect angle that shows how the soldier is fallen. For a photograph to be that perfect Robert Capa must had been at the right moment to take that photo, which I believe he wasn’t because during a war I don’t believe you would have a chance to take a photo like this; even more during that time when cameras weren’t advanced as today.  Another reason why I believe this photo was staged is because the article also says that in the morning of that day Robert Capa was staging some photographs that showed the death of soldiers during the war. I do not believe its authenticity matters because Back then these photographers risked their life in order to inform people and in order to capture moments that in some way they became moments to remember by many people who died during the Spanish Civil War.

It seems that both are equally effective in their own ways. Although the photographs weren’t taken in the same city but during the same decade in the 1950’s, they wanted to create awareness about a growing problem in the country that ended up becoming a discrimination of races, between blacks and whites. Robert Frank even described them as those individuals that aren’t “living the American dream”. Will Count’s photo of Elizabeth Eckford first day of school of the Little Rock Nine also did show her not “living the American dream” as she simply wanted to go to school, but the whites didn’t want to comply with school becoming desegregated and forming a rally group behind her.  The “American Dream” would have a different meaning to people, such as having a job, being able to provide for their families, getting an education, etc. One difference difference that can be noted is which of the photographers felt more energy of what was around when taking the photos. Robert Frank simply just snapped the photos and moved along, but Will Count felt the energy being close to the angry white mob in action that went following Elizabeth Eckford and shouting racial slurs at her.

I believe that Hetherington’s vision was heroic. He risked his life to document the physical, mental and emotional investment that comes with war. I believe that Hetherington’s vision was to demonstrate “the reality of war, isnt that you might get killed out there its that you will loose your brothers” (as stated in his documentary). Individuals tend to forget that soldiers have to deal with the physical and emotional scars from war. Tim’s documentary displays that they also mourn, or cannot move on from the death of their soldiers, who they consider as family. I also believe that his vision was to enlighten the minds of individuals looking in at war, they may believe that American soldiers intentionally shoot or bomb individuals because they are trained to. Tim’s film and photography demonstrates a heart warming side of these soldiers, they connect emotionally with the locals. A soldier stated in the Restrepo docuentary that he “needed to know better so that I wont kill these people”, he wanted to ensure that he was not maliciously killing innocent bystanders.

Hetherington as the photojournalist was in fact a very heroic act. He did what not many have the courage or even thought of the fact of going to photograph was photos. Showing us how cruel and wretched the world can be he did show us the bad side in life. He risked his life everyday just to take pictures to show us what many soldier are fighting for. He showed us the dream of true peace, where there would be no violence and destruction. I thought that was his vision. To influence the world that this is what his is risking his life for, to show us and hopefully bring us together and finally maintain peace. He was a heroic man risked his life to show powerful pictures.

I believe both photographs are very effective. What is different is the approach. I’m the kind of photographer who prefers to be unnoticed, take the picture and leave. I’ve noticed that any time you ask people for a photograph, they change their expression, and the photo it’s not natural, so it doesn’t work when you want to document something with pictures, for fashion photography it’s ok to make people pose. So in that way, Frank’s photographs are extremely effective when they come to portrait reality and the society of the time. I think it’s also very interesting because of the background of the photographer, when you come to a new city (specially NYC) or to a new country, you can find many crazy things, and a fresh eye is ideal to photograph all of these. The second photograph is also very effective, but because of the moment itself. Perhaps the photographer was lucky by getting that expression in Hazel’s face. I agree it’s a very good photograph, but the photographer (as a good news photographer) took advantage of the tension and chaos of that moment. I believe the drama of some events make things more acceptable, but when you shoot everyday living like Frank did, and you reveal nasty behaviors or things to be ashamed of (like racism), people just get crazy, because you are pointing the dirty spot in the laundry everybody accepts as clean.

I believe this project is really interesting. I’ve seen many times that when you provide people (not “artists”) with art supplies or some other materials, they just create amazing stuff. This just proves that many times people don’t create art because they can’t afford it, or because they don’t know about the kind of materials that exist around there. The street is just the perfect place for art, everybody sees it, and the fact that some photographs are not hanged up in a museum gallery, and that they exceed the usual dimensions for photographs, makes people stop a moment and look at them. It makes it more special that average people are the authors of the photographs, is like involving everybody in the construction of the visual of their community. For my community, (which I guess is, at this point of my life, Queens) I would love to see photographs of people’s houses. You can know many things about people just by looking at the place they live in. Just in my street, there are Hispanics, Asians, Middle Easters, Whites, and I don’t know what else. So I believe it would be really interesting to make this project. I know people love images, and I know they would love to see other people from their neighborhood, and find similarities or learn new things about human being.

I think Nina Katchaourian self portraits are hilarious, it was very creative the way she took advantage of a boring plane flight and transformed it into a fun-experimental project. Using everyday items such as paper towels is very clever of her. I think her work says that she’s open minded to trying new things and experimenting with different materials outside the usual. I think her self-portraiture are quiet funny even though she may intended a more serious mood it brings out a smile as I look at them. I believe we need more people like Ms. Katchaorian who aren’t afraid to think outside the box. Ms. Katchaorian work compared to Mr. Hans Memling, is more comical and of course the portraits were done during her flights so we can see they the quality is less, but not necessarily in a negative way. Her face expressions and poses are just like Mr. Hans portraits, making them similar in that perspective. To conclude, I think Ms. Katchaourian should continue thinking outside the box.

I think JR democratic project is a fantastic and clever idea. The way that the “Inside Out Project” Combines street art and photography to convey the issues of social identity is very clever. This project was created in a very simple way and I think is wonderful that Mr. JR project allows people to not only have a poster of themselves taken for free, but also allowing them to hang their portraits next to hundreds of other people portraits. I think this is a great way to engage a community by participating on the “Inside Out Project” as well as allowing people that we are not so different from one another. I think a good idea for a photographic wall project around my community would be taking pictures of people during their everyday commute to work and/or school to show how our everyday experiences are similar and as a way to motivate and bring people together.