Find two press photographs and two art photographs (provide the names of the authors and sources) and explain:
1. The main differences and similarities between art and press photography:
Art photography refers to photographs that are created in accordance with the creative vision of the photographer as artist (Fine Art Photography, n.d.). It is done to express the artist's perceptions and emotions and to share them with others. In a way, we can say that art photography stands in contrast to press photography which provides a visual account for news events.
Art Photography:
Ansel Adams - The Tetons and the Snake River (1942), Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Adams_The_Tetons_and_the_Snake_River.jpg
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| Ansel Adams - The Tetons and the Snake River (1942) |
Ansel Adams is one of the most widely recognized fine art photographers of the 20th century, and was an avid promoter of conservation. His primary focus was on photography as art.
In the late 1960s and 1970s, news photographers struck up liaisons with art photography and painting, that’s when press photography and art photography began to overlap. By 1987, pictures that were taken on assignments for magazines and newspapers regularly reappeared - in frames - on the walls of museums and galleries (Fine Art Photography, n.d.). From this point, press photography can also be considered as a form of art, but has stricter standards than general art photography.
Although art photography is created primarily as an expression of the artist’s vision, it has also been important in advancing certain causes. For example, Ansel Adams, as mentioned above, while his primary focus was on photography as art, some of his work raised public awareness of the beauty of the Sierra Nevada and helped to build political support for their protection. In a certain degree, some art photographs work in a similar way as press photos, which is to present the reality and raise awareness of, or form impacts upon the public.
Essentially, the term art photography is used to refer work created with a desire in mind, to articulate an impression, a feeling about, or relationship with the world, but press photography is limited to present facts with accountability, accuracy, and objectivity.
Press photography must follow certain rules, such as the code of ethics; however, generally, art photography is not required to do so. Unlike press photography, art photography does not need to represent reality. Art photograph allows audiences to see the world as though the mind of the photographer, whereas press photograph must present events objectively.
Art Photography:
Michael Dweck – Mermaids
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| Michael Dweck – Mermaids 105 |
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| Michael Dweck – Mermaids 106 |
As Christopher Sweet introduced: Michael Dweck’s mermaids are lovely and aloof and bare of all raiment but for their beautiful manes and the elemental draperies that surround them. Water, light, and lens converge to capture in modern guise the elusive creature of myth. In Michael Dweck’s vision of the mermaid, he nonetheless exposes an aspect of life that is lived naturally as if uncorrupted, indeed pure; and as audiences, we can as well feel so.
Henri Cartier-Bresson, a godfather of photojournalism, said: “There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment” (Icevska, “Week 10”, n.d.). It is true in both art photography and press photography. However, in press photography, the decisive moment is depending on being in the right place at the right time; while in art photography, the “decisive moment” can, or may be created by photographer by choosing a certain place and a certain time. Michael Dweck’s work - “Mermaids” exactly proved this point.
The followings are examples of Press Photography:
2009, Gareth Copley, 1st prize, Sports Action
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2009, Gareth Copley, 1st prize, Sports Action
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A ball thrown by Australian Simon Katich sends the bails flying, dismissing England batsman Jonathan Trott during the fifth Ashes cricket test match at The Oval cricket ground in London on 20 August. The Ashes, played every two years between England and Australia, is one of cricket's most celebrated rivalries and dates back to 1882. Over the years, 64 series have been played, with Australia winning 31 and England 28. The 2009 series was won by England.
Michael Appleton
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Michael Appleton - New Orleans (2006)
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2006, New Orleans On September 4, 2005, nearly a week after New Orleans’ flood defences failed under the impact of Hurricane Katrina, much of the city remained underwater and deserted. To add insult to injury, fires continued to burn as a result of gas leaks, fallen power lines and in some cases, arson.
2. Is it ethical and acceptable to alter art photographs? Why? Why not?
Generally, in art photography, photographers are free to pursue artistic expressions. As I mentioned above, unlike press photography, art photography does not need to represent reality. Art photograph allows audiences to see the world as though the mind of the photographer, but press photograph must present events objectively.
Photo manipulation is one of the most creative art forms to come out of the digital age. A typical example would be Photoshop, which is a powerful tool and is used by talented artists and photographers to make great images with high artistic merit. Many art photographs are altered, but they do not purport themselves to be reflections of reality, so there is no ethical issues involved.
The followings are examples of art photography that blending real photos with synthetic elements for a surreal result:
Karol Kolodzinski is a freelance graphic designer who specializes in new media design. His style has earned him some big name clients such as Coca Cola, Ikea, and more.
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| by Karol Kolodzinski |
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| by Karol Kolodzinski |
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| by Karol Kolodzinski |
3. Is it ethical and acceptable to alter press photographs? Why? Why not?
Despite the fact that art photography allows manipulation and digital alteration, for press photography, it is another matter entirely. Mostly, it is considered unethical and unacceptable to alter press photographs, but depending on the level of alteration. If a retouching of a press photograph is limited to basic exposure and color correction, cropping, resizing, or conversion to grayscale which make the photograph clearer or more attractive without changing its original meaning, it might be considered as acceptable; on the other hand, any retouching that alters the meaning of the original photo is definitely unacceptable. Most of the media agree that the only acceptable changes are those used to improve the quality of the photograph, but without changing the context/facts on the photograph in any sense (Icevska, “Week 9”, n.d.).
There is a growing body of writings devoted to the ethical use of digital editing in press photography. For example, the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) has set out a Code of Ethics promoting the accuracy of published images, advising that "Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images' content and context. Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects." Infringements of the Code are taken very seriously, especially regarding digital alteration of published photographs. In my opinion, press photography is also a kind of documentary photography, so that an altered press photo is a document whose accuracy cannot be verified.
Despite of the codes of ethics, many photographers have been selling their images to the news media, claiming that they have created documentary photography.
Here is a recent example:
According to the article Donald R. Winslow (2012) published at 2012 News Photographer Magazine, the Sacramento Bee has suspended a veteran, award-winning photojournalist over a front page photograph that they say he manipulated, and the newspaper has launched an investigation into the incident.
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| Bryan Patrick - Original 1 |
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| Bryan Patrick - Original 2 |
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| Bryan Patrick - Published |
"While the original photo did show that same snowy egret grabbing for the frog from the great egret, the photographer merged in a different image of the great egret, in which the frog was more visible. As a result, the published photo included duplicated images of the plants."
Changing the fact in the images is unethical and not acceptable in press photography. The Code of Ethics followed by the most mainstream news media around the globe are very strict and do not allow any changes that might have an impact on the photo composition (Icevska, “Week 11”, n.d.). The audience has the right to know the truth if the photograph is presented as press photography to the public.
References
Definition of Fine Art Photography. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2012, from Photography Art Cafe, http://www.photography-art-cafe.com/definition-of-fine-art-photography.html
Fine Art Photography. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 16, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine-art_photography
Icevska, G. (n.d.). Course Notes Week 9. Retrieved March 16, 2012, from http://sites.google.com/site/shootingthetruth/Home/modules/week-9/course-notes-week-9
Icevska, G. (n.d.). Week 10 - Capturing the moment: Kertesz and Cartier-Bresson. Retrieved March 16, 2012, from http://sites.google.com/site/shootingthetruth/Home/modules/week-10/course-notes-week-10
Icevska, G. (n.d.). Course Notes Week 11. Retrieved March 17, 2012, from http://sites.google.com/site/shootingthetruth/Home/modules/week-11/course-notes-week-11
NPPA Code of Ethics. (n.d.). Retrieved March 16, 2012, from The National Press Photographers Association http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/business_practices/ethics.html
Winslow, D. R. (2012, February 2). Accused Of Digitally Altering Photo, Sacramento Bee Suspends Veteran Photographer. Retrieved March 17, 2012, from http://www.nppa.org/news_and_events/news/2012/02/sacramento.html
