Blog prompts

#5 Give your thoughts on one or both of the following quotes.

“I just think it's important to be direct and honest with people about why you're photographing them and what you're doing. After all, you are taking some of their soul.” ~Mary Ellen Mark




 

I believe that this holds some truth. I believe when you photograph someone you are taking away part of the personality to share with the world. You can capture their emotion. When you are photographing people I think that it is important for you to be honest with them so that they are comfortable. Being comfortable allows the subject to be themselves, and is what you are usually trying to capture.

#6 In your opinion, when is it beneficial, ethical, or appropriate to digitally alter photographic portraits? When do you think it is inappropriate or ethically wrong? 

I think that it is appropriate to do such a thing when it comes to advertisements that are trying to get a point across such as weight loss, anti smoking, and or other health related issues. I don't think it's right to do in advertisements that are about the consumption of harmful substances such as alcohol. Many alcohol advertisements always show women who by our current society's standards attractive with men who are drinking these alcoholic beverages. Advertisements that are misleading I believe are inappropriate uses.

#7 Pay close attention to the types and number of photographic portraits you see in one day. Where did you see them? How do you think that the content of the portrait changes based on the context in which you see the image (news, facebook, magazine, advertisement, television, youtube, etc)? In other words, what is the difference between the portraits you see on facebook vs. those on the news? What is the difference between the “viewpoint” of the photographer in each situation? What is the difference between their “intents”?

 

I did not see many, but most I saw were on television. Mainly on news stations, some were mug shots which is totally different in context then lets say pictures of celebrities caught doing something shocking in the tabloids walking through the checkout line at Meijer. Viewpoints change in each situation and it all depends on where the context lays. The context is what influences the viewers outlook on each subject. Intention in these different contexts leads to what the organization was trying to get across to their viewer.