Exhibition Critique

For this task I attended the Queensland Centre for Photography in South Brisbane. There were 7 Artists work available for viewing here.
Each Artist’s collection was separate from another’s. Some of them not so appealing to me. They were all lit with directional halogen lighting.

The Artist that stood out to me was Ireneusz Luty and his collection “City de Noir”

The images can be viewed at www.ireneuszluty.com or www.qcp.org.au

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”  “City de Noir” is a unique and engaging photographic exploration which presents the viewer with Sydney from new and unexpected angles. Pictures explore the ordinary moments absorbed by the intensity of everyday city life, encapsulates the fleeting experience and focuses on the beauty in the mundane. The unpredictable and ever changing nature of the city is conveyed through fluid and dynamic compositions and form, which is achieved through long exposure infrared photography. Pictures create the surreal impression of urban life immersed in rapid city environment. Ordinary scenes of everyday life are thus made extraordinary. Sydney is re-imagined and re-presented to the viewer in dark, mysterious and illusory way. ”

(Description taken from qcp.org.au)

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City de Noir is a collection of 16 black & white images all taken from around Sydney. All of the images seem to single out one or two people going about their daily routine in amongst a city of hustle and bustle. The use of slow shutter speeds and the clever use of light helps to create this. There is also a very strong use of line & shape in the images, being black & white they are also very high in contrast used to create a very dramatic feel to the images.

The image that stood out to me was “street crossing, Druitt Street Sydney” (image 15) The image is of two pedestrians waiting to cross a busy street, which is demonstrated with the use of a slow shutter speed creating fast movement while they are almost frozen in time. There is also a strong use of line in the image and again contrast.

A few years ago I was lucky enough to  be given the opportunity to relocate to Sydney for the company I was working for. I jumped at the chance. Not knowing anyone there I initially found it a very lonely place at times, despite being such a busy thriving environment. I think the series of images demonstrates that feeling very well and perhaps that is why they initially stood out to me.

I think the images are very successful, they are printed on Fine Art Cotton Rag.

Meaningful questions I could ask a photographer about their work.

1. What is your background? (did you study to get where you are today, if so what?)

2. What led you to become a photographer?

3. What was your vision for this collection & did you reach it how you intended?

4. Is there anything you would have done differently & why?

5. What inspires your creativity? Where do new ideas come from?

6.  something you know now that you wish you knew at the start of your career?

Moral Rights & Copyright ©

The objective of this task is to develop an understanding of moral rights and copyrights of the photographic industry.

Question #1
As a working professional photographer you notice that someone has used one of your images on their blog. They have not credited you for being the original photographer, nor have they said they are the photographer. It is just a personal blog showing interesting photographs from around the world.

Answer.
To be really honest I think this is the photographers fault in the first place. When ever images are uploaded to the internet (especially as a “professional photographer”) they need to have a watermark!! Ensuring all your images are imported with the correct copyright metadata is also important.
This is only a personal blog, so the blogger may not even realise that this metadata exists and that they are breeching copyright laws.
I would contact the blogger in a friendly manner and ask if they would mind adding a credit to you for the image or offer a watermarked image for the use of the blog only.

Question #2
As a wedding photographer you notice that one of your images is being used in the display window of the local shopping centre’s “quick print” printing shop. After talking with he shop owner, he tells you that a couple came in and got some enlargements done and agreed to let the shop owner display one of the images in the shop window.

Answer
So this comes down to your contract with the client. If your commissioned to take photos for a client for “private or domestic purposes” the first owner of copyright in them is the client. If you have in your contract with the client that you remain the owner of copyright then, yes this is a breach of that contract.
I don’t think that the customer is to blame here though. They were most likely flattered that the shop owner should want their photograph in the shop window and probably don’t realise there is anything wrong here. The shop on the other hand being a printing store should be fully aware of moral & copyright obligations. There are legal obligations, under the copyright act to “attribute the creator of a work” in other words credit the photographer. The printing store should be aware of the metadata stored in an image (and that’s assuming the photographer has applied the correct metadata and copyright details etc. on the file)
The fact that the store is using your image in their window for advertising purposes and financial gain I would ask the store to either credit you/your business under the image. You could supply a watermark image for this purpose or ask that the image is removed.

Question #3
As an advertising photographer you take an image of a building and a cityscape for a regular client. You agree on usage and price. It is agreed that the image can only be used for 12 months and printed up to A3 for a brochure, internal marketing and on their website and not to be used overseas. Six months later you notice your image is being used on the side of a tram, covering the entire tram. Once you start investigating the matter, you also realise that your image is being used for advertising in international magazines.

Answer
Firstly in this situation, it says that it was agreed on the usage and the price. Was there a contract signed? and was the usage stated in the contract. I have learnt this the hard way. ALWAYS have a contract and ALWAYS be aware of what is in it!! even the boring fine print.
So assuming there was a contract signed and because this is on a commercial-scale it is a criminal offence of copyright infringement. The photographer has a right to restrain the use of the images for purposes other than those which it was commissioned. The photographer is also entitled to commence an action in court and various remedies may be awarded, most likely “damages”- Damages are often based on the amount that the copyright owner would have been able to charge for the use of the material.
A court may also order a person who loses a case to pay the other party’s legal costs. However an award of costs will not always cover the full amount the person who won the case has to pay their legal representatives.

Authenticity and Validity

Objective: to gain an understanding of the importance of authenticity in photography and what the ramifications are when it is challenged.

Newsweek Cover vs Time Magazine Cover

The first image I have chosen for this task is this image of O.J Simpson which featured on the cover of Time Magazine in ’94. The arrest photo taken by L.A.P.D showed up on 2 different magazines at the same time, the Time Magazine cover seemingly different to the Newsweek cover. The magazine was criticized and accused of racism for the cover of the altered image. It was said that the magazine “demonized” a black man being charged for the double murder of a white man & woman.

Illustrator Matt Mahurin was the one to alter the image, saying later that he “wanted to make it more artful, more compelling.” The magazine did something it had never done before and has never done since. They pulled the issue and re-issued a second cover. Only mail subscribers ever saw the first cover.

Times Magazine’s re-issued cover

When an image is questioned like this  the photographer & the magazine has their credibility questioned. The two issues present here is a question of photographic ethics and the other is a question of racial insensitivity by TIME in deciding that blacker means guiltier. They changed the photo from what it was (a document) into what they wanted it to be. The magazine was making an editorial statement, not reporting the news. By doing this, they damaged their credibility and the credibility of the journalists.

Images and information collected from http://blogcritics.org/ojs-last-run-a-tale-of/ & https://nppa.org/page/5127

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The second image I have chosen is an image created by young cousins Elise Wright (16) and Frances Griffiths (10) in 1917 who claimed to have seen fairies in their garden. The series of images were highly publicised and caused quite a sensation. Many believed that the images were in fact of real fairies. The girls maintained that the images were never altered. The fairies were actually cardboard cut outs arranged for the photographs.

In 1917 long, long, before the days of digital an image like this would have been a big deal. This era saw an opinion of a photograph being factual. Today with digital manipulation I think most people accept that an image would have been altered in some way.

If the artist was intentionally trying to deceive the viewer or the public for some kind of personal gain then yes I think ethically it is wrong. Here though I think it is just a couple of kids having a bit of fun with their imaginations.

Image and information collected from http://www.astropix.com/HTML/J_DIGIT/ETHICS.HTM & http://www.fourandsix.com/photo-tampering-history/

Self Portrait

Ok so this activity is to enhance our understanding of body image and identity through the exploration of design elements and objects used as symbolic reference to portray a message and evoke emotion.

So I had a few ideas for this task, first one was an image with my 2 boys. (As they are only babies they are pretty much my whole world.) They are at grandma’s house today though and I’m running out of time to get this task done so next idea…. Next idea didn’t work so here I am, no props, no setting just me in my daggy house clothes ready for a day of washing, housework, and assignments. I think I’m looking a bit 50s house wife here with my head scarf so it works pretty well with what my days consist of lately and where my life is at being a stay at home mum with 2 beautiful babies.

As far as composition goes I have used a square rather than a traditional rectangle. I guess this reflects that it is a self portrait in that most self portraits these days are for  social media purposes and are squares.

Terry Barrett

Activity #6 – Understanding the classification system devised by Terry Barrett in his book “Criticizing Photographs”

Descriptive Photographs

Mug shot of Hugh Grant
Image C\- google images

Descriptive Photographs are no more than a description of a subject. For example this mug shot of Hugh Grant that we have all seen before. Its purpose is to put a face to a name in a database. Other examples of this classification would be an x-ray, an image from google earth etc.

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Explanatory Photographs

Cancer Patient
Image C\- Google Images

Explanatory photographs are exactly that – images that explain or describe a situation. These can range from images as instructions or like here a patient who is clearly very ill and undergoing cancer treatment. To be accurately placed in this category the photograph should provide visual explanations.

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Interpretive Photographs

Image by Cayden Lane Photography. http://www.facebook.com/caydenlanephotography

Interpretive Photographs are personal and subjective interpretations, more like poetry than a scientific report in their ability to tell a story.

I have chosen this image by Caden Lane Photography of the two children playing with a giant ball that looks like earth. What does this symbolise? Perhaps the two really do have the whole world at their feet.

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Ethically Evaluative Photographs

Image C\- Google Images

Ethically Evaluative Photographs describe and make ethical judgements. They show how things should or should not be and are politically engaging and passionate images.

This image of these starving children with their hand out for food show the effects of poverty in 3rd world countries. This image is very confronting, I don’t think anyone could look at an image like this and not feel some very deep emotions.

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Aesthetically Evaluative Photographs

Image C\- http://www.design-
seeds.com

Aesthetically Evaluative Photographs point out what their photographers consider worthy of aesthetic observation or contemplation. It is considered “art photography” and consists of, but not restricted to nudes, landscapes, and still life photographs. Basically pictures that are fascinating in their visual beauty.

I have chosen this landscape photograph of the lavender field at sun down or sunrise, Its very simple but also very beautiful or aesthetically pleasing.

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Theoretical Photographs

Colourful Portuguese Umbrella Canopies.
Image by Patricia Almeida
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vento-na-praia/

Theoretical photographs comment on the issues about art and art making, the politics of art, and modes of representation. They are photos about films, photographs of photographs, art about art, and can be a visual type of art criticism that uses pictures rather than words.

I have chosen these images by Patricia Almeida.The colourful spectacle was created in the streets as part of an arts festival called Agitagueda in Portugal.

Memorable Images

 

Image by artist Sarah Jarrett. www.sarahjarrett.com

For this activity we are to explore the visual aspects that make an image memorable. The first one being of some kind of art work.

To be honest when I was thinking about an image I could use for this activity nothing in particular came to mind and I had to do a bit of hunting around to find an image that I thought was memorable. After searching through many images from lots of different artists, this British artist Sarah Jarrett, and in particular this image was the one that really stood out in my mind.

I think the first thing that really grabbed my attention is the contrast and saturation of the colours used.    I think the image has a sense of balance and the square composition does play a part in this. Despite being a square image the rule of thirds has been applied here, my eye is immediately draw to the eye on the right of the image (her left eye) which would sit at the cross point of the rule of thirds grid.

I find the image quite intriguing, that she has two left eyes which Sarah seems to use this a lot in her images. I’m not quite sure what this symbolises and I’m not really sure that the message is simple, however I do think it’s quite emotional or deep.

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The White Stripes. Image c\- google images

Ok, next image – Musical Performer

So for this activity I have chosen this image of The White Stripes.

I think it works really well in that the focus of the image is on Jack White who was the front man of the band, while drummer Meg is in the foreground of the image and out of focus she still has a dramatic & well balanced presence in the image. I guess this also symbolises how they were as a band too.  Both of the artists have long black hair. In this image it is hard to tell who the hair separating their faces belongs too which amalgamates the two, perhaps representing their close relationship. I think this image is a perfect representation of the two and for me is a memorable image.

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Heinz Tomato Ketchup. Image C\- Google Images

Advertisement

Ok so again I didn’t have anything come to mind for this activity and I did a google search for advertisement images. As soon as I saw this one I loved it.

I think the use of bold colour again grabbed my attention first. The composition is very simple and effective, Its not too busy and its pretty obvious what its an ad for without having to read any dialogue. I think the caption “no one grows ketchup like Heinz” and the fact that the bottle looks like it is a stack of sliced tomato’s implies that its real tomato sauce. I think its really quite clever and very effective.

Gestalt Portrait

Ok so our task here is
“to construct & photograph a portrait using related objects, which pays homage to Giuseppe Arcimboldo. Your selection of objects is completely up to you, only limited by your imagination”

Ok so I thought about this for a few days, and what on earth I could use. I tried to break down in my head what we were being asked to do. Then I thought its just a collage of objects right? So why not cut outs from magazines???

I cut out loads of squares from the different skin tones I could find in a magazine, the hair, and obviously the eyes, nose & mouth.
In my mind I was wanting to create almost a side profile portrait. I found the hand in another magazine the next day and thought I would add that to my portrait as well.
Now I’m no Picasso but it kinda reminds me of “Weeping Woman”
This was actually quite fun & my 3 year old got to make his own portrait too which has taken position on our fridge.

Point of View

This was my favourite of the images that I had taken for this task. It was taken from above and slightly to the right of the bunch of flowers.
I like this one because you can still see it is a bunch of flowers but the vase doesn’t take up much of the image and the subject fills the frame nicely.

The angle of view here is again from a higher angle but to the left of the vase. This image is still quite appealing but there is a lot of negative space, which I think makes the first image most successful against this one.

Ok so this image was taken from directly on top, I don’t like this image at all because there is no view of the vase so there is no clear message of what the subject is other than a few roses.

This one was again taken from a higher perspective but this time from the right. Aesthetically probably not much difference from the 2nd image really.

This one was taken from a lower angle with the camera facing up to the flowers which is not a visually pleasing point of view for this subject at all. The vase itself and the flower stems become very apparent and obviously not the most appealing part of the subject.
I’ve not included an image which is directly in front of the subject. The outcome would be similar to this image in that the vase would take up much of the image and not be as pleasing, also because the angle of view of the flowers wouldn’t be so great.

 

Rule of Thirds

This image shows the use of the “rule of thirds”
The baby is slightly centred to the right of the frame and her face (being the focal point) is situated at one of the intersecting points of the rule of thirds grid.

This image shows the babies face centred in the image. Although its not too bad here its not the most ideal frame or composition for the image.