Blog Assignment 3

Prompt #5:
“Photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created. It is a major force in explaining man to man.” ~Edward Steichen




In my opinion, I agree with the content of this statement. As I have stated in previous blog posts I think photography is a very effective way to capture raw human emotion. Although it is possible to stage photographs they can also save that moment in time. As far as "explaining man to man" photography is a major form of communication in our modern, technologically-based world. For example, when a crisis happens, such as Hurricane Katrina, or more recently the present state of Egypt, the story is more effective when the audience is able to see what is really going on.

Prompt #6:
Advertising first and foremost is the main form of beneficial digital altering. Is it ethical? That depends on the view point of the consumer, but does it work? Obviously, otherwise we would not use it, and it would not be such a controversial topic in photography. An instance unethical altering would be when magazines lighten skin tones on darker women. An instance on beneficial alteration would be in senior class photos, no one wants their acne on the hundreds of pictures circulating among unknown friends and distant relatives.

Promt #7
Photos that cross my path in everyday life consist of friends pictures on facebook and twitter, cell phone pictures, images from cnn, magazines, advertisements etc. Content on facebook and twitter don't usually vary much from the person's profile. Pictures are usually focused on them or things that surround them in their life, almost a photo diary. Images from new sources such as cnn or bbc depict current events, sometimes in awe-inspiring manors, sometimes in deeply disturbing manors. It is up to the photojournalist to capture what they believe will tell the story of that scene, in that moment, with one photograph. Intents between all these forms of media are similar in a sense that they can change opinion and let the viewer see only what they want them to see based on the perspective of the photograph. They differ between "importance" of content, skill level of photographer, digital editing, etc.