Unit 8 Activity 6

Activity 6
Connect with someone new and create three environmental portraits.
At least one image should demonstrate how you have directed them towards a relaxed expression and body posture. Discuss the process of direction.

All three of these environmental portraits show the process of direction. In the first picture, my friend has a relaxed expression and body posture which is found in a lot of environmental portraits. I tried to direct her certain ways so that all the photos would look unique in their own ways. Direction can be seen the same in every picture or in only some of the pictures. In this case, direction is different in each one because the way the subject is positioned and the way the camera is angled aren't the same in each photograph. 

Unit 8 Activity 5

Activity 5
Find one portrait image that has included significant or informative detail. Describe the importance of the additional information and how it is likely to be read by the viewer.

This portrait here includes informative detail because of the subject and what's in the background. It's obvious that the photographer meant to have detail in it because it basically tells a story. It tells a story because the girl in the photo has a suitcase and is at an old train station. This information in the photo is important because people looking at the photo can guess what the purpose of the photo is. People might think the picture is of a girl actually waiting to catch a train or even of a girl portraying life in the past when taking a train was the main way to travel. Either way, this picture has information that sets up the scene as to what the picture is all about.

Unit 8 Activity 4

Activity 4
Photograph the same subject varying both the depth of field and focal length of the lens. Discuss the visual effects of each image.

In each of these images that I took, I tried my best to vary the depth of field and focal length of the lens when taking them. I definitely worked more on changing the focal length of the lens because I found it harder to vary the depth of field when in the lighting studio. Its a lot easier to change up the depth of field when you have a more creative background compared to the lighted background in the studio. But with these pictures, I moved the camera around and also the lens to change the framing of the subject. Changing the focal length also can change the tone of the photos. Especially in the third picture that I took, it looks more serious than the other ones. You get a more serious tone from that picture than the others because the camera is closer to the subject's face and is closer to one side than the other.

Unit 8 Activity 3

Activity 3
Collect four portrait images with two to five subjects.In at least one image the subject should have been placed in the foreground.Comment on the arrangement of the subjects in relation to the camera and the effectiveness of the design.

All of these photos have different designs because of the way the subjects are positioned with the camera. Most of the pictures have at least one of the subjects in the foreground. I think when the main subject is in the foreground and the other subjects are in the background, it helps to focus on what the picture is all about. For example, in the last picture, the camera is focused on the student in the center but the photographer still wants people to see the student's surroundings. This is different when compared to just framing the student alone. The designs can also be looked at differently when different emotions are shown in the photos.

Unit 8 Activity 2

Activity 2
Find four portraits that demonstrate the different ways a photographer has framed the image to alter the design and content. Discuss the vantage point, depth of field and subject placement in all of the images.

All of these images are great examples of how the photographers framed the subjects in unique ways. The vantage point in the first photo is straight on the subject and close to the subject's face while the second photo was taken more above the subject. In the third photo, the vantage point is further away from the subject and is facing the left side. The last photo's vantage point is far from the subject and in the center. The first photo also has a shallow depth of field because the background is blurred while the second photo has great depth of field because the girl and the background are both clear. The third photo also has great depth of field because everything in the photograph is clear. And there is shallow depth of field in the fourth picture. I really like these pictures because of the many ways the photographers placed the subjects. These subjects are placed in the center, on the sides, and even placed in the center but they're facing a different direction. The overall ideas of the pictures are altered once you see how everything is placed in them. 

Unit 8 Activity 1

Activity 1

Look through assorted media, magazines, internet and collect four portrait photographs. The environment should be a key feature in two of the four images.Describe the subject’s character in each of the images. What can you see within each image that leads you to these conclusions about the subjects’ character.

These four images that I found online are all portraits but the first two images are environmental portraits. It's a lot easier to tell the subject's character when their environment surrounds them. The subject in the first image shows a lively character since she's a swimmer while the second subject shows  his laid-back and good character since he's a famous singer. In the third photograph, the subject shows a serious side which is accurate because she's an actress. The last picture shows the subjects' character perfectly because she's an actress and a comedian. In the first picture, I can't tell the subjects' character because of her facial expression and also the pool in the background. The picture of Paul McCartney shows his character through his music. The last two pictures show their characters through their different facial expressions. 

Unit 7 Activity 4

Activity 4

• Find two examples of photomontages that are either from a commercial source or from a fine art background. Discuss in what context they have been produced and what techniques they share with political photomontages. 
• What messages, if any, are communicated through these photomontages and how effective do you think they are? Consider different ways that each image could have been tackled by the artist and come up with an idea for ‘another in the series’. 

These two examples of photomontages were created by a Greek designer named Charis Tsevis. I think these photomontages were created specifically for the media since there are celebrities in them. These photomontages were produced as basically visual biographies of the 4 celebrities that are both not living anymore and still living. Although, I don't really think they share any techniques with the political photomontages. I think the messages in the photomontages are simple in the fact that they show how successful men and women can be in the media.

Unit 7 Activity 3

Activity 3

• As editors exercise their ever-increasing power over information control, what limits would you impose on them as to the extent to which they can manipulate the photographic image? 
• Devise a series of guidelines that will control the release of images that have been constructed for media use so that the public is aware as to the extent of the manipulation.

I feel like it's okay for editors to do their jobs by editing photographs so that they look great for the magazines or newspapers that they're going to be shown in. Although, they shouldn't be allowed to completely manipulate the photograph because that's basically lying to the public just like they did in the magazine above. I think there should be some guidelines when it comes to professionally editing pictures. The editors shouldn't be allowed to photoshop a completely unnecessary object into one photograph like they did in the picture with the shark. I don't think editors should even be allowed to make models look thinner than they really are because doing that is just blatantly lying to the public. I feel like with these new guidelines morals and ethics would work into play and people would realize that its more important to tell the truth through their photos instead of lying by using a huge amount of skills through photoshop.

Unit 7 Activity 2

Activity 2

• Find two examples of political photomontages that are either from a historical or contemporary source. 
• Discuss in what context they have been produced and how effective you think they communicate their intended message. 
• Discuss the techniques that have been used to assemble the examples you have chosen and offer alternative ways that the artist could have put over the same message.

By: John Heartfield

By: Peter Kennard

In the first photomontage, it conveys a message of attacking the Nazi Party especially since it was made in 1932. Heartfield called this photomontage "Krieg und Leichen" which means "War and Corpses". This German title shows how angry Heartfield was towards Hitler because he relied on the wealthy to give so many Reich marks to him. His photomontage definitely communicated his message to the public because it showed his anger towards the Nazi Party. In the second photomontage, it conveys a message of completely disliking the idea of war. Kennard thought war was "dirty" and he felt that his photomontages gave some sort of "purity". This photomontage is from his collection of photomontages called "War on War". He conveyed his opinion on war through this photomontage and it effectively communicated his message to the public. I found these political photomontages for this activity because I thought they portrayed the strongest political views.

Unit 7 Activity 1

Activity 1

• Briefly discuss why you think painters of the Victorian period might have criticized these early photomontages and why the pictures were popular with the general public. (This technique of piecing together separate images to create one picture is again very popular with both artists and the media). 
• What two reasons can you think of for this revival of an old technique? 

I think those painters probably criticized the early versions of photomontages because they probably didn't consider them to be art. Also, many of the painters were still being introduced to the new era of the Victorian period. The Victorian period introduced new kinds of art such as photomontages. I think the painters still weren't used to seeing new types of art like photomontages. The pictures were probably popular with the public though because they enjoyed seeing newer art around town. I think this technique was revived because it tells the news of the public and it also shows the progress of art's success in the media.

Unit 6 Activity 3

Social Pressures

I think there are definitely a  few social pressures that shape everyone's images and individualities. In my case, I think those social pressures would have to include stereotypes. In particular, racial stereotypes would be the social pressure that shapes my image. In activity one I said that I'm white, female, middle class, Christian, and a Republican. I'm definitely all of those things because they've made me who I am as an individual, not because I chose to have those define me. Its always seemed like people have assumed that since I'm a white girl and also a Republican and a Christian that I automatically am like every other white girl that's a Republican and a Christian. For example, it's always sounded like such an odd thing for a white girl to love hip hop music. It seems like a racial stereotype to only classify African-Americans as the ones who would normally listen to hip hop music. This is why I think that my self- image consists of a racial stereotype because I am someone who loves hip hop, rap, and r&b music but yet I'm also white, Christian, and a Republican. I think I've conformed to this social pressure of it being an odd thing by just being myself and dressing the way I want and listening to the kind of music that I like even if it seems odd to others. I honestly think that this stereotype has let me have the best of both worlds. 

Unit 6 Activity 2

Attractive and Unattractive Men and Women in the Media

Attractive

Attractive

Photographic Techniques Used for Accentuating

• Lighting, dynamic angle, exposure, blur, etc.

Unattractive

Admiring Physical Characteristics

• Lips, hair, eyes, skin, etc.

Unattractive

1. I honestly do believe that media images are responsible for the characteristics of beauty becoming universal stereotypes. It seems like when anyone thinks of someone that's beautiful they end up being a famous man or woman. Sometimes it may turn out to be a regular person but it's typically a celebrity. Celebrities seem to be the staple for beauty anywhere you go. Public opinion has seemed to change the definition of beauty over time. It seems like today the stereotype for beauty would have to be a good looking celebrity.

2. I don't really think that people admiring media images of glamorous models can do any harm because it can actually be a good thing. Looking at glamorous models can actually be motivation especially for girls to look like them. Now if those models are way too skinny and look totally unhealthy than I think it should be obvious that they aren't the definition of beauty no matter what the media says. But if those models are truly beautiful then I don't see a problem with people admiring them and looking up to them. 

Unit 6 Activity 1

This here is a list of categories that define me as a person.

1. Age- 18, senior, class of 2013, ready for college

2. Gender- Female

3. Race- White

4. Religion- Christianity

5. Class- Middle Class

6. Personality- Introvert, shy, quiet

7. Intelligence- Senior in high school, GPA higher than a 3.0

8. Political Persuasion- Right wing, republican