I was deeply impressed by the video about Beaumont Newhall. Imagine what an incredible opportunity he had to gather and archive these photographic works and gadgets and to actually meet and interact with the photographers themselves. Newhall was a brilliant archiver of photography. The one story of the one man who offered his massive daguerreotype collection after the passing of his wife was a phenomenal picture of the generosity and our very own human-ness. Imagine being asked what you think the collection is worth, coming up with a figure ($15,000), acquiring the funds and then shockingly receive the collection for free!!! Wow!
Newhall brought and connected these real stories to his students when lecturing. He says himself: “I made each lecture a performance by memory… by what you could tell them by experience…the human thing.”
This again reminds me that we all appreciate real information whether it is oral, written or photographed media.
This manner of presentation of humankind is in direct opposition with Keith Cottingham’s Fictitious Portraits. At first glance the images appear very real as if they are brothers or twins or cousins. The expressionless subjects give me a sad, eerie feeling. I wondered why they were posed like that, why do they appear so expressionless? While most all of the photographers Newhall presented caught their images of real people in the moment I learn that Cottingham chooses to hybridize and present himself in photographed wax!
To me this is a type of “artistic cloning”. The multiple images coupled with the final knowledge of his processes, which are not images of himself but of wax figurines is surprising even bordering on shocking. Our brains are wired to connect with real things in life. This feels like a deceptive intellectual brain rape. Harsh I know, but the subjects aren’t what they appear to be. His waxwork is amazing but the photo deception detracts from my appreciation. I find it sad that he would not be willing to photograph himself to capture his own humanness. Each artist has his/her way of presenting the world as they see it or want others to see it through their eyes. So be it.
The Dove Campaign for Beauty clip reveals the truth about digital manipulations and how media has had such an influence on our perceptions of beauty, which affects self-esteem. People appreciate the beauty of truth but when altered photography is reflected back to them as truth it feels like a deceptive lie. Dove’s film and website supports truth in camera arts and the artists and subjects. They also are reaching the viewer with their website to redirect our skewed thinking on what true beauty is.
Media of all kinds permeates our culture with its influence. That’s where trust, integrity and even professionalism come into play. There is real power in media. People want to believe what they see. They want to trust the professionals behind the camera, computer and television screens. When people cannot connect with the truth society deteriorates. Dove is attempting set this right. . My thanks and appreciation to Dove for the visual truth in their film and website. http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/dsef07/t5.aspx?id=7373&filmno=1
This manner of presentation of humankind is in direct opposition with Keith Cottingham’s Fictitious Portraits. At first glance the images appear very real as if they are brothers or twins or cousins. The expressionless subjects give me a sad, eerie feeling. I wondered why they were posed like that, why do they appear so expressionless? While most all of the photographers Newhall presented caught their images of real people in the moment I learn that Cottingham chooses to hybridize and present himself in photographed wax!
To me this is a type of “artistic cloning”. The multiple images coupled with the final knowledge of his processes, which are not images of himself but of wax figurines is surprising even bordering on shocking. Our brains are wired to connect with real things in life. This feels like a deceptive intellectual brain rape. Harsh I know, but the subjects aren’t what they appear to be. His waxwork is amazing but the photo deception detracts from my appreciation. I find it sad that he would not be willing to photograph himself to capture his own humanness. Each artist has his/her way of presenting the world as they see it or want others to see it through their eyes. So be it.
The Dove Campaign for Beauty clip reveals the truth about digital manipulations and how media has had such an influence on our perceptions of beauty, which affects self-esteem. People appreciate the beauty of truth but when altered photography is reflected back to them as truth it feels like a deceptive lie. Dove’s film and website supports truth in camera arts and the artists and subjects. They also are reaching the viewer with their website to redirect our skewed thinking on what true beauty is.
Media of all kinds permeates our culture with its influence. That’s where trust, integrity and even professionalism come into play. There is real power in media. People want to believe what they see. They want to trust the professionals behind the camera, computer and television screens. When people cannot connect with the truth society deteriorates. Dove is attempting set this right. . My thanks and appreciation to Dove for the visual truth in their film and website. http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/dsef07/t5.aspx?id=7373&filmno=1
Stephen Wiltshire is an amazing artist. He is called the human camera.
Watch and be amazed!
3 comments:
Marilyn,
I was pretty surprised by the Dove video. I knew that digital manipulation occurred, but was blown away by the extent. As much as I'd like to credit the dove people, I'd be surprised if they didn't touch up their models and ads a bit as well.
Please take a deeper look at the video bar and their website. If Dove has so extensively reported on this and created a webste that teaches the public about a balanced look at real beauty why would they "touch up their models" to the exagerated extent they reported on?? They have created lessons for mothers and daughters to do together etc...
There is professional photo retouching that leaves the real person in the shot intact without elongating their neck or changing their asian eyes to doe like eyes. They take care of red eye, shadows, wrinkled clothes out of place hair etc...leaving the content essentially there. I think what Dove is attempting to do is create a standard of photograghic integrity without losing the priveledge of technology to do honest retouching.Thanks for reading!
Could you believe that Dove Campaign Ad? I mean seriously... it was crazy. I had to watch it like two or three times before I actaully believed it. I makes me really 3rd and 4th guess myself every time I think about someone out there in the media now... how sad. People always have to be bigger and better. Great posting.
- Kirsten
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