photomontage

'German Girl' - Hannah Hoch (1930)

This photomontage is a 3 quarter profile of a young woman's face and neck, with a dark black background that surrounds this special portrait. The composer presents the subject in this photo with a little smile, as well as different facial parts which makes this portrait unique and odd for example; the size of the eyes and nose are exaggerated and doesn't provide that  balance that you commonly see in another people face. The subject of the photo also shows an unusual hair style, which can be best described as a traditional Japanese hairstyle, however there's a caption at the bottom of the photo which states: 'German Girl'.

I believe that Hoch was attempting to challenge the media, in terms of their interpretations of the perfect/normal German woman. By using different facial parts to make this photo montage, I believe that Hoch is questioning the norms of what is beautiful; which reflect the social standards that were presented during the early 1900's. Basically the woman in this photo looks idiotic and in this sense, the composer makes fun of what is considered normal femininity.


Source: http://m0theye5.wordpress.com/

Aboriginal Portraits ('Kings' style and way of shooting)

This photograph shows not only a mother and child from the aboriginal community, but also highlights King’s style; in terms of taking his photographs in an outdoor setting, as well as recognizing the significance of treasuring family portraits and records of material culture. This image also portrays the establishment of the British Colony, which show through the way that both subjects are dressed (in comparison to the traditional aboriginal custom etc.). The background also supports this suggestion, as they seem to be standing not behind a house/backyard etc; but standing in their natural and traditional environment, which encourages you to compere. 

o   Aboriginal woman holding child, three-quarter-length, full face

o   Date(s) of creation: [1933] Photograph printed in 1933 from original negatives taken by Henry King in the 1890's.

o   Photograph: 21.6 x 16.6 cm.

o   Reproduction rights owned by the State Library of Victoria

o   Accession No: H20918/29

o   Image No: a15093

Pictorialism

In the late 1800s, a group of photographers who became known as pictoralists wanted to make there shot stand out They altered their images by hand scratching the negatives and using brushes to soften and blur parts of the photographs during the printing process. The Pictorialist's main concern was not their subjects but, rather to make photography a viable art form.

The term Pictorialism is used to describe photographs that make images not about what’s in the photo but about how it comes together For Pictorialists it was about the emotional impact of the image and how it was made,(they thought that was more important that was in front of the camera).

It was using a group of photos to create one.

Henry Peach Robinson

 one of the greatest photographers of his time. His most famous photograph is “Fading Away”, is a composition of five negatives, in which he shows a young girl dying of tuberculosis surrounded by her family. It was very controversial, because many felt that it was acceptable for the painters to approach this kind of tragic and intimate moments, but it was not appropriate for a photographer to do so.

http://www.vrestrepo.com/two/page7.html

Henry Peach Robinson
 “Fading Away” (1858)

Early Photographic Processes

• Thomas Wedgewood and Sir Humphrey make some of the first images recorded using light and publish findings in the journal of the royal institution.

• In 1826 Joseph Nicephore Niepce creates hellographic images

 • Louis Jacques  Daguerre team up with Joseph Nicephore Niepce to develop both the hellographic technique and the Daguerreotype technique.

• In 1839 the French government recognize Daguerre and Isidore Niepce a pension for the technology of the Daguerreotype and offered the discovery to the world

• 1834 William Henry Fox Talbot began experiments with silver chloride

• In 1839 both Dagurre hurry to get their experiments published.

• in 1839 Hippolyte Bayard make a direct positive process on paper

• In 1840 a few independent discoveries discovered that different combinations of chlorine, bromine and iodine fumes could produce daguerreotype plates much more sensitive.

• Improvement in lenses and a charged formula to use silver iodide, which was more sensitive

• By the late 1840’s the Daguerreotype was being used  in the world.

• American Daguerreotypists in particular produced superior portraits by using a technique called galvanizing.

• In 1847 a new negative process produced the niepceotype was published in

• In 1848 Frederick Scott Archer, an English sculptor and amateur calotypist, experimented with collodion

• In 1864 the carbon process patented by Sir Joseph Wilson Swan was universally adopted.

• The last quarter of the 19th century introduced gelatin emulsion plates, papers and flexible films. This became technology that was accepted until digital technology.

What is photography for? Is it art? Is it science?

After watching the DVD, I have realized that the topic of photography being art or science is always going to be debatable.

Art 

• -       Testing
• -       Trial and error
• -       To get an end result
• -       A Idea

Science

• -       Mechanics
• -       Testing

Art and Science photography is both, Art meaning that there is an idea part of photography including the photographer's artistic goals, It’s like working with a blank canvas designing and imagining.

Science is the product being used. mechanics technique and equipment, the design of the camera and how it captures an image.

The two aspects of art and science are just as important. And real.

And you cant have one without the other.

Who's Looking at the Family?

Who's Looking at the Family?

I found the reading good, it shows how much family photos and the message they are trying to show has changed over the years, from showing families wealth and were there located in the sense of standards, to more about the people in the photo, and what kind of family they were in,

After reading this I looked up some old and new family photos and I’m seeing them in a different way now.

My photo is about a moment, not  planed, not dressed up in any way, just my pop and the kids! Love this photo! 

Past perfect

Ok how I see this is it all comes down to the individual!

For me I looveee history I love hearing about what someone did how ever long ago with something we still do now, I love it with all parts of my life, but that me.

 I think some people want to learn something for the reasons of being able to complete a task, and that don’t feel they need to know how jo blow did it how ever Meany years ago, they just want to learn the things they need to know to get the job done .