#5 Give your thoughts on one or both of the following quotes.
“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
“I just think it's important to be direct and honest with people about why you're photographing them and what you're doing. After all, you are taking some of their soul.” ~Mary Ellen Mark
I agree and disagree with the second quote by Mary Ellen Mark, "I just think it's important to be direct and honest with people about why you're photographing them and what you're doing. After all, you are taking some of their soul." Some people don't want to be photographed and could get mad if they found out someone took their picture. I think that if it is a close up shot and you can clearly tell who the person is, that the subject should be okay with someone taking their picture. However, if you are trying to take a non-posed picture and just want to capture the moment, it is difficult to get the person's okay first. In this situation, the photographer could take the picture and then ask the subject for permission to use it. If the subject is not okay with it, the photographer should delete the picture or at least not use it until the subject changes their mind.
#6 In your opinion, when is it beneficial, ethical, or appropriate to digitally alter photographic portraits? When do you think it is inappropriate or ethically wrong?
In my opinion, digitally altering photographic portraits is beneficial, ethical, and appropriate if the subject wants it to be done. For instance, if the subject has a bra strap showing behind a tank-top and they want it edited out or if they want a blemish removed, I think that is acceptable. Also, if the photographer wants to do major changes to the photograph, I think the subject should agree to any changes they want to do. I think digitally altering a photographic portrait is inappropriate and ethically wrong, when the subject doesn't want the change made. Also, in my opinion, completely changing the looks of the person is inappropriate.
#7 Pay close attention to the types and number of photographic portraits you see in one day. Where did you see them? How do you think that the content of the portrait changes based on the context in which you see the image (news, facebook, magazine, advertisement, television, youtube, etc)? In other words, what is the difference between the portraits you see on facebook vs. those on the news? What is the difference between the “viewpoint” of the photographer in each situation? What is the difference between their “intents”?
I saw photographic portraits on billboards, in magazines, in the newspaper, and on facebook. The content of the portrait changes based on the context because advertised images (billboards and magazines) are posed, edited portraits that are used to try to sell something, images in the newspaper are more serious, real life images, and the portraits on facebook are generally fun, silly self-portraits. Advertised images and images in the newspaper are generally taken by professional photographers. On the other hand, facebook portraits are generally self-portraits (sometimes taken in front of a mirror or with a camera phone) or are taken by a friend or family member. The difference between the "intent" of the photograph is the situation in which the photograph is taken for. Portraits in advertisements are intended to help sell a product or service. Newspaper images are used as an aid in telling the story/stories. Portraits on facebook are intended to show who your friends are and their personalities, and they generally capture fun and happy times.
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