Assignment # 1 ~ Photo Journal ~ Part # 2

Art Photography vs. Press Photography

1.) Lady Gaga - David LaChapelle 

2.) Lady Gaga and Kayne West - David La Chapelle

3.) Henri Carter-Bresson
USA. 1947. Fire in Hoboken, facing Manhattan

 4.) Henri Carter-Bresson

FRANCE. 1932
Paris. Place de l'Europe.
Gare Saint Lazare. 

          I believe that the two press photographs and the two art photographs I have chosen are completely different from each other. When looking at the two art photographs by David LaChapelle, you can tell that the photographer planned every detail of the shoot and that he is highly visible. In the two press photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson, you can tell that these photographs weren’t planned and the photographer is invisible. In the art photos, especially the one with Lady Gaga and Kayne West, you can tell that this photo was edited after the picture was taken (examples: the volcano in the background and Kayne West’s eyes), whereas the press photographs look unedited.

Charles Caffin said “There are two distinct roads in photography – the utilitarian and the aesthetic: the goal of one being a record of facts, and the other an expression of beauty” (Icevska). I believe that art photography is an expression of beauty, and it’s supposed to be enjoyed for what it is. Therefore, I think it’s acceptable and ethical to alter art photographs. Most art photographers may have an image in their mind of what they are looking to capture, and since their photograph will be used as an expression of beauty, I believe that it’s okay for the photographer to edit the photo after the picture is taken to make it into the photo they imagined.

As Charles Caffin says in the quote above, I think that the goal of press photography is to record the facts. Both Andre Kertesz and Henri Cartier-Bresson thought they needed to be invisible when taking photos (Icevska). I do agree that as a photojournalist you should be invisible when taking photos, and therefore I think that it is neither ethical nor acceptable to alter press photographs. By altering press photographs you are essentially removing the truth behind the photo. If the photographer has staged the shot, or changes parts of the photo (such as lighting or cropping) to pull the eye to a certain part of the picture, I believe that the photo is no longer showing the truth because it has been manipulated to draw your eye to what it is the photographer wants you to see instead of seeing exactly what the situation was.

References:

1.     Icevska, Gordana "Shooting the Truth" Week 4

2.    Icevska, Gordana  "Shooting the Truth" Week 10 

Pictures Sources:

1.    LaChapelle Studio - Portraits - Lady Gaga. (n.d.). LaChapelle Studio. Retrieved Nov, 05^th , 2011, http://www.lachapellestudio.com/portraits/lady-gaga/?ci=112 

2.    LaChapelle Studio - Portraits - Lady Gaga. (n.d.). LaChapelle Studio. Retrieved Nov, 05^th , 2011, http://www.lachapellestudio.com/portraits/lady-gaga/?ci=112

3.    Henri Cartier - Bresson. (n.d.). Magnum Photos. Retrieved Nov,4^th , 2011, http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.PhotographerDetail_VPage&l1=0&pid=2K7O3R14T1LX&nm=Henri%20Cartier%20-%20Bresson

4.    Henri Cartier - Bresson. (n.d.). Magnum Photos. Retrieved Nov,4^th , 2011, http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.PhotographerDetail_VPage&l1=0&pid=2K7O3R14T1LX&nm=Henri%20Cartier%20-%20Bresson