In 1901, Charles Caffin said it best, stating that “There are two distinct roads in photography - the utilitarian and the aesthetic: the goal of the one being a record of facts, and the other an expression of beauty”. This statement in my opinion describes the difference between art and press photography perfectly.
Art Photography
Art is describes as the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance (Dictionary.com) . Art photography does express beauty and does so through the eyes of the photographer taking the photo. Art photography is expressed as the photographer wishes. Art photography can be manipulated and altered in as many different ways as the photographer wishes in order to portray the image desired for other to see. The following photograph is an example of art photography. It can be found at the following link http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1jynwM/www.timeoffun.com/art/58-fine-art-photography. The interesting thing about the website where this photograph can be found is that it actually states that “Fine art photography refers to photographs that are created to fulfill the creative vision of the artist. Fine art photography stands in contrast to photojournalism and commercial photography” (uros79) .
You will notice that the photographer decided to manipulate this photo in order to create a vision for the audience. The photo was taken in colour and the colour was removed to make the photo in black and white. However, the photographer decided to leave only colour for the rose that the girl is holding. The photographer also added shadowing around the little girl ensuring that the audience’s attention would be focused on the girl in the picture.
Press Photography
Press photography or photojournalism is much different from art photography. Photojournalism is described as the use of photographs in combination with the reporting of news (Westbrook) . Press photography can be combined with news print such as newspapers, magazines, articles, television as well as the internet (Westbrook) . Press photography is expected to adhere to certain guidelines. Press photographs are expected to adhere to the principles of journalism; they are expected to be a fair and honest representations of the events and they are expected to be timely and accurate (Icevska) . The following is an example of a press photograph and it can be found at the following link http://www.worldpressphoto.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2102&Itemid=50&bandwidth=high. This photograph was taken by Jodi Bieber and she won the 2010 Press Photo of the Year for taking it.
There are a few reasons why I choose this photograph. I was drawn to the honesty of the story behind the picture. This is a photograph of a young bride who ran away from her husband in Afghanistan. She was married at 12 and her husband abused her often. She ran to her parents but they returned her to her husband. Some of his in-laws took her to the mountains and first cut off her ears, then her nose. Apparently in Afghanistan, a husband whose wife has run away is said to have lost his nose. This was his wife’s punishment. Her story can be found at the link above. Part of what draws people to press photography is the honesty, the pain, the truth and the emotions one feels when looking at the pictures. One feels so much more when looking at a press photograph because we believe we are sing a snapshot of the truth.
Is It Ethical to Alter Art Photographs?
It is not unethical to altered art photography because the photograph is in essence already a creation. If following the aforementioned definition of art photography, then it is known that the photo depicts the creative mind of the artist. How can altering a creation be unethical? There are no rules for art. What one sees as art is up to the audience. A creation is not truth; it is fantasy and therefore would not alter truth in being manipulated. The following is an altered art photograph. It was taken by Sarah Long and can be found at the following link http://www.picturesocial.com/photo/psalm-13.
I thought this photograph was beautiful because of what I thought the photographer wanted me to see. When I look at this photo I see a beautiful eye, but in that eye I also see what they eye is seeing. I am sure we have all heard the saying “seeing life through their eyes” and I find it to be an interesting concept. I do not believe there is anything unethical about what the photographer did with this photograph.
Is It Unethical to Alter Press Photography?
Press photography as described above is meant to depict the truth. When one looks at a press photograph we believe we are looking at a real moment in time. We are emotionally moved to feel what was happening at that moment in time because it is true. There is some hidden unsaid agreement between a press photographer and its audience. Even the smallest of alterations (or white lies) will destroy the relationship of trust that has already been established. The following is a photo taken by Stephan Rusik. It can be found at the following linkhttp://www.petapixel.com/2010/03/03/world-press-photo-disqualifies-winner/. Stephan won a 3rd place award for his photo titled “Street fighting, Kiev, Ukraine”. Stephan was also disqualified when it was discovered that he had altered the photograph to remove a foot from the background. Stephan was shocked and appalled that he was disqualified for such a silly alteration which he claimed did not “remove any important informative detail”. According to the judges, “The content of the image must not be altered. Only retouching which conforms to the currently accepted standards in the industry is allowed”.
The Original
** Note the foot pictured under the thumb of the fighter **
The Altered
** Note the foot no longer appears under the thumb of the fighter **
It is true that the alteration was small and of little significance. But that is not the point. According to Gordana Icevska, photojournalists are supposed to “shoot the truth” and anything else is unacceptable.
Works Cited
Dictionary.com. 19 March 2011 <http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/art+?o=100074>.
Icevska, Gordana. "Course Notes Week 9 ." 2011. WebCT. 19 March 2011 <http://sites.google.com/site/shootingthetruth/Home/modules/week-9/course-notes-week-9>.
uros79. Fine Art Photography. 09 December 2010. 19 March 2011 <http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1jynwM/www.timeoffun.com/art/58-fine-art-photography>.
Westbrook, Dillon. A Brief History of Photojournalism. 2007. 19 March 2011 <http://www.photography-schools.com/photojournalismhistory.htm>.
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