Chapter 9

Of Synthetics and Cyborgs really delved into the span of possibilities that could emerge in the future with digital photography. In the beginning of the chapter, Ritchin makes a comment about how someday we may all walk around with a walnut sized lump in our foreheads that would have the potential to record our entire lives. Scary is my immediate reaction to that while others seem to grab at the opportunity to explore deeper into the digital world. This ability relies way to much on technology and takes us farther away from our grounded reality. Maybe movies and video games have put too many ideas in peoples heads because after this chapter I felt like in a few years I would be living in the Matrix. Taking pictures used to be special because it was a highly selective and thought out process. Only things that truly made an impact on the photographer would be given the chance to be captured and later made into a sole representation of that time or event. With the huge technological leaps that have been made in photography, that thought process has been pushed aside. If humans got to the point where everything throughout their daily lives was being documented that would only encourage less observance for it would all be stored away if ever needed. I hope it doesn't reach this point, especially during my lifetime because I think it would be horribly sad.

Chapter 8

Throughout this book we have looked at the ways in which digital photography differs from analog. The main point of course, is that digital images can take the viewer deeper in the image, to seek for more information and gain a better understanding of the story. Photographs can be, “linked, transmitted, recontextualized, and fabricated”. We have looked at various ways in which this can result in both positive and negative, like the many examples of government misuse of images. With this in mind, I thought it was quite interesting to read the section that discussed creating synthesized images that would give us a look into the future. This could help to avoid future issues instead of waiting until they happen to deal with them such as the shrinking glaciers at Glacier National Park. I feel like this is an extremely positive thing that photography is able to contribute to the improvement of our lives. People are more apt to change if they can see with their own eyes the actual repercussions of their actions…Chris Jordan anyone?? If only some of the energy that is spent altering, planning, and reshooting images would be put towards more productive avenues I think we’d all be better off.

Moroccooo

Warmness

Scanographs

Chapter 7

Ritchin talks about how Polaroid cameras were given to young people to explore their surroundings and how such a simply act hit so many aspects that are completely skipped over but provide such amazing insight into a culture. The Photographs be Iraqi Civilians, "was featured for its intimate and ordinary perspectives showing how a marginal project can fill a void that mainstream media may overlook". I suppose the media is trying to portray only tragedy in hopes to more deeply affect the viewers, but there is so much more behind these situations that it seems incomplete without them. Like your watching a movie but instead of fluctuating between the inventible ups and downs, it just continues to be a path of sadness and despair. Who wants to watch that?

I am surprised that I have never heard of the "Nuclear Nightmare" series. After looking through the images and reading the captions I am mortified. They are horrible and seem so distant from reality, its hard to comprehend that events like this actually occur and people are still feeling the repercussions today. Ritchin discusses how many tragic documentary images are overlooked because they are to depressing, but it is completely necessary to show the world such strong and meaningful shots. Without the photographic evidence the majority of people would go on living their lives never knowing that such events were even going on. Now, I as I'm sure most do after seeing these images, will pass them on to people I know and the effect with continue, creating awareness around the world.

Fluid Negative Scan

Chapter 6

Ritchen talks about his project working at the Times to create a future multimedia newspaper. It's curious to consider that only a few years ago this concept was such a huge leap in journalism. Their vision was, "for things to be seen or heard when it was important, not just because it could be done". Each persons own interest and desire would create a specific pathway to allow for further exploration. This potentially could be dangerous because it takes power away from the photographer and the true meanings of the images. "How can the author maintain a voice or vision when the reader is filling in so many of the gaps, adding materials, making connections that the author may never have envisioned or known about". The ease of linking photos, texts, sound, and videos can therefore be used carefully to provide a great source of information for those who can correctly use and sort through the huge amount of information provided to them. At the same time it allows for a lot of personal interpretation which can lead to completely unintentional results.

Chapter 5 Response

This chapter discusses the further investigation of how photo manipulation is being used to influence and direct our thoughts in ways that are out of our personal control. Not only are photos being altered by combining images or changing certain aspects, but also an even more disturbing thing is happening, we are being politically brainwashed. He talks about how politics are not who they person really is, but more importantly how they will be perceived through the few selected images that make the cut to be shown to the common folk. They stage events, censor what can be shown, make us believe were achieving victories when really they is utter mayhem going on, but deem it unethical to show the truth. It's no wonder Americans are so oblivious, we are trapped in a continuos invisible barrier. It's like were made to believe we live in a fairy tale land and nothing that is made out to be huge and important really is. I find it quite interesting to hear this writers inside perspective, especially when he tells the story of his assignment to come up with a photo but his editors keep rejecting his choices of truly interesting musicians.

Selective and Split tone Images

Chapter 4

Ritchin begins chapter four discussing the two catagories that photographs used to be able to be put into. Now, as we are fully immersed in the digital photo age, a third group has opened up and it is defined as mosaic photos. These images are unlike others in the sense that they allow for further investigation of not only that image, but any images that relate to it. How interesting would it be to have the ability to choose one aspect of a picture and then be lead to more based off the same concept. It's like the choose your own adventure of the 21st century. Though this idea does sound new and exciting, I don't think it is nescessary for every photo. Sure some pictures need explanation, but I think the ability to effortlessly keep clicking through photos, espcially those that hold deep meaning or importance, without stopping and truly studying the content will prove to be a huge mistake.

Split Tone and Selective Color Adjustments

Basic B&W
HSL-B&W
Desaturation

Chapter 3 Review

Wim Wendors said, " Digitalized pictures have broken the relationship between picture and reality once and for all". I believe this statement is only becoming increasingly stronger as every day endless amounts of images are somehow manipulated and more avenues are introduced that allow the original intent of a captured image to be changed. Analog allowed no room for question as digital photos do today. Old photos had more truth to them, which was something that has been grossly taken advantage of. When Rick started talking about the different programs that are used to create the "perfect picture" it was quite disheartening. Photography used to be such a beautiful and thought out process. Now people can sit on their computer and merge photos to create their desired outcome.... I think that's pretty pathetic. Of course there are still those who truly love photography an appreciate it as an art form, but the availability and ease that has been created to appease the general public is nothing like photography years ago.

I really enjoyed the section discussing travel photos and our need to have photographic proof of places we've been. Although I can't believe that people may actually take part in pre travel add ins of themselves, I found myself somewhat amused at this completely ridiculous idea. I know this seems to contradict my feelings on manipulated photos, but this seems both practical, and seems like a rebellion to this strange need to document every aspect of our lives. In that sense I think it is sort of clever. After traveling around myself, it makes such a huge difference to how you experience a place and what you get out of it if you take the time to relax and simply enjoying everything around you. If your running around trying to document it all, so much is missed and you undoubtedly won't have as awesome of adventure!

Color Checker Fun

Weekly Readings

After reading the first two chapters in Ritchin's book I found myself feeling very unsettled. He makes reference to how our society has become overly controlled by the photograph instead of the actual event and how we are rapidly approaching a digitalized altered reality. I knew that our dependence on electronics was bad, but this article really made it blatantly clear. It made me want to go camping and escape it all.

Throughout chapter two he discusses the parallels that are occurring between digital manipulation and DNA studies. It seems so obvious now that these two subjects would go hand in hand, though I have never really connected the two before. We have gotten to a point where anything less than perfection is unacceptable, therefore sadly it seems unlikely to be able to go back. We are then left only with the option to keep pushing forward in hopes to reach new levels of "perfection."

Project 1