Street Photography: Analysis of an Exhibition - Essay Example

Name Institution Course Date The critical analysis of the Street Photography: Analysis of an exhibition People surround themselves with images that are created by all kinds of recording devices, mostly the cameras (Foster 2008). This activity bore the art and profession of photography. Photography is of great importance as it is educative, helps reviving memories of events that happened, provides proof that an event actually occurred, and provides a means of communication when the photographs are shared with other people in the world (Flickr 2012; Garran 2010). Among the various modes of photography, street photography is popular, and has evolved throughout history. This is a critical analysis of Street Photography, and illustrated exhibitions. Street Photography involves capturing people, places, and events in the public domain (LSPF 2012). Street photography is defined as an un-posed, un-staged photography that captures, questions, or explores contemporary society and the relationships between people and their surroundings (LSPF 2012). The pictures in street photography reveal that wherever people are in the world, they are consistently unaware of themselves and the actions they undertake. The captured scene in street photography is unplanned and there is no prior arrangement. Nevertheless, a photographer who attends a planned event might capture spontaneous or unrelated event scenes hence qualifies for street photography (LSPF 2012). This project analyzes the following online digital images and documentary photographs: The Late Sun, Tortured Iraq Prisoners, and Brazilian 1983 Drought. For instance, there is a beautiful posting of ‘The Late Sun’ by Katarina in Flickr (Flickr.com).The subjects and settings vary immensely but for the work to qualify as street photography, the elements of spontaneity, careful observation by photographer, and an open mind that is ready to capture whatever appears across the viewfinder are necessary (Cartier-Bresson 1952). Katarina captures the tantalizing depiction of a setting sun reflecting the clouds, sky, mountains and forest. The image from digital photography is shot out of the traditional standards of photography. Flexibility and open-mindedness are greatly utilized in the street photography genre (Cartier-Bresson 1952). The technical and social possibilities of photography evolve rapidly from analogue to digital cameras, and art galleries to websites and chat groups for photography (Cohen 2005). Foster (2008) argues that in the digital age, people rarely stop to contemplate on the power of a photographic image since they bombard with them all day long. Street photography can be similar or different from documentary photography in a variety of ways. Traditionally, documentary photographs are in black and white, although in today’s postmodern environment, they can be in color (Howarth & McLaren 2011). Earlier, there were technical restrictions in color process. However, technological advancement in processing equipment and flexibility in laws and rules has favored street photography. Documentary photography records the social scene of the time, by mirroring the present and, documents the future. Stallabrass (1993) shows Sertao da Ceara documentary photo depicting the 1983 Brazil drought (p.9). From the photo, it is learnt that photography has been used as an expression of a liberal consensus which poverty, oppression, are the same as misfortunes brought about by natural disasters, and hence blame cannot be assigned (Stallabrass 1993, p.7). Both documentary and street photography are capable of producing beautiful, provocative, funny and moving images that burst with narrative. Although it presents realistic concerns, documentary photography is persuasive and invites the viewer to take a position. For instance, an image from the article Torture Culture in the Art Journalism (2005, p.100) shows an Iraq family reacting to the images of tortured prisoners in a broadcast. The images in the broadcast manifest the power of documentary photograph to create awareness of the realities in people’s environment. The reaction might have been subtle if the photography did not support the broadcast. Whereas street photography is mostly made for the photographer’s personal interest, the black and white documentary photography was mostly chosen for more practical reasons. Famous documentary images include ‘Migrant Mother’ by Dorothea Lange, ‘Afghan Girl’ by Steve McCurry that appeared on the National Geographic’s cover, and ‘Phan Thi Kim Phuc fleeing her town after a napalm attack in the Vietnam War’ by Nick Ut (Garran 2010). Photography authors claim that every nowadays everyone is a photographer. This statement relates to the rapidly changing world of photography in the current digital age. Exhibitions are now less of physical locations in which one walks in to a display of art works and photos and more of online sites such as Flickr. Online exhibition sites like Flickr now serve the purposes of exhibition in which photographers from all over the world can submit their exhibits via electronic-mail. These exhibition sites encourage the submission of photos or art works not necessarily from professional photographers but from anyone who can create and share these works. The photos are submitted online as opposed to being taken to an exhibition building as with conventional art galleries. Moreover, some online galleries encourage photography competitions in which the participants are expected to hand over their best pieces for a prize. Another difference between the traditional and modern exhibition is that images are selected and printed in archival quality by use of computers, in the latter. The photographer is also able to communicate with the promoters and observers via Internet, or the use of e-mail. The observers or customers to the exhibition are able to view the works on virtual technology rather than interact with them on a physical basis. Visitors to the exhibition are fascinated by all the different kinds of photographs that are shown by all participants from all over the world, hence everyone is a photographer. In addition to that, with modern technology advancement in the recent era, photographs have become cheaper and available for circulation (Howarth & McLaren 2011). As much as rangefinder cameras are favored for street photography, the photographs can still be made on Single-lens reflex (SLRs), compact cameras, four thirds systems, Lomos, and even on mobile Smartphones (Garran 2010). Actually, digital cameras-Smartphones such as the Apple’s iPhone-has become valid alternatives to SLRs. Anyone is able to take a photograph of themselves, other people, scenes and events. The mass of photographers can be categorized into amateur and professional photographers. Mostly, amateurs take photographs for personal interests or simply as an activity of interest or hobby (Borowski, 2010). For instance, the digital image of the Late Sun posted by Katarina on Flickr is done for interest purpose. On the other hand, professional photographers mostly gain pay and recognition from their work. Sertao da Ceara depiction of the 1983 Brazilian drought is more of a professional presentation. Professional photographers take photography as a lifetime career. For instance, Alfred Eisenstaedt was a professional photographer for seventy years; from when he was twenty to when he died at ninety years, and was named photojournalist of the twentieth century by Life Magazine (Borowski 2010). Professional photographers may link with other media interests such as advertisements, news and institution reports to sell their merchandise. For instance, the Brazil drought image and the Torture of Iraq’s prisoners are made to accompany bulletins of the occurring events. Professional photographers are more into the commercial setting while amateur photographers are driven by interests. For instance, Ansel Adams took breath-taking photographs for purposes of art interests rather than career. Ansel took the photos using his own camera and shot scenes in nature in black and white. Ansel also involved in another art as a concert pianist (Borowski 2010). Since all humans can now indulge in photography, the amateur photography is changing the media. In the relatively short history of the photography art, tremendous changes have occurred at a high speed (Howarth & McLaren 2011). This begins from the creation of the camera obscura and the debut permanent image in 1826 to Smartphones which allow the photographers to capture their surroundings in an instant (Borowski 2010). Previously, taking and sharing of photographs was restricted by copyright and privacy infringement laws and rules. As much as photography can only prevail in instances of freedom, this freedom is restricted by privacy and protection laws (Howarth & McLaren 2011). However, current social media is changing this aspect in which if there is a choice between privacy and freedom, the photographer stands for freedom. Online exhibition sites like Flickr have not only increased the freedom to take photographs but also the ability to share them with people all over the world in a quicker time (Flickr 2012). By looking at the photos posted on Flickr, the viewer gets the idea that some photographers are into artistry. This is because of the expressive, abstract, and portraiture nature of some of the photographs posted, and also in other forms that can be appreciated by the public. Amateur photographers capture the motions of everyday and post them to Flickr for sharing purposes. By taking and sharing a good photograph, one may get the sensation of feeling good. Moreover, Flickr has provided a form of expression for the amateur photographers. The images discussed express photography as a tool to enable people to understand reality, hence some sort of a thinking eye. For instance, the photo ‘Brazilian Drought’ by Sertao da Ceara (Stallabrass 1993, p. 9) illustrates how people use photography to document deepest sorrows. Photographs capture the raw emotions on people’s faces (Borowski 2010). Photography plays a significant part in helping to understand historical events such as drought, wars and similar experiences (Garran 2010). Moreover, photography provides a voice for those who have lost theirs, such as the Holocaust victims. Cultural activities and traditions can also be documented using photography. Generally, historic images achieved through photography evoke emotions and also play a role in the society’s collective memory and consciousness. Photography has been illustrated to allow humans to capture the world they live in from various perspectives. People are able to know about past occurrences just by looking at the subject in the photographs (Borowski 2010). Documentation photographs can be used by photojournalists to accompany an article, or the simply a picture without words is Ieft to speak for itself, for instance, the image depicting the torture of Iraq prisoners (Art Journalism 2005, p.100). Crime scenes can also be documented to assist police with investigations. Photographs can also document greatest joys and everyday lives. These include weddings, vacations, birthday parties, and other occasions that can be remembered for many years later. For instance, Katarina’s photo ‘The Late Sun’ presents an artful presentation of a day to day scenery, and initiates a subtle yet joyful mood. It can be said that online exhibition sites like Flickr have provided a platform in which education, communication and a touch of emotions and society can be explored through photographs. Through platforms such as Flickr and other exhibition sites, photography continues to serve the purposes of memory, documentation, artistry, and hobby. Flickr hosts over four hundred street photography groups of which over five billion photos from all over the world are posted (Flickr 2012). Yet, this has transited from an era in which there are rules and laws, to guide photography (Lister 2007). The consequences of circulating images in sites such as Flickr are lawsuits resulting from infringement of privacy rights of other citizens. In some instances, some photographs have been asked to answer to lawsuits after taking and sharing photos of other people on Flickr without the subject’s permission (Howarth & McLaren 2011; Lister 2007). Journalists can also access the sites for images to accompany their news item. On the proponent side, it has enabled quicker news sharing and reaction. On the opponent side, journalists have reduced their ability to research original images on their own and thus use what has been posted by street photographers. Moreover, Flickr has diluted boundaries within countries and hence democratic concerns may be raised depending on the kind, purpose, and origin of image circulated. Privacy laws can restrict the rate at which the art of street photography is expressed. Most proponents of street photography have urged that freedom comes above privacy in order to lift the suppression of photographers’ rights (Lister 2007) In conclusion, photography has been around for centuries and continually serves people today. Photography takes many forms of which street photography has been analyzed. Street photography is well expressed in modern day online exhibition sites, of which Flickr has been the center of focus for this project. Flickr has enabled the sharing of photographs with less stringent laws on copyright and privacy, and instead has favored the freedom of photographers. Photography serves as a reminder tool as it captures the beauty and emotions of the moment. It also serves as an art for many people and many amateur photographers can express their skills on exhibition sites List of References Art J. 2005. Torture Culture: Lynching photographs and the images of Abu Ghraib, Art Journal, 64(2), 89-101 Borowski, M. 2010. The history and importance of photography. White Paper Cartier-Bresson, H. 1952. The decisive moment. NY: Thompsons Cohen, K. 2005. What does the photoblog want? Media, Culture & Society, 27, 883-901 Foster, N. 2008. Photography and the gaze: The ethics of vision inverted, Parallax, 14(2), 78-92 Flickr. 2012. http://www.flickr.com/ Garran, D. 2010. The history of photography. Lessonplanet.com Howarth, S. & McLaren, S. 2011. Street photography now. London: Thames & Hudson. Available online http://www.thamesandhudson.com/streetphotography.html Katarina. The Late Sun. http://www.flickr.com/photos/jup3nep/6318336935/?f=hp Lister, M. 2007. A sack in the sand: Photography in the Age of information, Convergence, 13(3), 251-273 London Street Photography Festival/ LSPF. 2012. What is street photography? Available online http://londonstreetphotographyfestival.org/what-is-street-photography Stallabrass, J. 1993. Sebastiao Salgado and fine art photojournalism, NLR, 1-42 Read More