How we read Photographs
" we need to insist that we read photographs, not as an image but as a text "
Denotative : Denotative explanation is what the photograph offers in plain sight.
"A black cat is an example of a four legged pet " - a literal explanation
Connotative: The Connotative explanation is what the photographer hides behind the plain sight (surface level) allowing an implied explanation from the audience i.e. society .
"The black four legged pet is not just a cat but a symbol of bad luck" - society
"A black cat is an example of a four legged pet " - a literal explanation
Connotative: The Connotative explanation is what the photographer hides behind the plain sight (surface level) allowing an implied explanation from the audience i.e. society .
"The black four legged pet is not just a cat but a symbol of bad luck" - society
Diane Arbus
Identical twins 1967 :
On the basic denotative level: the left twin is noticeably sad and the right twin is happy, the left twin's hair is messier and the right twin's hair is more put together, their collars are slightly different and the left twin seem to have a dark shade over her face, eyes, collar, hands, eyebrows and stockings as opposed to the right twins almost halo like features. Additionally, the white wall seems to be intentionally slanted even though the picture was taken at a straight angle. This raises some questions on a connotative level as the picture "identical twins" doesn't actually denote "identical twins". In fact the more you uncover the photograph the more the tension increases between what was initially made in plain sight to what it is now. Connotatively there seems to be an implied invisible relationship between the two, perhaps the left twin is the version of people society doesn't see, the gloom and imperfection masked by twin right who is a cheerful lie of the truth and who society accepts. Zooming into the hands the right twin seems to be pushing the left's twins hands into the back, perhaps mirroring societies behaviour towards imperfection. With this being said, to society they may be two identical twins but with the right twin as the spokesperson of society suppressing the left twin. The slanted image could suggest that the right twin's story(the story presented to the world) is more straight forward than the left's twin rocky, uneven reality. Twin L is the hidden truth Diane has chosen to showcase to a world that is only accepting of twin R-Identical twins.
On the basic denotative level: the left twin is noticeably sad and the right twin is happy, the left twin's hair is messier and the right twin's hair is more put together, their collars are slightly different and the left twin seem to have a dark shade over her face, eyes, collar, hands, eyebrows and stockings as opposed to the right twins almost halo like features. Additionally, the white wall seems to be intentionally slanted even though the picture was taken at a straight angle. This raises some questions on a connotative level as the picture "identical twins" doesn't actually denote "identical twins". In fact the more you uncover the photograph the more the tension increases between what was initially made in plain sight to what it is now. Connotatively there seems to be an implied invisible relationship between the two, perhaps the left twin is the version of people society doesn't see, the gloom and imperfection masked by twin right who is a cheerful lie of the truth and who society accepts. Zooming into the hands the right twin seems to be pushing the left's twins hands into the back, perhaps mirroring societies behaviour towards imperfection. With this being said, to society they may be two identical twins but with the right twin as the spokesperson of society suppressing the left twin. The slanted image could suggest that the right twin's story(the story presented to the world) is more straight forward than the left's twin rocky, uneven reality. Twin L is the hidden truth Diane has chosen to showcase to a world that is only accepting of twin R-Identical twins.
A family on their lawn on their lawn one Sunday in Westchester, NY 1969 :
On a denotative level there is a suburban family of 3, a mother, father and son in their spacious backyard. There is a bench far away and a swing set out of the frame. The child is playing with a paddling pool whilst the parents rest in the sun.This denotative image of the 'American dream' however, raises questions on a connotative level that might represent a larger cultural issue.Noticeably both of their eyes are closed which could represent what they are consumed by or what they distract themselves with; work and beauty. The father looks stressed with his hand over his face, perhaps he is the breadwinner as the items on the table appear to be closer to him. As opposed to the mother in full glam relaxed on the sun-bed. Despite this, noticeably their hands attempt to come together on the bed hand but not far enough to touch the round table; (of which could represents their family unit, whole, and maybe repetitive.) Overtime, fractions may have occurred in their family, which may explain why the table has several slants in it. Additionally, the child is very far away and seems to have numerous entertainment options like the swing-set, the paddling pool or the bench; this may have been given to him as an attempt to give the child a youthful experience contrary to their current family circumstances. However, the swing-set is out of frame and the other apparatuses are far away, suggesting that the child's source of joy is no longer in the family but else where. Whenever the child is emotionally present, it seems that he has a closer relationship with his mother as in the garden he is within a closer proximity to her than his father.
On a denotative level there is a suburban family of 3, a mother, father and son in their spacious backyard. There is a bench far away and a swing set out of the frame. The child is playing with a paddling pool whilst the parents rest in the sun.This denotative image of the 'American dream' however, raises questions on a connotative level that might represent a larger cultural issue.Noticeably both of their eyes are closed which could represent what they are consumed by or what they distract themselves with; work and beauty. The father looks stressed with his hand over his face, perhaps he is the breadwinner as the items on the table appear to be closer to him. As opposed to the mother in full glam relaxed on the sun-bed. Despite this, noticeably their hands attempt to come together on the bed hand but not far enough to touch the round table; (of which could represents their family unit, whole, and maybe repetitive.) Overtime, fractions may have occurred in their family, which may explain why the table has several slants in it. Additionally, the child is very far away and seems to have numerous entertainment options like the swing-set, the paddling pool or the bench; this may have been given to him as an attempt to give the child a youthful experience contrary to their current family circumstances. However, the swing-set is out of frame and the other apparatuses are far away, suggesting that the child's source of joy is no longer in the family but else where. Whenever the child is emotionally present, it seems that he has a closer relationship with his mother as in the garden he is within a closer proximity to her than his father.
Thoughtful analysis- you have a good balance of personal interpretation and more factual analysis.
The Early Years
Camera Obscura :
A dark room or space in which an inverted image was projected onto a surface or object.This method was created in order to assist the artists of the renaissance age, on their quest of exploring a perspective that would reflect the reality of nature.
A dark room or space in which an inverted image was projected onto a surface or object.This method was created in order to assist the artists of the renaissance age, on their quest of exploring a perspective that would reflect the reality of nature.
Daguerrotype
Louis Jacques Daguerre
The Daguerrotype is a delicate photographic process to make positive prints directly, produced on a copper plate coated in silver, creating a detailed and precise image. The process was created by Louis Jacques Daguerre a set stage painter and illusionist in Paris. of which the process was named after. The Daguerrotype offered clarity and realism that other paintings could not capture before hand
The Daguerrotype is a delicate photographic process to make positive prints directly, produced on a copper plate coated in silver, creating a detailed and precise image. The process was created by Louis Jacques Daguerre a set stage painter and illusionist in Paris. of which the process was named after. The Daguerrotype offered clarity and realism that other paintings could not capture before hand
Louis Jacques Daguerre
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Machinery
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The product
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Calotype
William Henry
An english scientist William Henry Fox Talbot shortly after created another type of photography called the Calotype. Differing from the Daguerrotype, the negative print the Calotype produced could be replicated several times as a positive image which made it a more reliable process, however the overall image lacked in quality and sharpness as opposed to the Daguerreotype.
An english scientist William Henry Fox Talbot shortly after created another type of photography called the Calotype. Differing from the Daguerrotype, the negative print the Calotype produced could be replicated several times as a positive image which made it a more reliable process, however the overall image lacked in quality and sharpness as opposed to the Daguerreotype.
William Henry Talbot Fox
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Machinery
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The Product
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Early History of Photography :
A good start and a sensible approach to managing so much information. Try to finish this asap.
Surrealism
Hebert Bayer - Lonely Metropolitan
In the image Lonely metropolitan, Herbert Bayer attempts to create a closed in and claustrophobic environment . This is demonstrated through the continuous buildings in the backgrounds as well as the size of the hands. The size variations increase the claustrophobic and abstract feeling. This may have been intentional in order to evoke a feeling of fear in the reader or perhaps even confusion which would enable the audience to ask more questions. There is also a sense of uneasiness, illustrated by the different eyes and collars, perhaps to show the cramped living situations and his cramped mindset at the political time. Furthermore this loneliness and cramped isolation may have been a collective feeling hence the different features collaged into one. Overall, I believe Bayers goal was to explore a revolutionary human experience, stemming from unconscious dreams, or even conscious dreams and the drastic changes he was going through from moving from the Bauhaus, to inflated Germany etc ….
- pigment and light washes of Gouache paint
- magi in e images
1930’s
- pigment and light washes of Gouache paint
- magi in e images
1930’s