Photography (A Quick Read)

Author: David Josse
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-02-01
Features: Since photography has moved beyond the stage where someone in a crowded street under a shade booth had to stand still for three hours, photographers have discovered new ways to bring photographic reality closer to our perspectives and needs. "Photography—A Concise Introduction" showcases photography from various aspects: as an art form, a political tool; fashion concepts, a therapeutic means, and a way to preserve our cherished memories. Not everyone paints. Not everyone carves bronze or marble, composes symphonies, or writes great literary works. Such pursuits belong to the realm of "high art," requiring the creative talent possessed by a few geniuses. These high arts are supported by two thousand years of history and criticism, appearing distant, authoritative, and mysterious. But we can all participate in the creation and consumption of photography; this medium influences every aspect of our lives, surrounding us with an endless stream of advertisements, newspapers, family photos, commercial images, and creative visuals. Each of us has either taken photos ourselves or had someone take them for us. This prevalence is closely related to the simplicity of the photographic process and has fostered a diverse and disorienting identity crisis: photography seems uncertain of what it is, and under the contrast of high tradition in fine art, it feels shaken and extremely uneasy. This identity crisis stems primarily from the notion that photography is driven by technology or, more specifically, equipment, with the photographer—the "author"—often being invisible. When we look at a photograph, we tend to focus on the original subject behind the surface. The forms of painting and sculpture make us contemplate the artist's skill, even genius, but our attention rarely lingers on the photograph's surface to consider the author's intentions and the messages conveyed. As a result, to capture our attention, photographers attempt to emphasize the uniqueness of their medium by highlighting specific elements within photography and hope to elevate it to the noble realm of fine art.
About the Author: David Josse is an experienced photographer who teaches at Northbrook College in Sussex, England...