Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences
ART APPRECIATION
MODULE 7
THE CAMERA ARTS
ART APPRECIATION
SUBJECT
UNDER SIR:
JOHN HENRY BAGAYAO TAMPOY
SUB. BY: VIA LADY JEE M. GARNACHA
BSCE-3A
Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences
ART APPRECIATION
MODULE 7: JOURNAL PROMPTS
Module 7 - The Camera Arts
Journal Prompt #1: Here a Photo, There a Photo Everywhere a Photo
Visual information is the key in making social networking so popular.
From digital cameras to Blackberries and iPhones, taking pictures has
become an everyday experience for most of us.
How often do you take pictures?
Answer: I take pictures almost everyday especially when I'm in the
mood as I feel that arts help me to express my feelings better and
alleviate my mood. And I only take photos when there is something
worth photographing.
What device do you usually use to take them?
Answer: I usually take pictures using my phone. If a digital camera
is available, I also use it.
How much attention do you devote to composition, lighting or
arrangement in your pictures?
Answer: I give as much attention to all of them. In every photo I
take I make sure all of these checked.
How do you use the images?
Answer: I keep them for my personal use and I share it with others.
For memories or for just the fun of it.
How do you think you can improve your photos?
Answer: I think I can improve my photos by constantly practicing and
take more pictures. Also, by making the most out of my camera can do
and expose myself to as many good photos and photographers as possible
to improve my photography skills.
Journal Prompt #2: Film Study
The film industry is a major part of the economy and, like other
artistic mediums, it both reflects and anticipates the culture
surrounding it, although Hollywood arguably has a culture all its own.
Now, independent films (those made outside of the big Hollywood
studios) are having a larger effect on audiences because they can
examine themes and ideas beyond what the big studios decide to
finance.
How often do you see a film?
Answer: Probably once a week. However because of online class I have
not watch a film for a long time.
Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences
ART APPRECIATION
Do you view films in a theatre or on other digital media?
Answer: I mostly view films on other digital media because I tend to
rather be in solitude at home. I also can pause the film if I want to
and come back to it.
What kind of films do you like; human interest stories, action
films, romances, fantasy or animation?
Answer: I can really like any type of movie as long as it keeps me
interested, and has a good story. I really like movies that have
meaning to them. Although, my favorite films are those of action films
(Hindi film/Russian films), romance (K-drama, C-drama, Lakorn) and
human interest.
What are your thoughts on film’s role to entertain and inform?
Answer: Well, I believe that film can have various roles in our
society. Not only does it entertain but it also informs by way of
documentaries and historical renditions and captures the cultural or
societal views of the time. Moreover, I believe the role of a film
depends on the type of film it is. If it is an action, horror,
suspense, fantasy, or animation, the role may be to immerse you into a
totally different world and distract you from reality. If the film is
a human interest, historical fiction, or romance, its role may be to
send you a message or make you more emotional than other films. All in
all, I believe film has its place in society for many different
reasons. It is society that can alter the way a film was intended to
be used for various reasons and is up to the viewer to form an opinion
for themselves regarding the film and whether or not anything from the
film can be applied to his or her life.
What is your favorite film? Why?
Answer: My favorite film is A Walk to Remember. It is a great
movie. Why? Because I cried most of it and it was the best star
crossed lover romance I could've watched. The way Landon fell in love
with Jamie was magical and their love story was inspiring, and
beautiful. So if I were you, for real love, inspiration and motivation
in life, WATCH IT!
Journal Prompt #3: Four Photos, Four Meanings
The photograph (or digital image) freezes a moment in time,
encapsulating an idea and the narrative surrounding it.
View the three photos linked below. Use your interpretive skills
learned in the course to describe the form and content of each image.
What is the photo expressing?
What is the subject matter in each image?
How do formal considerations contribute to your interpretation of
each picture’s content?
Now, using the External Links, find a fourth example and answer the
same questions.
Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences
ART APPRECIATION
1. Brassai’s Prostitute (Links to an externalsite.) from “Paris at
Night”
Brassai (Gyula Halasz) Prostitute at angle of
Rue de la Reynie and Rue Quincampoix
From "Paris by Night"
1933
a) The photo expresses danger and the unknown for its subject – in
this case the prostitute as well as for all of us. I believe this
to be so because the lighting which comes from the subjects’
backside. In other words, she is looking into the darkness but
the safer area would be behind her where there is light and where
she could see danger coming before it’s too late. The same
applies for each and every one of us.
b) The subject matter is one of “duality”. That is to say one of
dark vs light or evil vs good, you or me. Moreover, it’s about
which side you may happen to be facing – something out of one’s
control. It all depends on which moment of time you are in and
which of these positions you are facing.
c) I think how the photographer used lighting is the most important
consideration because it prevents us from seeing the face of the
subject and thus makes me consider that the subject may represent
anyone (facing an uncertain path or fate).
Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences
ART APPRECIATION
2. William Eggleston’s Miami (Links to an external site.)
William Eggleston
Miami
1980s
© William Eggleston
a) I think the photo expresses both the disruption and continuation of
life due to “construction” and “blockades”; I put these two terms
in quotes because they are metaphors for life’s events or phases.
It expresses that to move forward, you first must stop or pause in
order for remains of the past to be properly flushed out to make
way for something new and better.
b) As per the description above, the subject matter is one
of “renewal” and “reflection” and perhaps even “cleansing”. To
move forward in life, you must renew or find your new path,
but only after reflecting on the past (as with learning from
your mistakes). This is an important step that cannot be
bypassed for without it, you will not be able to move forward
in an effective and meaningful way.
c) I think the photographer uses vantage point and scale to emphasize
what I described above. He uses a low vantage point along with the
bigger size or scale of the barricade, construction cone, and
rubble (remnants from the previous road or “path”) to emphasize
that this is the most important step or consideration before moving
forward.
Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences
ART APPRECIATION
3. Annie Leibovitz’s Meryl Streep
Bette Midler
Annie Leibovitz
a) With Meryl Streep being the premiere actress at the time this
cover photograph was taken, I think it expresses her seasoned
ability to portray multitude of characters (including their
personalities and psyches) in her roles. In other words, it
expresses human beings’ innate ability to be complex,
mysterious, transforming, and adaptable.
b) Adaptability that comes at a cost or price. I say “at a cost or
price” because transforming oneself – sometimes for a
questionable reason or endeavor – can cause some scars as is
seen across the subject’s cheekbones and they way her mouth is
open and skewed.
c) The photographer takes advantage of color painted on the
subject’s face, namely white and light red. The red areas could
denote “scarring” that comes with transforming oneself.
“Distortion” produced from her pulling her cheek and eye lid
could denote the same idea. The photographer also
uses contrast effectively; her eyes and ears are not white as
with the rest of her face but rather their natural skin tone.
This means that she is aware of the “real” her, regardless of
what role she takes on (whether as an actress or in her own
life). And others who know her well can also tell the
difference; this is why the ears are also skin tone color rather
than white. She can hear them (actually in her mind rather than
by sound) and thus knows she cannot deny who she really is.
Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences
ART APPRECIATION
4. My Chosen photo: 'Climbing a Sand Dune’ by Kiet Vo’
Desc: “Climbing a sand dune on the way home”,
URL: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-
the-day/climbing-sand-dune-pod/
Climbing a Sand Dune on the way Home’ by Kiet Vo’
a) I think this photograph conveys the interconnectedness of
humans and the planet we live on. The subjects in the photo
carry what seems like some greens to prepare for an upcoming
meal. On their journey back home they are walking barefoot on
“dusty” sand dunes as if they were an integral part of them.
b) Vitality is what comes to mind when I admire this picture. It
has a lively and energetic quality to it that is accentuated
by the two girls carrying their baskets back home. Although
they seem concentrated on the task at hand with their feet
sinking into the sand, they do seem to be at one with nature,
not just content but happy. The picture is very uplifting in
very sense of the word.
c) A pronounced contrast between the subjects wearing long-sleeve
shirts with strong pink and red tones against a darker, steep-
angled, wavy line filled sand dune background makes for an
impressive sight. Moreover, the magical moment in which the
photographer was able to capture the “misty” sand particles
flowing over the peak of the sand dune is mesmerizing. I can
find no word in the English dictionary to describe it; the
closest I can think of is “misty” even though this refers to
something wet rather than dry or dusty. This particular
feature of the photograph creates a visual
Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences
ART APPRECIATION
effect of motion which not only carries the subjects of the
photo forward, but also carries us.
MODULE 7 - THE CAMERA ARTS
ANSWER ME
Directions: Use the content from the course, web searches, and your
journal writings to test you knowledge on the following questions.
Write as much information as you can. Check your answers with the next
page of information.
1. Explain the difference between Joseph Niepce’s and Louis Daguerre’s
photo development results. Why did one method become the standard for
photography and the other didn’t?
Answer:
Niépce developed heliography, a technique he used to create the
world's oldest surviving product of a photographic process. Niépce’s
image looks out of an upstairs window, and part of the blurry quality
is due to changing conditions during the long exposure time, causing
the resolution, or clarity of the image, to be grainy and hard to
read. Many of Niépce’s early images simply turned black over time due
to continued exposure to light. This problem was largely solved in
1839 by the invention of hypo, a chemical that reversed the light
sensitivity of paper. Louis Daguerre invented a new process he dubbed
a daguerrotype in 1839, which significantly reduced exposure time and
created a lasting result, but only produced a single image. At the
same time, Englishman William Henry Fox Talbot developed a negative
image from exposed film while Deguerre developed a positive image. The
negative image can be reproduced, the positive can’t. So, William
Henry Fox Talbot’s process flourished.
2. What was the relationship that developed between early photography
and painting?
Answer:
Photography was the upstart art that had to prove its value against
the long and highly developed tradition of Western painting. Not
surprisingly, early photographers adopted the simple expedient of
imitating painting in order to demonstrate that they were "serious"
artists. Also, early photographic images mimicked the painting styles
popular at the time.
3. Describe how an aperture works.
Answer:
Aperture describes the size of the hole that lets light into a
device. It refers to the diameter of the opening. It's like the dark,
black pupils of your eyes, the actual orifice that lets light pour
through. Also, aperture is to photography, and to our wide world of
optical devices. Moreover, it allow more or less light to pass through
Kalinga State University
College of Engineering and Information Technology
Department of Social Sciences
ART APPRECIATION
them by the opening or closing of mechanical baffles. The amount of
light determines the correct exposure.
4. How did photojournalism change the way news was reported? Do you
think it’s still important in the digital age? Why?
Answer:
Photojournalism has shaped the way we view the world since the mid-
19 century. Its ability to push for social change by illustrating the
problems associated with the society. Also, photojournalism provided
real time photographs to document and substantiate news stories.
Moreover, I think it is important in the digital age wherein digital
images provide the same documentation to contemporary news, but are
available much faster than film technology. And because a digital
image can be easily manipulated there is a risk to the integrity of
the image that needs to be taken into account.
5. The Canadian philosopher and critic Marshal McCluhan coined the
term “the medium is the message”. He asserts that new mediums become
avenues that help define changes in scale from one medium to another:
in other words, how one medium expands or contracts our ability to
communicate and express ourselves. How do digital media change the
scale in relation to traditional photography? Give two examples to
support your answer.
Answer:
The digital media are the instruments that create digital presence
(websites, applications, etc.). It includes online journals,
magazines, brochures, e-books, collateral or even white papers, as a
matter of fact. Moreover, digital media provide faster access to
images from around the world. For example: Egypt's Tahrir Square
protest images; and the ability to manipulate or edit digital design
components increases creative possibilities. For example:
architectural design.
6. How does film (the movies) change the scale of photography? What
are the unique qualities in film that allow it to do this?
Answer:
Film, also called movie, motion picture or moving picture, is a
visual art-form used to simulate experiences that communicate ideas,
stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere through the use
of moving images. These images are generally accompanied by sound, and
more rarely, other sensory stimulations. Film changes the scale of
photography by including the element of time. The narrative plays out
in front of the viewer. Film uses projection and sound to add to the
visual experience.
