Photography and Digital Manipulation

Robbie Hickman

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Photographic Applications

Advertising Photography is the most prominent form of photography in the present day as it can be found almost anywhere e.g. mobile applications. It combines the decision regarding the style of image the photographer is looking for and the understanding of the message he/she intends to convey via the elements of the advert they hope to create. The photographer would then determine where a shoot will be taking place, as well as which technique to employ because there is a variety of different ones to choose from. The reason for this is because the best possible image needs to be created in order to ensure the customer is intrigued and the product is sold successfully.

Promotional Photography, on the other hand, is defined as the utilization of photography to publicize and advertise a product in a variety of ways. It is considered similar to advertising photography as it is devised with the purpose of raising the status of a product. However, there are some differences. For example, it is not-for-profit; in other words, this form of photography is not employed with the intention of making money. It is not used for direct advertising purposes either. The primary intention behind the commission of this form of photography is raising awareness for a product, hence the term ‘promotional photography’.

The primary focus of advertising photography is to create an image which best sells a media product. Therefore, one would expect to find advertising photography on posters, leaflets and websites as these provide an effective means to distribute a product to the customer successfully. For example, a poster for a film could easily advertise a media product through use of various techniques and styles for the image such as use of certain colours to provide connotation as well as lighting to indicate what atmosphere the film provides e.g. dark or foreboding.

One would expect to see instances of promotional photography on magazine covers or CD/DVD cases; these contexts would most likely feature an image that shows off the positive aspects of a product or individual e.g. the CD cover for a rock band like Linkin Park may depict the group posing in a specific way and feature black-and-white colours. The result would be that all the positive aspects of the band are put forward, therefore raising awareness of the band and highlighting them as positively as possible.

Long lenses (also referred to as telephoto lenses) could be used for both advertising and promotional photography as they provide a great deal of focus on a subject, even when the photographer is standing some distance away and zooms in on that subject. For advertising, the photographer may not want to get close to the subject or can’t get close. The reason why the photographer wouldn’t want to get too close might be that he/she hopes to take multiple images of a person (in different shots by zooming in) from a single viewpoint rather than having to move forwards constantly.

Advertisement and Promotional Images created for advertising and promotional purposes

tend to be controlled; this means that the subject within the image would be required to pose in a specific manner so that the photographer can obtain the image they desire. In other words, the photographer would most likely be looking for quality in his/her images especially if it comes to taking pictures of an actor to promote a new film. Photographers will also position objects e.g. a new brand of deodorant in a way that is considered suitable e.g. in the centre so that it attracts the customer’s eye.

Artificial Lighting is typically used in advertising and promotional photography. The reason for this is because the photographer will want to make an image look as intriguing as possible, therefore that person will want to add light to the scene the photo is being taken at. This will ensure that the subject appears to stand out and looks very bright in the overall image.

Lots of post-production will take place when it comes to advertising/promotional photography. This is due to the fact that photographers intend to obtain the best image for the product they hope to advertise and seek the best way to intrigue the audience. Therefore, a great deal of adjustments will be made to the image so that it takes on a professional look and implies alteration of colour e.g. into black and white, contrast etc.

Advantages: Advertising Photography can allow for an increase in the sales of various media products e.g. DVDs, CDs and magazines because it draws attention to the presence of them. It would be fairly straightforward when it comes to promoting specific ads through use of images. Images are very likely to depict a product and intrigue the customer successfully. Photographing in this style can also allow advertisers to reach a significant amount of people, and messages can be conveyed easily.

DisadvantagesThere is a lot of competition within advertising/promotional photography which could make advertisers/photographers feel less confident and may therefore hinder whatever they plan to make. In other words, other photographers will be looking to contribute positively to the media. The creativity of photographers could be limited because it can be difficult to be unique. This can be considered a disadvantage as people can struggle to come up with ideas.

Mike Harrington Harrington is a prominent photographer for advertising and promotion in the present day. He has worked since 1997, having had 15 years of experience capturing creative images. He has worked with high-profile clients in the U.K., as well as international brands e.g. Barclays, Microsoft and Lotus Cars, producing highly stylized stock photos for these companies so that they can advertise and promote more easily. The fact that he works within a studio of his own and can travel to anywhere in the world makes Harrington a well-known photographer. He can also shoot any style of image a person/company desires.

In my opinion, advertising and promotional photography is a good way to create an image for a media product, whether it be a CD or DVD cover, magazine etc. and promote an artist or company thus enabling a wide range of people to recognise it. Therefore, an artist, company or product can become hugely popular and the product could appeal to the audience. However, it could be quite complicated to create an image for a media product because one needs to ensure the best possible image is given to convey a message.

This image depicts an advertisement for a specific brand of soft drink: Coca Cola. I chose this image because it clearly advertises a specific product and the obvious alteration of lighting, contrast and colour saturation

makes it look highly intriguing. My opinion for this image is that it looks highly professional; the impression of water droplets, as well as the illusion that no one is

holding the can (it appears to be pouring a drink on its own) implies a strong sense of sophistication regarding

the photographer, editor etc. The image defines advertising and promotion because it is clearly aiming to raise awareness for Coca Cola and a variety of techniques appear to have been employed during post-production to

make it look as intriguing as possible; the obvious purpose of this image is to raise awareness for the

product and therefore attract as many people as possible.

Fashion Photography is an application which is mainly employed with the purpose of selling clothes, promoting fashion labels etc. A wide range of different styles are used to ensure a product e.g. a new brand of clothing looks visually appealing to the customer and stands out. These styles vary depending on the way the photographer captures/edits the images so that they look eye-catching. Fashion photography could also tie in to advertising and promotion because it involves raising awareness of fashion.

Fashion Photography mostly appears on magazine covers (and within magazines); possibly with the purpose of attracting the eye of the customer and making them want to buy a magazine based on the look of its cover, or by promoting a celebrity. It can also be seen on the sides of buses, as well as on the sides of bus shelters. This ensures that a lot of people can see it, therefore this context does well to raise awareness. The application is also utilized in a variety of different contexts such as catalogues, billboards, cut-outs in shop windows and the internet. The internet in particular is an important context for fashion because people nowadays tend to purchase things like clothing or a specific brand e.g. Superdry using online websites such as Amazon. The internet provides a wide range of sources that show off clothing, thus increasing the options for the customer when it comes to looking for clothes or other products related to fashion to buy.

Like advertising and promotional photography, telephoto lenses may be used in fashion photography. These lenses can be used to zoom in to a subject without the overall image losing quality. The image will also retain every bit of detail despite the alteration of focus; the quality of the image actually increases when the photographer zooms in. Telephoto lens would most likely be suitable because of the focus it provides on certain aspects of the individual, object etc. Shooting might take place within a studio and the photographer might want to keep a certain distance from the subject.

Fashion Photography Images in this style are controlled; the subject will be required to position his/her self in a specific way rather than have the photographer capture them as how they naturally appear; when it comes to fashion the sole purpose is to create an atmosphere or story as well as promote clothing, fashion labels etc. This would be quite difficult to achieve without any adjustments during the shoot, therefore it is important to make changes so as to attract the audience through aesthetic qualities. If the product looks visually appealing there is a better chance of it attracting a wide range of people; fashion photographers would bear this in mind. Images of fashion photography tend to be heavily staged. For example, a subject will be required to pose in a variety of ways so that the photographer can choose from a range of shots for his/her product.

Artificial Lighting will most likely be used in fashion photography. The photographer will want to make the image look very intriguing, just like in advertising and promotional photography, so that it appeals to the customer. In some cases, the photographer might want to use ambient (or natural) lighting when it comes to fashion photography. For example, one may want to capture a subject at a beach using the sunlight as the only available light source. Most of the time however, a photographer would desire to capture a subject within a studio, using lamps as the light source to make that subject stand out against a black background, enhance their appearance etc.

A huge amount of post-production can take place in fashion photography. The photographer would desire to enhance the appearance of a subject to a great extent; the result would be that the subject looks significantly different in the image compared to what they actually look like in real life. This implies that a variety of specific techniques e.g. cropping, colour saturation, alteration of lighting and contrast etc. takes place in the post-production process. The manipulation of the aspects of the image e.g. lighting allows for the photographer to obtain the desired atmosphere provided by the image.

Advantages: Fashion Photographers are likely to be successful because the application is well-known and highly popular, especially when it comes to promoting brands of clothing. Photographers will be admired for their creative abilities, therefore it is easy to gain attention. Photographers will get the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people including professional models, and there are lots of options when it comes to the style of image one desires to capture.

Disadvantages: It can be quite unpredictable when working within the industry; sometimes photographers will need to work for extended periods of time and this could keep them away from their families. Photographers might have to work under extreme weather conditions e.g. rain or wind which could result in problems for the photographer and the subject. It can also be difficult to ensure images are professional and of a high quality.

Victor Dermachelier: Victor Dermachelier is a prominent individual in photographic fashion art in the present day. He was born and raised in New York City and he was most likely inspired by his father; Patrick Dermachelier who is a well-known French fashion photographer. His father is in fact one of the world’s most coveted photographers in this application, having created iconic portraits and took images for a wide range of influential publications. Employed by his father, Victor works within a fashion studio and has the opportunity to meet up with a wide range of professional clients, including Victoria Secret, Interview Magazine and Vogue France. His father was an influential person because he had a positive outlook on life and attributed his own regrets, mistakes he made etc. into the images he took in order to communicate the things he has ensured in the past in a more positive light.

My opinion for fashion photography is that it is a great opportunity for someone to communicate their skills with photography and the styles they can employ to create meaning within an image. It would be highly beneficial because it offers a wide range of opportunities regarding meeting new people, especially professional clients, as well as travelling to places around the world and discovering new styles and techniques to make an image look professional and also unique.

This image strongly relates to fashion photography. I chose it because it not only represents a specific brand of clothing (which relates to fashion), it also highlights

the age group it could appeal to; it obviously appeals to teenagers and young adults, both male and female.

Another reason why I chose it is because the lighting and colour saturation makes the image look aesthetically

pleasing, therefore it could attract people and convince them to purchase this specific brand of clothing (which is

Superdry). The image defines fashion photography because the four subjects are posed in a certain way and

artificial light has clearly being used (a lamp will have been positioned to the left of the subjects). This proves that the shoot was staged and that the photographer

desired to create the best possible image to attract the customer.

Photo Journalism is an application that involves ‘collecting, editing and presenting’ news material in the form of images. It is a form of journalism that employs images to contribute significantly to news broadcasts and help to tell stories. Photojournalists create images that help to tell a story (or multiple stories in one image); these images should be honest and journalists are required to tell the story in a journalistic manner. Photojournalism is characterized by three different factors of image. They are:

Timeliness: images rely on the context of a series of events that have been recorded recently. In other words, images should present current events or something else on the news. Objectivity: images represent an event or situation fairly and accurately. Photojournalists should look for images that are truthful and honest in the way they report situations, and therefore not misleading and/or damaging in any way. Narrative: images are combined with other news elements so as to make facts relatable to the viewer. For example, images could be combined with a written article to make it easy for the viewer/reader to imagine the nature of the situation implied.

The different styles of images can include war, sport, paparazzi etc. The factors above state that these styles should be presented accurately, so that they are relatable and if they have only just occurred in recent times. For example, a war photo (depicting World War II) should represent actual events and imply facts that the audience can relate to, rather than suggest something entirely different took place that the audience might believe was an actual event.

Photo Journalism Photojournalist images are candid (or observational) because they are not staged in any way and subjects within them are captured as how they appear naturally. The subjects within the image are not required to pose or stand in a certain position like they would in fashion or advertising photography; instead one or more individuals would appear to be going through certain activities, possibly without even being aware they are being photographed. Subjects will also appear to be ‘relaxed’ as opposed to the way they might appear if they were posing, in which case they would be positioned in the centre of the image in a standing position, walking etc. The elements within photojournalist images aren’t influenced whatsoever because the image needs to be as accurate and truthful as possible.

Ambient light is most likely the type of lighting used in photojournalism. This means that only available light sources on the location of the shoot are relied on and shown within the image. These can include sunlight, street lights or lights in a room etc. Photojournalist images won’t have to rely on quality to attract audiences; no lamps will be used and the shoot wouldn’t take place within a studio because the image is observational. This means that the photographer will not be required to make adjustments to create the best possible looking image. Images would be presented truthfully and in the way they appear, therefore no changes such as lighting would be necessary in this application.

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Photo-Journalism (CONT.)• You would expect to see photojournalism on news programmes, in newspapers and even on billboards which

can also present news as well as advertisements to passing drivers and pedestrians. You could also see photojournalism on the internet. This application of photography is most likely used with these contexts so that a lot of people can see it and therefore, news stories can become hugely popular. For example, a large amount of people tend to use the internet nowadays; this means that news material is accessed by a lot of people and not just from watching television. This shows that there are multiple ways to depict photojournalist images as well as utilizing news programmes and newspapers.

• Long (telephoto) lenses may be used to capture a subject in good detail; this would ensure that the image is presented clearly to the viewer and the subject is shown up-close rather than too far away. The photographer will be stood some distance away from the subject and the lens allows him/her to zoom in and capture the subject; the quality of the image would not decrease despite zooming in; this can be considered an advantage of using the telephoto lens. Although photojournalist images are observational, a photographer might desire to capture an image at the right moment e.g. to depict a soldier falling following being shot; this was obvious in the 1936 photo ‘The Falling Soldier’ taken by Robert Capa. As shown within the image, the photographer took the photo at the exact moment the soldier was shot. It is obvious that the photo was taken some distance away because the person who took the photo would not want to get close to the fighting as it is too dangerous. Photojournalists also tend to capture precarious or dangerous situations on-camera to be shown on the news; sometimes they would even risk their own safety and get close to the situation (using a wide lens to take the photo); in this way they are also getting close to the action. Both telephoto and wide lenses offer the opportunity to capture high-quality images and therefore either one can be used in photojournalism.

• No post-production would take place in photojournalist images because they should be purely observational and honest. They shouldn’t be misleading to the public, so only minor adjustments should be made to the image e.g. changes in saturation or lighting to make certain dark areas a little bit clearer. The primary purpose of photojournalist images in photography is to tell stories rather than rely on image quality to gain attention. In other words, the photographer tends to be more focused on what an image could imply in relation to a specific event, especially one that has occurred recently. If it did occur, post-production effects might include alteration of contrast, colour saturation etc. These techniques would help to create an atmosphere or connotation that is quite different in comparison to what the image would create if it wasn’t edited at all in post-production. A possible reason why no post-production would take place is because the wrong things could be implied e.g. an image depicting a tragedy could be unintentionally represented in a positive light through use of certain colours and lighting (using saturation and alteration of brightness).

Advantages: Images in this style can be exciting and eye-catching. They can offer a lot of things for the customer to think about. There is a wide range of subjects that can be explored e.g. war, sports and paparazzi within images and each of these can create meaning and evoke emotion in different ways. For example, war could evoke fear or sadness and sport can evoke elation. These different subjects contrast with each other greatly, therefore it can be easy for photographers to create images that are different to someone else’s. This means that it could be easy to be unique.

Disadvantages: It can be hard to communicate the kind of story a photographer is trying to tell, as well as to convey what a series of images are supposed to mean. Although images can offer a lot to think about, the narrative implied could be difficult for the audience to comprehend. This could result in confusion and irritation for the reader/viewer. As for the photographer, it can be quite difficult to come up with ideas because images need to be truthful; this means there are less options for the photographer.

Alfred Eisenstaedt: Eisenstaedt was one of the most influential photographers of the twentieth century, having being a professional photographer and photojournalist for nearly 70 years. He was German-American, having fled Nazi Germany in the mid-1930s. He shot for LIFE Magazine from 1936 – 1972, which featured 90 of his images and allowed him to achieve prominence. One of his most influential photographs is a shot of the celebration of V –J Day which ‘shows off the euphoria felt by Americans as the war came to a close’ (referring to the end of World War II in the year 1945). He was renowned for producing observational images of events that were not regarded as disturbing in any way; this could explain why he become prominent as a wide range of people would be able to view his photos without any concerns about how disturbing they would be.

In my opinion, photojournalism is an area of photography that can offer a variety of options for both the photographer and the customer, the latter of whom could be offered a great deal of insight regarding the events of a football game or the severity of a past conflict, simply through the presence of images on magazine pages, on TV etc. The photographer on the other hand has the opportunity to be creative and push boundaries; in essence, they can capture anything they desire. This application could also be vital for ensuring journalists have something interesting to talk about; if they didn’t, news companies could suffer greatly due to a lack of appreciation by customers.

This image clearly defines photojournalism because it represents an event in the past and helps to tell a

story. It evokes emotion and creates a dark and foreboding atmosphere as it depicts a child who is quite obviously in distress. It is also observational; quite obviously not staged in any way and possibly

taken in the 1940s. I chose this image because it does not depict the situation or highlight the source of the child’s distress; therefore it raises questions in

the minds of the customers. This was clearly accomplished with the framing used; only the child

is in focus and just smoke can be seen in the background. This could suggest the child’s home has been destroyed by war. Because it is interesting, the

image could easily be utilized by journalists in a news story.

Portraiture Photography, or ‘portrait photography’ for short, is an application which involves capturing a subject at close range with the purpose of providing an up-close and detailed view of an object, subject or situation. In the resulting image, only a person’s face, facial features and facial expressions are made predominant i.e. superior to any other aspect of that person. The aim of photographers who use this application is to provide emphasis on the subject’s face which becomes the main focus within the image. Photographers will most likely desire to capture the emotions of the subject as the images they capture will provide great focus on facial expression. Therefore, these images would create meaning.

In portrait photography, the rest of the person’s body can still be shown even though it isn’t the primary focus. This can be considered an advantage because photographers aren’t limited in terms of what they desire to capture; they don’t necessarily have to focus on just the face of the subject.

Portrait Photography can be found in numerous galleries where multiple works of art can also be found. It can also be found within family homes as a family can be depicted in an image of this type. Things like weddings can be depicted also. Anyone can use portrait photography, therefore you could see it almost anywhere. This explains why portrait photography is one of the most prominent forms of photography. DVD or CD cases might feature up-close shots of a subject on the front. For example, the front cover for the film Die Hard 2 (1990) features a close-up image of Bruce Willis. Magazine covers can depict a subject in a specific way on the front cover with the means of gaining audience attention.

Portraiture Photography Images in this style can be either controlled or observational. There are multiple approaches to Portrait Photography, all of which result in a different outcome compared to each other; for example, the constructionist approach utilizes an idea or two around the portrait. These ideas are constructed by the photographer and centre around depicting individuals in images e.g. a family photo and creating an atmosphere. The atmosphere created by a family photo would be generally peaceful. This shows how portrait images are controlled; the photographer desires to influence the aspects of the image and intrigue other people.

Another approach to these images is the candid approach; this approach involves capturing images of people going through daily activities e.g. walking around or eating without their knowledge. The photographer will most likely utilize this approach in an effort to depict the aspects of everyday life rather than create an image which could attract the attention of the customer through its subjects posing in a certain way. Candid images are not staged in any way, nor edited in post-production.

Both ambient and artificial lighting are used in the approaches of portrait photography. The candid (observational) approach only captures aspects of everyday life and therefore relies only on the available light source e.g. sunlight, sun reflecting off shop/car windows to provide brightness to an image, whereas the constructionist approach uses artificial lighting to add aesthetic effects to the image e.g. through use of lamps. Artificial Lighting ensures that the subject(s) within the image stand out against their surroundings; the photographer would desire to make the image look more enhanced and the use of lighting in this manner would enable them to accomplish this.

Does post-production take place in this application? Why?

Adjustments take place e.g. sharpening of the image. They can either be basic e.g. for documentaries or photojournalism. Further adjustments include levels, saturation and cropping.

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Portrait Photography (CONT.)

Both telephoto and wide lenses would be used in portrait photography due to the presence of multiple approaches to capturing an image utilizing this photography application. A telephoto lens would be used to zoom into a subject in good detail and quality; the constructionist approach of portrait photography would ensure that subjects are depicted within the image in great detail e.g. family members in a family photo. The photographer would most likely want to use a long, telephoto lens in the camera to capture subjects in this manner so as to feature a close-up and detailed shot within their image. This would make the image look intriguing. Using the environmental approach, a wide lens would be used to produce a wide angle of view in which the subject would be depicted in relation to the environment around them, whether it be in the middle of a city during the day or in an empty street in the middle of the night. Establishing the subject(s) in this manner ensures that meaning is created e.g. a foreboding or peaceful atmosphere depending on the nature of the surroundings. A wide lens ensures that all of this is focused on in the image.

The photographer might use a telephoto lens to capture images of people without their knowledge because it enables them to remain some distance away from the subject(s) the photographer hopes to capture and zoom in to focus on the subjects in great detail. The reason why a telephoto lens would be used is because the photographer wouldn’t want to get too close to people if they are unaware they are being photographed, however they can capture an up-close image of them by zooming in.

Post Production can take place in portrait photography. A good example of where it could take place is within the constructionist approach in which certain effects e.g. alteration of lighting and brightness to make the aspects of the image appear more enhanced, and therefore making the subjects within the image stand out more. Also, the creative approach for this photography application allows for skilled manipulation of the image to produce portraits; this could be considered an example of post-production within portrait photography. Post-production increases the chances that a customer will buy a product, especially if an image depicting a subject up-close is on the front page of a magazine, on the case for a CD or DVD cover etc.

Advantages: In portrait photography, the rest of the person’s body can still be shown even though it isn’t the primary focus. This can be considered an advantage because photographers aren’t limited in terms of what they desire to capture; they don’t necessarily have to focus on just the face of the subject. There are a wide range of styles that can be employed e.g. the subject doesn’t have to look into the camera and distinct angles for the shoot are desired by the photographer. This increases the options for the photographer. Also, the subjects of portrait photography don’t have to be professional models. They can be anyone e.g. families, couples or executives. This ensures that the application is highly popular and appeals to everyone.

Disadvantages: Based on false understanding, people tend to have views or opinions about portrait photography that are generally incorrect, referring to images as ‘snapshots’ or simply ‘a photograph of a person’, and therefore assuming portraiture is not an application. These are misconceptions because images in this style are controlled; the subject would have to pose in a specific way for the shoot. It can be quite difficult to achieve a professional portrait, therefore professional photographers are needed and relied on. You might need to pay for them and this could be expensive.

David Lazar: David Lazar is a travel photographer who is prominent with portraiture photography; he has captured images regarding culture as well as moments of life. Lazar bears an interest in locations that have a ‘rich cultural background’ and employs portrait photography to capture photos of these locations. He has travelled to many countries around the world, including Brazil and Myanmar where he has captured images of tribesmen. He is quite influential because of the manner in which he captures unique photos of individuals from various countries e.g. monks and represents them positively within his images. The way he presents things like wildlife and landscapes at foreign countries makes him a unique individual in many ways.

In my opinion, portrait photography is the right application to use when it comes to representing someone in any way you desire. The fact that anyone can use this application could make it hugely popular and the wide range of techniques and styles that are available to use provides photographers with a variety of options. This could make portrait photography more advantageous compared to other applications because people can come up with anything and be able to achieve the best possible representation of a person, animal etc. most of the time through editing techniques during post-production.

This image defines portraiture photography. I chose it because it depicts a random individual; someone who is clearly not famous in any way and is just a normal person. The usage of black and white and low key lighting within the image creates a grim atmosphere that possibly relates to the nature of the place this person is living in. It clearly defines

portrait photography because it is an up-close depiction of a person; only the head and shoulders

are in focus and the person’s facial expression is shown. The photographer clearly desired to capture the emotions of the subject and this was obviously

accomplished through use of techniques during post-production which mirror the melancholy

expression on the person’s face.

A high street studio is defined as a studio that represents different types of photography including portraiture photography and wedding photography. It tends to involve the public; anyone is able to book an appointment and have a photo taken at a studio, whether it be a family that is looking for a family portrait or a professional individual who wants to have a professional image taken. Photographers at a high street studio are able to shoot generally creative images; the photographers understand the aspects of the studio and the camera e.g. lenses to use and locations or scenes to choose from.

Like portrait photography (which is involved in High Street Studio photography), this type of photography can be seen in galleries (as works of art up on walls), in family homes (family portraits) and on posters or cut-outs in windows. The reason why cut-outs of high-street photography might be present is because a studio might be hoping to attract the public through use of intriguing images which show off the creativity of the photographers. Because anyone can use a high street studio to obtain images, it is obvious that you could see images of this style almost anywhere; not only in family homes but also on billboards, leaflets and magazine covers. These contexts would do well to advertise studio sessions and therefore attract a lot of people.

A long, telephoto lens could be used to capture subjects in great detail. Because people would normally enter a studio wanting to obtain a family portrait, wedding portrait etc. they might want an image which depicts them up-close and in detail. This would enhance the quality of the image and would also be the ideal type of lens to utilize when it comes to capturing subjects in front of a backdrop within the studio. It would also allow the photographer to obtain multiple shots of different types, therefore those being photographed can choose from a variety of photos rather than being stuck with one photo that they aren’t satisfied with.

High Street Studio Images in this style are controlled; those wanting a photo captured of them within a studio would desire to obtain an image that is visually appealing. For example, a family might want to pose in a certain way e.g. sit on a sofa or lie on the floor within a studio. Although it would be up to the subject, the photographer might suggest certain positions for the subject e.g. in the centre of the frame in order to make the image look more professional. Images in this style will not be observational because the aspects of the image are controlled e.g. subjects posed in a certain way. The subject(s) would be fully aware that they are being photographed.

Because images of this type are taken within a studio, artificial lighting will be used. The most likely purpose would be to create a positive atmosphere, especially if a portrait is centred around an idea regarding things like family. This would be accomplished through use of lamps within the studio, and the use of a backdrop would make the image seem very bright if the lamps shine onto it. Because the shoot would be taking place within a studio, the lighting wouldn’t be ambient as all forms of lighting within the studio are controlled and used with the intention of adding light to a scene; this would not count as ambient lighting.

To create the desired mood and atmosphere within an image, the photographers would utilize a wide range of techniques during post-production. These techniques could range from lighting to alteration of contrast and colour saturation, however there could be many more. Images are often heavily edited in order to create the impression of a professional appearance within the image; this would benefit the image because its aspects could intrigue others and look good within a family home or on a wall in a gallery. The result is that the subject would stand out if a lot of techniques are employed using editing software. Some aspects of the image might not be too visible, therefore sharpening of the image would take place to ensure these are clear. A good example of sharpening the image would be alteration of lighting in order to remove shadows from within the photo.

Advantages: The people being photographed are allowed to explore the studio, thus making the session more like an event. The first few images taken would be free. The studio is fairly professional and it will offer a variety of locations, scenes or poses. This increases the range of options for those wishing to be photographed. Studios also have software that would enable skilled image manipulation and common issues in post-production are able to be corrected easily.

Disadvantages: A photo shoot within a studio can take quite some time (up to an hour long). This can be time-consuming for those wishing to be photographed. The shoot is fairly expensive; it could cost up to £50 overall as those who want to be photographed need to pay for their own images as well as the sitting fee. It can cost even more money to purchase digital copies of the images taken. The studio also has to pay for the photographers as well as power, rent etc.

Frazer Visser: Frazer Visser can be considered a prominent individual in high street studio photography. In the present day, he is a member of the Master Photographers Association and the British Institute of Professional Photography, both of which are qualified professional bodies based within the UK. He is a portrait photographer who has had 15 years experience with this application; he also provides seminars i.e. discussions regarding portraiture. He is influential because he captures various images of families, babies etc. within Hamilton Studios which specializes in providing an environment in which families can get comfortable for a photo shoot at their own request. Frazer also edits images of families and provides them with the option to decide what to do with their photos, whether it be to alter them further or take them home for display.

High Street Studio photography is highly beneficial in my opinion. It provides people with the opportunity to obtain images of everyone in their own families to go on display within their own homes rather than possess images of each family member individually. This application is quite interesting because people who visit the studio can look around rather than just come in for the shoot; this means that there is far more to high street photography than just photo shoots.

This image clearly defines high street studio photography. The reason I chose it is because it depicts a family

positioned in front of a backdrop, quite obviously within a studio and staged in many ways i.e. the photographer will

have wanted to create the best possible image for the family. The family will have also desired to obtain the best

possible image to take home with them. The fact that there is nothing in the background ensures that only the family members are in focus; this element in particular

caught my attention. The image defines high street studio photography because the application mainly involves people coming in to be photographed in an interior

environment, against a backdrop etc. This image is a good example of how a high street studio works and what the

overall image(s) will look like following the shoot.

Architectural Photography means capturing images of buildings or similar structures e.g. houses usually with the purpose of attempting to intrigue customers into buying a house and living in it, or providing inspiration for the construction of a new structure. It tends to involve design and building, and therefore people who work as architects. Images are most likely distributed so that other people can see them; these images could influence people’s decisions regarding things like going on holiday, visiting a city based on how certain structures look, or if they want to live somewhere else.

Architectural Photography is most commonly used by architects, property developers, surveyors etc. for a wide range of purposes. These could include inspiration for construction or to intrigue other people to buy a house, therefore you could find this type of photography in adverts, leaflets, brochures etc. These contexts provide the means for a company to promote a location; as well as an easy way to gain attention as people could hand out leaflets on the street, lots of people watch TV etc. You could see this application on websites and even on certain programs and 3D analysis when it comes to construction. Because a lot of people use the internet nowadays, they could easily come across images regarding architecture on certain sites e.g. Rightmove or Zoopla; these sites relate to properties for sale.

Tilt-Shift Photography could be used when it comes to capturing images of buildings; it allows the photographer to adjust the position of the subject within the area of the image, and therefore alter the depth of field without moving the camera back and forth constantly. A wide lens would most likely be used so that the camera can take in a lot of the scene, thus featuring the entire structure within the image rather than only depicting it partially. It would be ideal to use this lens because it could be easy for the camera to encompass a structure e.g. the Empire State Building in New York City, U.S.

Architectural Photography Images in this style can be either candid/observational or controlled. This would depend on the desires of the photographer because one might simply want to capture aspects of a building e.g. the interior and display these aspects as works of art. This is an example of how images in this style could be controlled because structures would be photographed with the desire to create fine art i.e. images that can look very intriguing and attract customers. The purpose of this would be to simply create art rather than present something with the hopes that people might buy them/ want to visit them. In this regard, images would be observational because the structures would be captured in the way they would appear in real life. They would not be edited because this could mislead people. For example, an image of a house which looks very convincing due to techniques e.g. alteration of lighting might seem very different in real life compared to the image itself, and in a negative way. This could result in dissatisfaction for the customer.

Both artificial and ambient lighting can be used in architectural photography because buildings and similar structures can be captured for a wide range of purposes, not just for selling properties but also for attempting to intrigue people through the creation of art. In the latter case, artificial lighting would be utilized because the image would need to look as intriguing as possible and would therefore require light to make specific aspects stand out. For example, if an image of a hallway was captured, artificial lighting could remove the presence of shadows within the overall image and make the scene look brighter. However, most images which are architectural would not use lamps. Instead, photographers would shoot images during midday with the intention of achieving the best form of lighting for the shoot; this is an example of ambient lighting and can have a positive impact on the overall image.

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Architectural Photography (CONT.)• Post-Production could take place in architectural photography, however in

most cases of this form of photography, it might not take place. Post production can include alteration of image brightness and contrast, changes in colour saturation or use of high/low key lighting. This would depend on what the photographer desires to do with the overall image, as well as the purpose for which it was created in the first place e.g. to attract customers.

• Post-production would be carried out if the photographer hopes to make an image of a building look visually attractive; in essence, the purpose would be to attract a wide range of people through the quality of the image itself. The image could be depicting a holiday resort or buildings in a specific city in a positive light with the intention of attracting as many customers as possible. Post-Production effects would not take place if the image depicts a house for sale, most likely because it would be a big and costly decision to make for the customer and misleading the customer in this manner could have negative results. Using techniques such as lighting, contrast and colour saturation could make these changes to the image, making it appear different compared to how it naturally appears.

Advantages: Architectural Photography offers accurate and aesthetically pleasing representations of buildings, structures etc. It enables a company to sell a property through use of images representing the interior and exterior elements; these images can influence the desires of the viewer to purchase and therefore, this application stands out amongst other methods of photography. It also enables documentation of the various stages of construction and building development; this allows architects to keep records of the building progress.

Disadvantages: Architecture can come in many different sizes e.g. they could be vast thus making it difficult for a photographer to choose a lens that could enable the entire structure to fit within the frame. It might not be possible to fit an entire building into a frame, therefore photographers will be limited in terms of what they can capture. It can also be complicated to estimate the cost of taking photographs of a building, however this could depend on the location, size etc. Photographing some buildings could be quite expensive. It could also be difficult to know what you are allowed to take pictures of. For example, it might not be legal to capture images of specific structures because some can even be ‘copyrighted’’ in some way. The same thing also applies to photographing private residences. However, people can take pictures of sculptures or landmarks in public places e.g. Big Ben in London.

Simon Kennedy Simon Kennedy is a well-known photographer based in London who specializes in architectural and interior photography. He has experimented for 15 years with this application, therefore he has a unique understanding of architecture, being able to deliver high-resolution images of buildings and interior locations. His work has been exhibited widely and he has had the opportunity to meet the BBC, Hopkins Architects, Rivington Street Studio, Jansen Magazine etc. This makes him a highly influential person as he also provides editorial images.

My opinion for architectural photography is that it is the ideal application to use if one desires to show off the aspects of a structure, both exterior and interior, with the purpose of intriguing others. It can be considered vital in some ways in regard to not only architects, but a large amount of people looking for a suitable place to live or go on holiday. I think the reason why the application is widely known is because buildings, houses, landmarks etc. are everywhere. This means that people can take photos of buildings almost anywhere in the world, bearing in mind that capturing images of certain buildings might be illegal.

This is an image depicting the Eiffel Tower in Paris in a low angle shot using a wide camera lens. The image

strongly defines architectural photography because it depicts a massive structure which took many years to

build. Almost all of the Tower is shown within the image and techniques were clearly used in post-production to alter the lighting, as well as to create the impression of dark storm clouds. The representation of the landmark

is quite positive; it takes on a visually pleasing appearance and provides a representation of a specific

place: the city of Paris or even the whole of France. I chose it because there is a great deal of sophistication

implied amongst those who took and edited the image. However, the atmosphere created by the effects is quite brooding and the structure looks imposing in the photo;

these aspects caught my attention.

Illustrational Photography is the creation of images which strongly depict a subject and convey information regarding that subject, usually in relation to an event or situation that has taken place either recently or in the past. The primary intention of illustrational photography is influence the thoughts of a reader and help them to visualize the aspects of an event i.e. the image would help to create a picture in the reader’s mind. The reader does not necessarily have to read through a book that is only filled with writing and try to imagine the situation that is implied; illustrational images can be featured on the pages e.g. step by step images within a cook-book and these images depict the situation in detail.

People are likely to come across illustrational photography in a wide range of different contexts. It could appear within newspapers in the form of images positioned next to columns of text; these images would explain what is being discussed in an article. It is also present within cook-books with the means of making it easier for someone to make food using a recipe, as well as providing a vision regarding what the finished product will look like. This form of photography would also be present within text-books based on a variety of subjects e.g. History or Literature with the possible purpose of enhancing the level of knowledge that can be obtained for educational reasons. You could also see it in magazines; for example EDGE Magazine (a gaming magazine) features multiple images depicting the characteristics of video games alongside areas of text; these images do well to influence the reader’s opinion regarding what is being discussed within the articles.

The types of lenses that can be used would vary greatly depending on the nature of the subject, as well as what context is being focused on e.g. cook-books, literature and news. If illustrational images were to be produced for a cook-book, a telephoto lens would be used so that the photographer can zoom in to focus on the object on a table, depicting it in great detail and as clearly as possible. This would benefit the product because it ensures that the customer understands what he/she is aiming for just by studying a detailed image carefully. Telephoto lenses may also be used to depict a subject e.g. a person in a street for display within a newspaper article highlighting an event that has occurred recently. Wide lenses can also be used to display a subject in association with their environment in this way.

Illustrational Photography Illustrational images can be both controlled or observational depending on the nature of the image and what it represents. For example, an image of a finished food product in a cook book will feature the product positioned in a certain way on the table, usually with the purpose of making it easier to see within the image. The table might be white; this could add detail to the product because there would be nothing else to focus on within the image; it would appear as if there is just a food product in front of a white background that doesn’t represent anything. This proves that the image is controlled because the photographer intends to make it look as intriguing as possible as well as stand out. Images displayed alongside newspaper articles tend to be candid because they would be captured as how they naturally appear; this context would regard news stories and therefore, images should not be misleading. They should be truthful in the way they appear because they represent real life situations. These images would be observational because people tend to believe the stories more if they can relate to the images as real-life rather than just art; art can be placed over photographs in a specific style e.g. fine art.

Ambient lighting would be used in illustrational photography when it comes to displaying images in newspapers; as stated above these images should be observational because they need to represent reality and be honest and accurate. Photographers would capture images as how they appear naturally; therefore they would rely on things like sunlight or the sun reflecting off car and shop windows to brighten the overall image rather than use lamps to add light. This might be the case for capturing images of food products or photographs to be featured within text-books e.g. educational literature. This refers to the use of artificial lighting which would be employed with the purpose of making the product look brighter and thus more visually appealing. For example, this would benefit a cook-book because the images of a finished product could be highlighted as a positive end result to baking that product if lighting is used to make it stand out.

Depending on the subject, post-production could take place in this application in order to make a product look more appealing to the customer, seem more clearer within an educational book etc. Post-production might be carried out on images if there are certain dark areas that need brightening up; this would benefit the image because it ensures that every aspect is clear and visible. The reason why it might not take place is due to the fact that the image needs to be relatable to the viewer/reader and therefore shouldn’t be edited.

Advantages: Illustrational Photography makes its way into commercial and retail sectors, therefore allowing the application to become more popular. It is a good way to promote a specific product in a unique manner; if one desires to differentiate themselves from another in terms of the images they take, this style can be used to ensure their own images look different compared to the images someone else has taken. A style created through illustration can be original and therefore utilized as a brand message, and images taken in this style are very likely to be cohesive in relation to what is being presented. Messages can also be conveyed in a manner which photographs would struggle to do.

Disadvantages: There are common misconceptions regarding illustrational photography. For example, people assume that images in this style ‘lack the immediacy of photography’ and tend to be vague and obscure. This could cause the application to become unpopular. Although it is possible to convey conceptual images in this style, other people might find it difficult to understand what the images are trying to tell them.

Rebecca Pitt Rebecca Pitt is a London-based photographer who specializes in illustrational photography and graphic design. She has been prominent with this application; there is a wide range of media products she has worked on (as shown on her website). These products consist primarily of brochures, posters etc. They feature strong usage of images alongside text; these images clearly present what is being discussed within the texts and help to create a picture within the mind of the customer. The things Pitt has created as shown on her website (see References) are strong evidence as to why she is a highly influential individual. She has utllized illustrational photography to advertise a wide range of different products e.g. clothing, food and locations.

In my opinion, illustrational photography is a great opportunity to visualize what a finished product will look like, as well as to provide a depiction of a subject or location. In fact, it is beneficial for both the photographer and the customer. For the photographer, there would be minimal concern regarding how the customer might struggle to gain a picture of what a story is trying to tell because without images to illustrate it, there is a chance the reader might struggle to imagine what is going on in that story. For the customer, there is more to interact with when it comes to reading through a brochure or reading a book of any genre.

This image is a good example of how photography has been combined with artistic illustration. It clearly defines

illustrational photography because it communicates something fairly different compared to what a normal

photograph could represent. The image creates a picture in the mind of the customer and is also fairly conceptual

i.e. relates to the mental concepts someone came up with. The image is a good example of how an immediate idea

someone came up with was communicated in an indistinct manner. I chose this image because it looks similar to an image one would come across within a comic book. For

example, the KA-BOOM illustration conveys the sheer force of the punch within the image; this is common in comic

books. Also, the style employed within the image makes it seem quite distinct compared to the type of image found

in other photography applications.

Fine art photography is an application that involves a wide variety of different photography styles; this style of photography can encompass almost anything including advertising photography, portrait photography, architectural photography etc. and depict them in a variety of different places as works of art. It can be quite complicated to obtain a true definition for fine art photography because it utilizes different forms of photography; this would depend primarily on the choices of the photographer regarding what they desire to capture and display as a work of art. This form of photography is very different compared to other applications because it doesn’t have a specific purpose whereas the other ones do; this can put fine art photography at a bigger advantage compared to different applications in which certain options would be limited in some way.

You could see fine art in the form of prints; these prints could be for sale and therefore available for anyone to purchase, most likely as a portrait within a family home to make living space appear more attractive. It can also appear within text-books as illustrational images depending on the context of that book e.g. fantasy. In this case, images would be illustrative and displayed with the purpose of helping the reader to imagine what is going on within a story. Fine art can also be featured on brochures, leaflets etc. with the purpose of attracting customers to go on holiday through use of intriguing images on the pages. It can also be featured in galleries as works of art which a lot of people would visit. Because it can be used across almost any photography application, it could be found pretty much everywhere.

Both telephoto and wide lenses can be used within fine art photography because this particular style utilizes many other types of photography e.g. illustrational and architectural. Wide angle lenses would most commonly used if a photographer desired to capture a city skyline, expanse of countryside as art; this lens would allow for every aspect of a location to fit into the frame as it provides a wide angle of view for a scene. Telephoto lenses could also be used to capture subjects/objects in great detail for display within a book.

Fine Art Photography Images in this style would be both controlled or observational. This could depend on the nature of what is being photographed; a variety of subjects can be focused on when it comes to fine art photography e.g. wildlife, portraiture and architecture. A photographer could make the decision to pose a subject in a specific way and prepare him/her for a shoot within a studio. Fine art images tend to rely on quality and therefore photographers will need to take measures to ensure their overall image(s) look professional e.g. placing an object in a certain position within the frame of the camera. This is an example of how images could be controlled. Images would be observational if the photographer hopes to capture wildlife, city skylines etc. on camera. The photographer would capture things like wildlife as how it appears naturally; this is evident due to the fact that he/she would not be able to influence the aspects of wildlife and adjust it to create the right image. However, there is a good chance that the images would be controlled because photographers might desire to make an image look as good as they possibly can; therefore they would try to influence the elements within their image.

Artificial lighting is likely to be used in fine art photography because artists would desire to create meaning e.g. a positive atmosphere through use of lamps that would do well to provide brightness to an image. Artists might also desire to convey a specific emotion. The use of lamps within a studio to provide brightness to an image would allow the artist to accomplish this. If the artist wants to intrigue customers with an image that looks professional, he/she can use artificial lighting to enhance the quality of the image. In fine art photography, photographers may only rely on the available (ambient) light e.g. sunlight if it comes to capturing images of wildlife. Fine art does not have a specific purpose, therefore either lighting technique can be employed in the favour of the artist/photographer.

A huge amount of post-production can take place in this application, however at the same time there may be no post-production. As stated before, it all depends on what the photographer wants to create. If the purpose lies with aesthetic quality to intrigue others, post-production techniques may be employed so that the image gains quality and all aspects of the image are clearly visible. However, if the photographer is creating an image for observational purposes, no post production would take place in order to ensure the image is believable.

Advantages: Fine art does not have a specific purpose, therefore there are a variety of options for the photographer regarding what he/she wants to make. The photographer isn’t limited at all with this application of photography. Fine art also allows the photographer to create an image in relation to a vision of their own; artists are able to communicate anything that aspires them, anything that has affected them etc. in any way they want.

Disadvantages: It can be hard to determine what is acceptable within this application e.g. use of disturbing content even though one can create anything they desire. If the work seems too disturbing, a lot of people might not like the image and therefore it could lose popularity. It can also be difficult for the photographer to decide what style in particular he/she wants to create. Because fine art does not have a specific purpose, it can be hard to find inspiration without studying the works of others and risk their own work looking similar in many ways.

Emir Ozsahin: Ozsahin is quite prominent with fine art photography in the present day. The images he took depicted the concept of death in a ‘sentimental, less-traumatizing way’ and were inspired by the haunting experience he went through upon seeing an article about the death of his pet on a highway. He captured images of dead animals, however he altered the aspects of the image to give the impression that they were resting or sleeping. Ozsahin was quite influential because his images ensured that relatives of recently deceased individuals could have a photo to remember their loved ones by; he stated that he wanted to ‘show death in an optimistic manner rather than something that is inevitable’.

My own opinion of fine art photography is that it offers a broad range of options for the artist/photographer and therefore offers a variety of benefits for the photographer. The fact that no specific purpose exists for fine art photography is hugely beneficial; primarily because it allows photographers to explore and depict any subject they want in their own unique way. This variety of options means that the images photographers create are more likely to be unique; therefore, there could be reduced stress due to worry about images being too similar to someone else’s and therefore getting into trouble.

This image clearly defines fine art photography. I chose it because it looks aesthetically pleasing,

strongly reflecting professional standards through use of black and white, alteration of colour saturation and

contrast, low key lighting etc. This wide range of techniques makes the image look intriguing to the

customer, and the fact that there isn’t a specific purpose for the image (e.g. advertising purposes) is a

good example of why this image defines fine art because the application does not have a specific purpose. Any photographer can create anything

he/she wants. The image depicts a lion in an up-close shot; it got my attention because the type of lens used

is implied. The telephoto lens will have most likely been used to capture the image because the

photographer would not want to get too close to the animal.

Documentary Photography is a widely used and therefore highly popular application that is utilized to chronicle significant events in the past or aspects of daily life in narratives that tend to be multi-strand and complicated i.e. the narrative focuses on two or more isolated groups of characters (affected individuals or reporters) and multiple stories existing at once. It often refers to working on long term projects covered by photojournalism, however it could also be for academic or artistic purposes. To help tell a story, documentary photography utilizes multiple images rather than a single image; these help the viewer/reader to obtain a bigger picture of the event the documentary is referring to; images are able to depict the event in detail.

Documentary Photography would appear within magazines because there is a fairly large amount of space to display a series of images alongside areas of text; this ensures that the pages of a magazine feature text combined with images; this ensures that the reader is intrigued throughout the narrative implied. This form of photography can also appear in websites where there is also a lot of space to display images regarding events, daily life etc. A lot of people use the internet, therefore they are likely to come across these sources easily. Educational text-books could also feature documentary images so that the reader does not have to attempt to picture the narrative whilst reading through text when there are images present to ensure the narrative is depicted.

Depending on what is being focused on in a documentary, a variety of lenses can be utilized to capture images. Long, telephoto lenses could be used because they allow the photographer to capture a subject very closely and in good detail; when it comes to documentaries an accurate representation is needed of people in a society (if subjects are being represented) to ensure the representation is believable and accurate. Wide angle lenses could be used if the photographer wants to feature images that can present large objects e.g. buildings or even an expanse of city skyline, countryside etc. This would benefit the reader/viewer because it enables them to focus on the scale of a location e.g. a major city without having to imagine the size of the location. Representing a city is also a good way to represent where people live as well as to imply how the city has changed compared to what it might have looked like in the past. This could intrigue the viewer/reader even more.

Documentary Photography Documentary style images are observational because they tend to be captured as how they appear in real-life i.e. they are not staged in any way and the photographer will want to make the documentary look as realistic as possible so that people can connect to it more as an educational work rather than a visually intriguing set of images. If the images are to gain the interests of the customer they mustn’t be staged because they could be seen as promotional images or a fine art images. Also, documentaries revolve around real-life situations and things that have occurred in the past e.g. a war, a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. Images of these events must depict how they really happened; this would enable the reader/viewer to gain insight as to how destructive that event was.

Ambient lighting would be used in documentary photography. The main reason for this is that images of this style are observational, therefore they won’t be staged in any way e.g. positioning lamps off-screen to add light to an image. Only the available light would be used because the documentary needs to show off the aspects of the world we live in truthfully and accurately, otherwise the work wouldn’t be as interesting. For example, if the images featured sunlight within them, people are more likely to relate that to real life. However, if lamps were used to add artificial lighting to a scene, the look of the images could be misleading because they create a false impression of how visually intriguing a specific place is compared to how it really looks.

The images could be subject to some post-production in an effort to correct them, remove any shadows or make certain aspects seem brighter so they look clear. Some documentaries often utilize special effects; for example, to convey the effects of a disaster using a world map. Some will also feature a realistic impression of the planet from space; when it comes to this, low key lighting may be used with the purpose of creating a dark and foreboding atmosphere. In some cases however, post-production would not be used because the work has to be believable and the content within the images needs to look the same way as it did in real-life. This ensures that the reader or viewer remains interested in the narrative that is taking place within the documentary as they can connect with it easily and achieve an understanding of the aspects of reality.

Advantages: This form of photography uses multiple images; this can benefit the customer because there are more aspects to interact with, thus ensuring that the documentary keeps the customer intrigued. Documentaries also depict reality in a truthful way and explores the daily lives of subjects, representing them in a positive light. It is also an effective way to look at reality and all things that are correct. It can be inspirational to a wide range of people, thus increasing its popularity. It allows people to keep up with what is going on in the world and understand what is going on all around them.

Disadvantages: Documentary Photography could be considered an invasion of privacy; this can result in complaints from individuals or a lack of appreciation for the application. It can also be difficult to gain the attention of the audience due to a lack of contexts to depict documentary style images on, therefore it could be quite unpopular. Also, it can be difficult to ensure the reader/viewer isn’t offended in any way because there could be disturbing elements within the images captured e.g. instances of violence or implication of death due to natural disasters.

Enrique Metinides: Enrique Mentinides was a prominent photographer in the past for this application. He worked for 30 years and his work involved capturing images of crimes, murders and disasters in a specific place: Mexico City. The images he took depicted dead people in relation to gathering crowds, as well as the tragedy in general. His work strongly related to reality, but his images were highly disturbing and therefore unsuitable for a wide range of people, however when it comes to documentaries, photographers tend to ‘push boundaries’ in order to accomplish something quite different, and therefore unique in comparison to the ideas of others. Metinides is a good example because he went a step further than most photographers; and the result is that he is well-known in the present day.

In my opinion, documentary photography is useful when it comes to obtaining information about events or gaining a clear understanding of how the world works, the attitudes of others etc. The presence of narrative within a documentary has the potential to make the work quite entertaining, therefore keeping the viewer/reader hooked and ensuring that they do not want to divert their attention. It could be very popular and the fact that people can make anything they desire, as well as the acceptability of ‘pushing boundaries’ is a highly positive aspect of documentary photography as it allows for a wide range of options.

This image defines documentary photography because it represents an actual event that took place in the past;

referred to as the ‘Death Traps of Dhaka’ where a series of fires broke out and devastated people’s property,

workplaces, malls and public places. Another reason why it defines documentary photography is because it chronicles

a significant incident which had an impact on everyday life. The representation of the image is truthful and

accurate; the event is depicted the same way as it really happened and this is a characteristic of documentary photography. I chose the image because it creates a

foreboding atmosphere and evokes sympathy within the viewer. Also, it represents people in relation to their

surroundings; in this case, people’s lives have been ruined by the destruction of their own home. What makes the

image effective is the fact that other people can connect to it easily because it is real-life.

Medical Photography is an application of photography that is concerned with producing accurate and truthful images representing the clinical presentation of patients in hospital, whether it be due to injury or disease, with the purpose of assisting doctors/nurses in the diagnosis and monitoring of conditions within the hospital. Medical Photography is significantly different compared to other applications because it is a highly specialized area of photography concerned with science and medicine, as well as the communication of medical terminology.

Medical Photography could be seen within leaflets; possibly with the purpose of offering vacancies for a job in the application. It can often appear in magazines and newspapers if a major surgery has taken place or a patient has come close to death in hospital as news stories; images in these contexts wouldn’t be too graphic but would still be able to provide insight as to how the subject is recovering from his/her situation as well as using X-Ray images to communicate this even further. Therefore, medical photography could appear on television in news programmes also. Images can be found on the internet or on specific websites e.g. NHS or Health Careers which include medical photography as images on the site, as well as within 3D programs and digital analysis within hospitals; these tend to document operations or provide images of internal organs through X-Rays.

Long, telephoto lenses would be used to capture close-up images of patients, as well as operations taking place. The photographer would clearly have to stand some distance away from the procedure and capture the image from far away rather than get too close to the surgeons. This kind of lens could also be useful if it comes to capturing close-up photos of wounds, bites or sores on a patient’s skin. These would be shown in good detail. A wide-angle lens could be used to capture a line of patients lying on hospital beds in a room, most likely with the purpose of depicting what the interior of the hospital looks like. This lens could also be used to show off the size of operating theatre, the post-mortem room etc. This lens ensures that the photographer can get an image which depicts these locations in great detail.

Medical Photography Images in this style will be observational because the reason they are created is to truthfully depict the symptoms of diseases, the severity of injuries, the effects of mental illnesses etc. The photographer would be aiming to assist medical research and enhance articles and reports, and this can be accomplished by capturing images of patients, rooms etc. as how they appear naturally without being staged in any way. These images would prove useful in providing more to an article or report regarding medical purposes, as well as to assist doctors in medical progress. The presence of progress in medicine is important, therefore images need to be 100% accurate if they are to be helpful as well as believable.

Only ambient lighting would be used in medical photography. The available light sources would normally be operating theatre lamps, AV systems (computers, screens etc.) or sunlight coming through windows. A photographer would not stage a shoot using lamps as a means to add light to the image because he/she needs to depict the situation truthfully and accurately. However, cameras used might have flash which can help to provide additional light to the photo; this can prove useful if conditions become too dark to get anything on camera whatsoever.

Depending on the manner of the image, post-production could take place in medical photography. For example, if endoscopy was used in a medical procedure (to photograph internal organs), someone might want to correct any areas of distortion which may obscure the organs from view; this can be done on a computer through correction e.g. brightening of the image or alteration of contrast. Also, if time-lapse cinematography is employed with the purpose of documenting illnesses or injury among patients, a specific editing program would be used to place the images next to each other in a timeline, effectively forming a video which could be used by doctors. It could also appear online as an appeal for people to donate blood, money etc.

Advantages: Images taken are truthful, accurate and objective, therefore there is a good chance that people will be able to relate to them as well as for doctors to gain information from them. The images can influence the specific needs of medical studies, and the appropriate equipment can usually be obtained. Medical photographers are able to reduce the need to recall patients as they work quickly and their own images tend to be highly efficient. There would be a wide range of aspects to capture, and therefore a lot of options are provided for the photographer.

Disadvantages: A strong grasp of the techniques used within the medical setting is required, as well as an understanding of the medical environment and anatomy, physiology, the symptoms of diseases etc. A precise approach to image capture and data recording is also required and the photographer must be able to select the correct equipment. All of this can be very demanding. The style of photography can be quite unpopular due to lack of audience; images can contain graphic content which could be disturbing.

Jo Truelove: Joe Truelove is an individual who is highly prominent within medical photography in the present day. She has worked as a medical photographer for 12 years and her primary roles consist of providing feedback on medical image quality, supplying photography equipment, providing protocol guidance and preparing for new clinical trials. During an average week of work, she reviewed images using analysing software and provided and completed paperwork regarding medical procedures. Her role in medical photography is clearly prominent, primarily due to the fact that she has worked for an extended period of time and is consistent when it comes to meeting new people, ‘whether they be clients or patients’ as she has stated herself.

In my opinion, medical photography is hugely beneficial because it can help to save lives. Its purpose does not necessarily lie with the media in general, but rather with medical progress and the studying of illnesses and injuries. It is also unique; images do not rely on quality to attract attention, but are instead shot with the purpose of providing vital information that can influence a specific industry. All of this makes medical photography highly complex as a wide range of different situations, as well as how to capture them, are closely linked together in a sophisticated way.

This image strongly represents medical photography. I chose it because it implies the level

of technological innovation in the present day; people can study conditions regarding the human

skeleton and use X-Rays to capture images. The fact that this image is an example of innovation got my attention, as well as the fact that it was created for no other purpose other than to provide information.

The image clearly defines medical photography because it is an image produced of the inside of the human body, however the primary purpose would

be to study the bones of the human body and identify a wide range of conditions. The image

produced is accurate and honest; it shows off all the details of the skull and spinal column which are in

focus in the image. It is not misleading in any way.

References

1. Medical Photography: Job Roles http://creativeskillset.org/job_roles_and_stories/job_roles/385_medical_photographer

2. Alfred Eisenstaedt: 22 Amazing Photos http://time.com/3491299/unforgettable-eisenstaedt-22-amazing-photos-by-a-master/

3. The 50 Greatest Fashion Photographers Right Now http://uk.complex.com/style/2014/12/the-50-greatest-fashion-photographers-right-now/sebastian-kim

4. Hamilton Studios – East Grinstead Photographer – Family Portraits http://www.hamiltonstudios.com/

5. Simon Kennedy http://www.simonkennedy.net/information/

6. Rebecca Pitt: Design and Illustration http://www.rebeccapitt.co.uk/#!designillustration/c3c1

7. Angkor Photo Festival 2012 Preview http://invisiblephotographer.asia/2012/11/27/angkorphotofestivalpreview-socialdocumentaryphotography/