Blog Entry # 2: The “Reality” (or lies) of Photography
Photography was invented in 1839 by Jacques Louis Mande Daugerre. Photography was the newest art medium and it quickly became popular throughout the world. The rest was history. Since 1939, advances have been made in the photographic world. At first, photography was just a representation of reality. The artist could adjust the lighting and angle but one they snapped the picture, they did not have the tools to crop, edit, and transform the picture. Photography in its early stages was reality. Today, the medium of photography is no longer reality. We can not believe the story a picture tells us. Artists like Cindy Sherman (above, left) and Sandy Skoglund (right photo) can use technology to alter their pictures. Sherman would often dress herself up using garments, make-up, and various hairstyle and then snap a picture. The picture was what she made it and not what really was. It was the reality she created, not the reality we all saw. Skoglund in his picture Radioactive Cats used technology to show a fantasy. Again, it is not we would really see in a laboratory, but it is his perception of a certain tale. Both artist are using the tool of deception. They are changing the world of photography. We can believe everything we see in photographs, because the artist has complete control. It is not always reality and this is difficult to accept. The world of photography has been altered and new technological developments will be a factor in the advancement in this art medium. Reality is not always what we see.
4 years ago • Notes