Free Inquiry 8: Photography

So, you’re probably thinking…. Jess…. why are you choosing to dedicate a post to photography, when the image is already a photograph?

Well, because I strongly believe that photography is another form of artistic expression, and is an art style that should be talked about as such. There’s a lot that goes into photography that is more than just “point and shoot.” Good photographers understand that they need to know the angles and positions that they need to be in to get the right shot, and on top of that, they need to be knowledgeable about their camera and the camera settings/lenses to make sure they are getting the best possible photo they can. In addition to the skills needed to just take the picture, photographers also need to be skilled editors. If you’ve ever seen before and after shots of of the night sky, or models on the cover of a magazine, then you know what I mean.

We have come a long way from where we started. It might suprise you to know that photography dates back centuries. Or, at least, it got its start centuries ago. Although not what we think of today, the first “camera” was the camera obscura, which ideas date back as far as 470BC. This camera did not take images, but rather was used to observe eclipses, directing light from a small hole, onto a screen. The first photograph, however, was not taken until 1826, by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. Now, 200 years later, we can take near professional quality photos and edit them, all from our phones. If you want to know more about the history of cameras and photography, look at this article, which I think does a good job at covering this material.

For this weeks entry, I wanted to actually look at the original image, because surprise! I actually have two photos that were taken that day.

The one on the right is the image that I have been recreating all semester. Fun fact, that photo was actually taken at the rehearsal for the show, which is why the supporting vocalist in the shot is wearing a sweater. The image on the left, is a photo taken during the actual show, where you can see that the vocalists are a bit more dressed up, and you can see a bit more of a crowd gathering.

The reason I wanted to show these images is because I wanted to talk a bit here about another aspect of photography: it captures a moment in life. Even more than a sculpture or a painting, photography is a moment in time, caught in a still. A small reflection back at us of the life we have lived. Through photography, we can often see the a piece of the person captured in the image; we can catch a glimpse of their emotions, or their passion.

One of the great things about having two different photos of that night, is that you get to see the same moment (or close to the same moment) from another perspective. When we add the second photo we can add more to the image and to what we picture when we think of the image. Before, it was clear that there were at least three people on the stage, and now we can see that there were at least 7 (at least one more musician, two more vocalists, and a dancer). In truth, there was an entire other side of the stage with another 4 musicians as well that you still can’t see. The second image also allows us to see the stage setup better, and gives us a better idea of the layout in relation to the audience. We can now see that the stage is much longer, there is a screen on the left (and right) displaying live visuals of the show, and that the stage is around 4ft high, or at least above the waist, and below the shoulders of the girl in the audience.

I say all this to point out the versatility in photography, and its importance as an art form that can capture a moment in seconds. I love that it allows us to use our creativity to highlight a moment, or save it to look back on years later. I love that with multiple photographs we can start to get a fuller idea of the moment. And I love that it can show us something raw, real, and powerful in a way that a painting or drawing can’t often do.

I’m not a professional photographer by any means, but I do think it’s really fricken awesome and I have so much appreciation for those who are.

To find my weekly reflections on this course and my learning, look Here

To find my other inquiry posts, look Here