Art Appreciation
Random

Click random to get a fresh chapter.

Introductory Visual Arts: Art Media and Techniques - Photography Film vs. Digital Pinhole BlackWhite Color Darkroom Development Editing Photojournalism Documentary Portrait Landscape Macro Aerial Drone

What It Is

Photography is a visual art form that captures images using light-sensitive materials or digital sensors. Ansel Adams' "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico" (1941) is a well-known example of black-and-white landscape photography. Understanding photography matters for making and analyzing art because it involves technical skills, aesthetic choices, and the ability to convey meaning through images.

Key Terms & Techniques

• Film vs Digital: Film photography uses light-sensitive film, while digital photography uses a digital sensor to capture images.
  • Example: Ansel Adams' "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico" (1941) was shot on film.
• Pinhole: A simple camera that uses a small hole to focus light onto a surface.
  • Example: The first pinhole camera was created by Chinese philosopher Mozi in the 5th century BCE.
• Black/White: Photography that uses only shades of gray, without color.
  • Example: Ansel Adams' "Monolith, the Face of Half Dome" (1927) is a classic example of black-and-white landscape photography.
• Color: Photography that uses a range of colors to create an image.
  • Example: Ansel Adams' "Clearing Winter Storm" (1937) is a color photograph that showcases the beauty of the American West.
• Darkroom: A room where photographic prints are developed and processed.
  • Example: The darkroom is where Ansel Adams developed his famous black-and-white prints.
• Development: The process of creating a photographic print from a negative or digital file.
  • Example: Development involves exposing the print to light, then treating it with chemicals to reveal the image.
• Editing: The process of manipulating a photographic image to enhance its aesthetic appeal.
  • Example: Adobe Photoshop is a popular editing software used by photographers and artists.
• Photojournalism: Photography that tells a news story or conveys a message.
  • Example: Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother" (1936) is a famous example of photojournalism.
• Documentary: Photography that documents a place, event, or culture.
  • Example: Walker Evans' "American Photographs" (1938) is a classic example of documentary photography.
• Portrait: Photography that focuses on a person's likeness or personality.
  • Example: Richard Avedon's "Dovima with Elephants" (1955) is a famous portrait photograph.
• Landscape: Photography that captures a natural scene or environment.
  • Example: Ansel Adams' "Moonrise, Hernandez, New Mexico" (1941) is a classic example of landscape photography.
• Macro: Photography that captures a small subject in extreme detail.
  • Example: The macro lens is used to capture the intricate details of a flower or insect.
• Aerial: Photography that captures a scene from an elevated perspective.
  • Example: The aerial photograph is used to capture the landscape from a bird's-eye view.
• Drone: A remote-controlled aircraft that captures aerial photographs and videos.
  • Example: Drones are used in photography and filmmaking to capture unique perspectives.
• Exposure: The amount of light that reaches the camera's sensor or film.
  • Example: Exposure is controlled by adjusting the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
• Aperture: The size of the camera's aperture, which controls the amount of light that enters the lens.
  • Example: A large aperture (small f-stop number) allows more light to enter the lens.
• Shutter Speed: The length of time the camera's shutter is open, which controls the amount of light that enters the lens.
  • Example: A fast shutter speed (short duration) is used to freeze motion.
• ISO: The camera's sensitivity to light, which affects the image's noise and grain.
  • Example: A high ISO (sensitivity) is used in low-light conditions.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: All photography is digital.
• Correction: Photography has been around for centuries, and film photography is still used today.
• Misunderstanding: Aerial photography is the same as drone photography.
• Correction: Aerial photography refers to any photography captured from an elevated perspective, while drone photography specifically uses a remote-controlled aircraft.
• Misunderstanding: Photojournalism is the same as documentary photography.
• Correction: While both genres involve documenting reality, photojournalism focuses on telling a news story or conveying a message, while documentary photography focuses on documenting a place, event, or culture.

Quick Identification

1. Describe a photograph that captures a person's likeness or personality. What is the concept? Answer: Portrait. Reason: A portrait photograph focuses on a person's likeness or personality.
2. Describe a photograph that captures a natural scene or environment. What is the concept? Answer: Landscape. Reason: A landscape photograph captures a natural scene or environment.
3. Describe a photograph that captures a small subject in extreme detail. What is the concept? Answer: Macro. Reason: A macro photograph captures a small subject in extreme detail.

Last?Minute Revision

Ansel Adams was a master of black-and-white landscape photography. The first pinhole camera was created by Chinese philosopher Mozi in the 5th century BCE. Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother" (1936) is a famous example of photojournalism. Walker Evans' "American Photographs" (1938) is a classic example of documentary photography. Richard Avedon's "Dovima with Elephants" (1955) is a famous portrait photograph. The darkroom is where photographic prints are developed and processed. Development involves exposing the print to light, then treating it with chemicals to reveal the image. Editing is the process of manipulating a photographic image to enhance its aesthetic appeal. Adobe Photoshop is a popular editing software used by photographers and artists. Aerial photography refers to any photography captured from an elevated perspective. Drone photography specifically uses a remote-controlled aircraft. Exposure is controlled by adjusting the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Aperture is the size of the camera's aperture, which controls the amount of light that enters the lens. Shutter speed is the length of time the camera's shutter is open, which controls the amount of light that enters the lens. ISO is the camera's sensitivity to light, which affects the image's noise and grain.