Photography
Tim Sussmann
Background
Photography as we know it has been around since the 1830s when the first camera obscura was created. After this invention many things were possible including more developed and accurate science, more specific proof, and more documentation of events leading to more awareness of each other and ourselves. We believe photography is so important in human development because prior to photos we just had paintings. These paintings were very subjective to the artist, which hindered there use to strictly art. Photography is used much more than strictly for art. Without the objective view of the world data would be more difficult to collect.
Turning point
It all changed when the first camera obscura came about. This was a large room that let a pinhole light through when sitting inside the room, the pinhole of light reflected on the opposite wall, a picture of the scene outside. We could see what was there without being there. This was a major discovery, because not only did artists use it but, law enforcement, scientists, and general citizens began using it to document and remember things. It was also used to create change, by exposing corruption, or hardship for people. People used photography to document a homeless persons life, trying to expose the hardships these people had to face. [1] One of the more recent uses for photography is the use in science to depict global warming trends. In Tibet the glaciers have visually shrunk in a very short amount of time. This shrinkage is noticeable in photos and provides good concrete evidence that it has been warming in the past few years. [2]
Effect
Today, almost everyone has a photo device of some sort, (at least in America). This results in more pictures and times being documented and usually means that there is less and less privacy. In the Boston Bombing the suspects were caught so quickly because of all the photos that were reviewed and taken by various people. We are coming into an age where we are held accountable for everything we do, because everything we do has the potential to be seen by everyone. [3]
[1] Miller, C. J. (2006). Images from the streets: Art for social change from the homelessness photography project. Social Justice, 33(2), 122-134. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/231911483?accountid=13215
[2] Borges P. Tibet. (Cover story). World Literature Today [serial online]. March 2013;87(2):112-117. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 6, 2013.
[3] Moller F. Photography after Empire: Citizen-Photographers or Snappers on Autopilot?. New Political Science [serial online]. December 2010;32(4):501-513. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 6, 2013.
Tim Sussmann
Background
Photography as we know it has been around since the 1830s when the first camera obscura was created. After this invention many things were possible including more developed and accurate science, more specific proof, and more documentation of events leading to more awareness of each other and ourselves. We believe photography is so important in human development because prior to photos we just had paintings. These paintings were very subjective to the artist, which hindered there use to strictly art. Photography is used much more than strictly for art. Without the objective view of the world data would be more difficult to collect.
Turning point
It all changed when the first camera obscura came about. This was a large room that let a pinhole light through when sitting inside the room, the pinhole of light reflected on the opposite wall, a picture of the scene outside. We could see what was there without being there. This was a major discovery, because not only did artists use it but, law enforcement, scientists, and general citizens began using it to document and remember things. It was also used to create change, by exposing corruption, or hardship for people. People used photography to document a homeless persons life, trying to expose the hardships these people had to face. [1] One of the more recent uses for photography is the use in science to depict global warming trends. In Tibet the glaciers have visually shrunk in a very short amount of time. This shrinkage is noticeable in photos and provides good concrete evidence that it has been warming in the past few years. [2]
Effect
Today, almost everyone has a photo device of some sort, (at least in America). This results in more pictures and times being documented and usually means that there is less and less privacy. In the Boston Bombing the suspects were caught so quickly because of all the photos that were reviewed and taken by various people. We are coming into an age where we are held accountable for everything we do, because everything we do has the potential to be seen by everyone. [3]
[1] Miller, C. J. (2006). Images from the streets: Art for social change from the homelessness photography project. Social Justice, 33(2), 122-134. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/231911483?accountid=13215
[2] Borges P. Tibet. (Cover story). World Literature Today [serial online]. March 2013;87(2):112-117. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 6, 2013.
[3] Moller F. Photography after Empire: Citizen-Photographers or Snappers on Autopilot?. New Political Science [serial online]. December 2010;32(4):501-513. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 6, 2013.