2. The World is dominated by visual images
Photographs almost invisible exchanged on a daily basis
There are codes and conventions that give the photograph meaning that ultimately
give the photography as a means of representation
Doorway to a world that is waiting to be recorded photographed rather than being
painted. It has given the power to order and structure the world around us
Photograph means light writing and gives us the power to order and construct the
world around us.
Taking a photograph fixes time takes the past and fixes it in a continuous present
3. The Start of the medium
The world had already been seen using the Camera Obscura however it was just
an aid to the artist and not a record in its own right.
First photograph - Josepeh Nicephore niepce 1765 1833
Desire to record age of discovery
Daguerreotype - 1833 - reproduction of the image nature received in the camera
obscura allowing nature to reproduce itself
Paul delaroche - painting is dead
Problems with daguerreotype - long exposure , portraits reflected the method not
the medium any movement blurred the image and the record taken.
4. The Journey of the medium
The Daguerreotype was a delicate unique image
Fox talbot first negative process thus allowing multiple copies of the same image
Nature drawing raised the possibility of the medium
Calotype 1840 the lattice window lacked the detail of the Daguerreotype
Put into place a way to record and reproduce
The perfect photo could reflect a hyper reality
5. Rapid Change
Rapid change of equipment and process
Price reduced to cater for mass market set up was originally for the privileged few
but within 60 years a mass means of recording and visual communication
Kodak catered for the mass Market making it the most mobile and avaliable art
form.
Everyone could now construct their own view of the world
Photography as an art form and a mass produced object
However the mediums point of reference is dominated by a handful of
practitioners and values associated with painting
6. Summary
When looking at a photograph we must take on board
Historical,cultural,social,technical,contexts,
Each picture has a context and is affected by its size location and context
The ghost of painting looms large over photography
Photographs fix a moment in time but the moment has now passed and could
therefore be said to be dead.
The photograph is light writing but is also our signature on the world
