ETEC 531 MP1: The Evolution of Photography

ETEC 531 Media Production #1

“Discuss the implications of technological innovations for particular forms of artistic

and cultural practice and of culture and creativity in general.”

By: Steffanie Reid

The Evolution of Photography

And it’s effect on self perception…

From humble beginnings…

In the 16th century, artists such as Michelangelo and da Vinci used a device known as a “camera obscura” to help them analyze and depict what they observed in the world around them

(http://parallelsthroughimage.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/camera_obscura.jpg)

A Camera Obscura…

This simple device used a pin hole sized opening and a mirror to reflect a flat image of a three dimensional space, helping the artist to depict on paper what he observed with his eyes.

By tracing the images reflected by the camera obscura, artists learned much about the depiction of perspective.

By angling lines and utilizing “vanishing points” artists were now able to depict a three dimensional scene on a flat piece of canvas!

This precursor to the camera was already changing the way in which man perceived the world around him!

In 1814…A breakthrough in the world of photography!!

(www.neatorama.com)

This photo was taken by Joseph Nicephore using a camera obscura directed at paper formulated with silver salts and iodine crystals

This was the first “fixed” image created by a camera!

However, the exposure time was over 8 hours, and the image would eventually fade…

The science of photography exploded after this breakthrough!

Within 30 years photographs (now permanent and with exposure times of less than a second) were already being utilized in advertisements.

(www.the-forum.com)

By the turn of the century the first mass-marketed, hand held camera, the Kodak Brownie, was released.

It sold for $1.00 and was targeted to children…

(http://www.ozcamera.com)

People could now record family memories without the need to hire a professional photographer or portrait artist!

The “snapshot” was born…

(Image taken by a Brownie Camera circa early 1900’s)

(http://farm1.static.flickr.com)

Photography’s Effect on Society…

The development of photography-based media, such as magazines and moving pictures, resulted in massive changes in society and the way individuals (particularly women) viewed themselves.

Fashion magazines have been around for a long time (the first is thought to have originated c.1586 in Frankfurt, Germany).

These magazines contained simple sketches of the fashions of the day, along with written articles.

It wasn’t until the 20th century that photographs of people wearing the newest fashions (i.e. models) were included in magazines rather than drawn illustrations of the fashions.

The public now had a new “ideal” to aspire to…

They had always tried to keep up with the latest fashions, but now they also wanted to look like the beautiful people pictured in magazines…

Before the advent of digital photography, people were already taking their quest to look like the beautiful people in magazines to an unhealthy level.

Body Modifying Undergarments…

(http://www.ladywaisted.com)

Crazy diets…

(bp1.blogger.com)

Odd Cosmetic Potions…

(www.prevention.com)

The myth of photographs…

When you take a photo of someone on a digital camera, you can preview the picture and see that the image does indeed look exactly like the person.

The public, therefore, assumes that the images they see in magazines and moving pictures are also accurate representations of the people portrayed…

With the advent of digital photography people are now trying to meet an ideal that is not physically possible even for the models in the photographs!

Wrinkles?

Not anymore!

Need to shave?

Not anymore!

Simple, but very powerful photo editing software now gives anyone the ability to perform “digital cosmetic surgery” on their photographs.

This technique (also known as airbrushing) is widely used by magazines.

(http://www.chitchatchica.com/index.php?s=airbrushing)

Want a “perfect” body?

Digital photograph manipulation can quickly remove pounds from a models figure…

(I did the following modification in 10 minutes on my computer…)

The before… The after…

Photographs no longer represent what we actually look like.

Photographs now represent what we wish we could look like.

And as mirrors do not automatically airbrush our features, they become the enemy…

The Repercussions…In a 2007 research poll of Canadians, 72%

said they would not hesitate to have cosmetic surgery.

(www.inmagine.com)

The Repercussions…

Eating disorders are now the third most common chronic illness in adolescent girls.

(whatsortsofpeople.wordpress.com)

The Repercussions…71% of adolescent girls want to be

thinner despite only a small proportion being over a healthy weight.

(weblog.xanga.com)

The next time you see a flawless picture of a beautiful celebrity, remember…

(www.twd.in)

Even they only wish they looked like that!

(http://www.daylesfordmakeup.com/)

References2007 Consumer Cosmetic Enhancement Statistics (Press Release).

(2007) Plastic Surgery Statistics.com. Retrieved Oct.1, 2008 from http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2007/20/c2389.html

History of Photography. (n.d). National Geographic Online. Retrieved Sept.30, 2008 from http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photographers/photography-timeline.html

History of Photography and the Camera (n.d.) About.com: Inventors. Retrieved Sept.30, 2008 from http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blphotography.htm

ReferencesLiterature Review of Media Messages to Adolescent Females (2005)

University of Sasketchewan, Debbie Naigle, Retrieved Sept.29, 2008 from http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/naigle/index.htm

The Influence of Fashion Magazines (n.d.) Retrieved Oct.1, 2008 from http://tirocchi.stg.brown.edu/514/story/fashion_magazines.html

Understanding Statistics on Eating Disorders. (n.d.) The National Eating Disorder Information Centre Online, Retrieved Oct.1, 2008 from http://www.nedic.ca/knowthefacts/statistics.shtml

Musical Credits

Jackie Gleason “You Oughta Be In Pictures”

Madonna “Material Girl”

Madonna “Vogue”

James Blunt “You’re Beautiful”