04/19/10

"Trusting the photograph was probably a huge mistake from the beginning".

A photograph may tell the truth of a scene, and the physical objects...but it does not tell the truth of what is going on inside people's heads (if they are in the photograph). Photographs capture a moment in time, but you don't always know what the truth behind the photograph is. When talking about technical issues, people can always dodge and change film. And as far as photoshop goes, the entire photograph can be changed around 100%. Photographs have mystery to them that most people don't even realize.

PETA has photographers take photographs of horrific situations with animals. A lot of people think PETA is crazy with there photographs, everything from the photo labeled "flesh", to photos with real people being around dead animals. PETA tries to get the truth out about animal cruelty. These photographs are true, but can be taken to the extreme sometimes. What PETA photographs show is immoral, but taking the photographs, are moral; PETA is trying to get a point across.

A photograph can be both, a piece of artwork, and document. As disturbing as some photographs may be, there is truth to them, which makes it documentary. A lot of people disagree over what is, and what isn't artwork. I would call these two photos that I posted artwork and document.