Pictorial photographs, according to Stieglitz, have contrast held to a minimum to emphasize atmosphere, and low tones, keeping reality soft and emotional, with a more generalized subject matter (image not about a person in particular, or the scene would be about him/her instead), with main figures grounded, with quiet gestures. He states that Pictorialists avoided chaos and controversy, with mood and mystery also being important. Press Photography, on the other hand, must be “a fair representation of the context of events and facts reported”, and that “most of the media agree that the only acceptable changes are those used to improve the quality of the photograph, but without changing the context/facts on the photograph in any sense” (Danilovic, Sandra). Obviously, both types of photography can be shot with a camera, printed, be landscapes, portraits, or of any subject matter, but the main difference is how the final product is presented.
Artistic photographs which have been altered should certainly be acceptable – as art. Art comes in many forms. Before photography, painters were not expected to paint only what they can see, true to form. Creativity and imagination are all part of the artistic method, and while many artists depicted truths and actual events, much of it was altered to be visibly pleasing. Frida Kahlo painted “Henry Ford Hospital” in 1932 as a way of depicting her miscarriage. It is not in its truest form, She is not shown in the room she was actually in, wearing exactly what she was wearing. It tells a story, which is what altered photographs also hope to acheive, in many cases. Sometimes, as with any other artistic medium, it is just art for art's sake.
I believe the real issue is using altered images as truth in the press. While they may create more interesting and news-worthy articles in tabloid magazines, altered images in newspapers and other crediable sources are presenting the stories and images as truth. An altered image would be a lie; “Photojournalism distinguishes itself from other forms of professional photography by its adherence to the principles of journalism” (Westbrook, Dillon). According to the slideshow featured in Week 9, “According journalistic codes of ethics journalists must not alter their images because their role is to report about various events and inform the audience about facts” (Danilovic, Sandra).
References:
Danilovic, Sandra. Week 9 Course Notes (Lecture Slides). Blackboard, c. 2010. https://gbc.blackboard.com/webct/. 17 Mar. 2011.
Stieglitz, Alfred. Minneapolis Institute of Arts. http://www.artsmia.org/get-the-picture/stieglitz/frame04.html. 18 Mar. 2011.
Westbrook, Dillion. A Brief History of Photojournalism. Photography Schools, 2005. http://www.photography-schools.com/photojournalismhistory.htm. 17 Mar. 2011.
Photo Credits (in order of appearance):
Man Ray
www.manraytrust.com/
Quentin Shih
http://open-eye-photography.blogspot.com/2009_04_01_archive.html
Uncredited
http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/119651--body-found-just-blocks-from-where-murder-victim-sonia-varaschin-was-discovered-in-caledon
http://www.citytv.com/toronto/citynews/news/local/article/119651--body-found-just-blocks-from-where-murder-victim-sonia-varaschin-was-discovered-in-caledon
Patrick Baz/AFP/Getty
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/03/18/libya-friday-031811.html
