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Photography
Objective or Subjective? |
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Photography, when it was first created, was supposed to be the utmost scientific tool. It showed, people thought, exactly what was in front of the lens without any subjective interference from the photographer as paintings or drawings might. "The notion of photographic truth hinges on the idea that the camera is an objective device for the capturing of reality, and that it renders this objectivity despite the subjective vision of the person using the camera." (Sturken and Cartwright 280). Yet experience has taught us that there can be subjective photos. Cultural biases inevitably add additional meaning past that which the photograph might show. While a photo might show the President, the viewer will add a meaning to his presence; it may be a positive one for some, and a negative one for others. The question becomes how this can be manipulated. Certain compositional techniques such as lighting, angle, and framing are some of the more frequently utilized tools to increase or diminish the overarching emotions that the viewer might experience. |
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