Unit 8 Activity 4

 Tommy Ingberg

Melinda Gibson

Both images above are artistic photomontages, focusing around people and have ideas beyond realism. The top image shows a headless man flying away with a bundle of balloons replacing his head. The bottom shows the silhouette of a man laying on the floor. The silhouette is filled with a forest-like scene. It's also been made to look like the man was cut out of a previous image and replaced. The images seem to represent the dreams and imagination of humans. The bottom image could have been made to be a smooth silhouette, remove the cutout feel, but I personally like the style. The picture could also have been filled with any scenario; the forest most likely reflects the person's inner fantasies, such as a love for nature.

Unit 8 Activity 3

• As editors exercise their ever-increasing power over information control, what limits would you impose on them as to the extent to which they can manipulate the photographic image? 
• Devise a series of guidelines that will control the release of images that have been constructed for media use so that the public is aware as to the extent of the manipulation. 

There should be different guidelines for what the media and editors are trying to display. A fictional piece should be able to have zero limit to what you can manipulate. However, when the media tries to display something for sale or is passing an image off as real, there should be many guidelines. If models are modeling for weight loss, clothing, or body appearance, there should be no liquification of their frame. Acne and makeup models should not be editing to remove blemishes, and so on. If model's pictures are modified in any way, the media should notify the public, like saying so in a commercial or writing it directly on a billboard.

Unit 8 Activity 2

 B. Clinch

Lewis Bush

Both of these photomontages show loyalty and following of people during war. The top image is from the 1930's while the bottom image is modern. The top image could either be for or against the leadership of Stalin. It may be trying to unify the people under him, and the buildings and planes represent the technological advancement of the U.S.S.R. On the other hand, Stalin may be being portrayed as a gigantic tyrant, oppressing the blind people below him. I don't know what the word in the middle means, but it would probably explain it better. The second picture shows the cult following of nuclear weapons. These weapons are disguised as a church, showing a fake facade of the government; a welcoming outside with a hidden evil behind it.

Unit 8 Activity 1

Henry Peach Robinson's "Fading Away"

Photomontages began to be made in the late 1800's. Photographers would expose certain sections of negatives to make a single image. Many people criticized this process, most likely because it could be considered "fake" photography. Skill may not be needed to get true art if you cheat and make it up. It isn't real. Photography was about the real world, and these innovators of photomontages made photography fake. People truly couldn't believe what they saw. In my opinion, however, I think it's very unique and creative. You can use your imagination and create things unseen and create emotions that simply couldn't appear if it was a "real" photograph. In today's age, photomontages are very popular. Partially because I feel there's been a surge of new creativity, but most likely because of technology. Before Photoshop, creating a photomontage was painstaking and took hours, possibly days. Now you can do everything on a computer easily, and it often looks better too. Pictures are better quality, colors are richer, and the photos merge together more smoothly. I think there's a correlation between the technology and creativity surge as well; it may not be that the imagination is new, but all of the creative photomontages just could not be done before. With technology, we can really express ourselves much better.