Author: dunestewart

Editing Wikipedia was an interesting avenue to undertake. Initially, I was unsure as to what article I was going to edit, since there was such a vast amount of information and topics available. I first settled on something related to film photography since that was my main topic over the course of the semester period. After failing to find something relative, I settled with “Monochrome Photography,” since it was somewhat relevant, and also underdeveloped in its state.

The article was in a state of describing possible options for digital cameras that only operated in black and white photography, so I added two cameras that are more recent, where each has their own specific quality as to why you would want to choose them. I added the Fuji-X-Pro1-M and the Phase One IQ3 100MP cameras. After adding the two options, I proceeded to include a correct depiction of a cyanotype photograph, since the one displayed was said to be “digitally altered,” but it did not seem accurate in its presentation. I left the previous uploaded images alone, considering how the editors might prefer their presence over my new photograph. In addition to this edit, I linked below, external links to relevant topics that might trace back to the topic of monochromatic photography such as, calotype, ambrotype, cyanotype, and black and white. The last thing I did was added a new sub-header section dedicated to camera modifiers that could lead to different aesthetic results given the proper function of the tools. I listed the following: Color filters, Neutral Density filters, Polarizing filters, and Infrared filters. I also left three new references related to the topics.

Before I added all these elements to the page, I consulted these and other various topics on the talk page of the discussion. I left my notes there as to why this information should be included, and added questions to discuss between editors to make a more unanimous decision on the bigger spectrum of the subject. There is an artistic discussion underway as to whether monochromatic is a better term to use rather than achromatic for the article since one differs than the other, but monochromatic is the more accepted use of the term to mean black and white photography in today’ society. Monochrome actually refers to the use of one color upon an image, whereas an achromatic image is only black and white tonal values displayed. I suggested we include “achromatic” as an alternative word to the term, while also not directing people away from the page.

Social media has become a global advertisement for people who can’t seem to get away from their phones. Many of the news social media users encounter are false depictions of real life events or spoof to encourage its prominency on social media by its sharing for discussion.

When concerned with the problem of how we can divert our friends and family on social media from sharing misinformation, we need to have multiple methods of attempts to help signify the importance that encompasses such tactics. In the article, “”Can We Stop the Spread of Misinformation?” by Psychology Today’s writer, Ira E. Hyman, Jr., Ph.D., he states, “Essentially, we need to slow people down. When people slow down, they do a better job of distinguishing fake and true information.” I find this to be a great initial start to help develop a better mindset when discovering new information. We can inform our peers of possibly looking further into what may be seem as suspicious from the clickbait headlines and stories that follow. This may not be enough, though.

In the same article, he also states, “The simple thing is to not require answers from people. Instead, encourage people to withhold answers if they aren’t sure. When you do this, people are more likely to evaluate information.” I think this is the most effective approach presented, since if we share the news with a statement of uncertainty, it will cause the post to get more attention, but will have all readers second guessing whether it’s a true event. From this spread of uncertainty, we can hope that it gets readily disproved, and then shared afterward to stop fellow peers in believing the statement presented.

Every one of our peers will have disagreements with us, and it is our job to inform them that we have researched the topic to find false information related to it, and to encourage them to do the same to see if their conclusion still stays the same. This will allow for a more open approach to not readily disproving their beliefs, but rather allowing them to prove the statements themselves in an attempt to prove its credibility, in which, will bring about the correct status of the situation.

If these tactics seem to tedious for substitution given the conveniency of just sharing a topic on social media, have them do the following, as recommended by Renee Diresta of The Aspen Institute: “make sure the title accurately reflects the content and that the site is reputable.” In this case, we will not be absolutely sure it will reflect the credibility of the story, but we have more reason to trust the source of the information. This approach may encourage more peers to have a strong reliability from their sources, therefore, allowing them to back up their statements of sharing content.

In photography, the medium of film photography seems to gain much traction around the most renown subject which is 35mm format. What many newcomers to the medium are unaware of, is that there are multiple subtopics that exists in the realm of developing film photography such as, medium and large format photographs, cyanotypes, solarization, tintype, pinhole, and cross-processing. These different methods of production offer varied results for the finished product, which can help add a layer of meaning onto your work. Below I have linked artists and articles that depict the different variations in more detail.

Solarization:

For solarization, it can be a daunting initial approach, but when you read about the process it is much simpler than it seems. I found the following article to be a profound example for the use of solarization, not from the source of the article from FeltMagnet itself, but the content it provided. It had great pictorial examples to display the effect of the process, while also highlighting some tips to accompany some of the possible undesired effects that could happen during the process.

What drew me to her article was the tips she provided, stating “for gaining maximum results” try doing the following:

• “Using high contrast papers will give you a more dramatic effect.
• Slow films are easier to work with since they require longer exposure time to develop.
• Since re-exposure effects the highlights, use a print with a lot of light areas to achieve the most dramatic results.
• Dilute your developer to twice the manufacturers recommendations.”

FeltMagnet

Medium and Large Format Film Photography:

For many photographers, film photography usually begins with the 35mm camera, and then if they decide film photography is more of their preferred style, they will usually venture into medium and large format photography. What draws many people to these forms is the level of detail and also the price you get for these cameras since their digital competitors of the same format are very expensive (thousands of dollars). For this combined topic, I wanted to provide a few links to necessitate the impact of its technology.

The first example is an article written by Fstoppers, a notable community centered around professional photographers, that aim to discuss many of the different facets of photography. In the following article they depict the differences between 35mm, Medium Format, and Large Format photography.

Hans Rosemand, the avid article writer for the company states:

“Try not to focus much on resolution and more on how the feel of the image strikes you. Do you like the depth of the larger formats? If so, is it enough for you to deal with the inconveniences?”

Fstoppers: 35mm, Medium Format, Large Format: Which Should You Choose?

The second source I’d like to pay tribute to is to the New York photographer Willem Verbeeck, who shoots editorials professionally, but also has experience shooting with all types of camera formats. He usually keeps his Mamiya RZ67 for his more serious shoots, and for that reason, I’m providing his review of the camera, which also introduces the different images that it can produce. (This camera was the medium format camera reviewed in the Fstoppers article)

Willem states in the video, “With any of 6×7 medium format cameras listed here, you’re going to get a similar quality, because they all technically have the same sensor.”

I like this quote, because it doesn’t lock the viewer into thinking this one camera is the “end all, be all” for medium format photography, and there can be similar qualities found amongst an array of different products for the medium.

The Best Medium Format Film Camera – Mamiya RZ67 Review

Lastly, Ted Forbes is a popular Youtuber for his series “The Art of Photography,” which dives into all things photography. In the following video, he has an in-depth video describing the different properties of large format film photography cameras.

Forbes states, “If you have too much barrel distortion, you can alter the focal plane by the rear or front standard.”

Although it seems like a smaller detail in the overall scheme, it is not possible to fix barrel distortion digitally unless with post-processing software, or using a tilt-shift lens that can mirror the same usage of the bellows that film photography cameras have at their disposal with their bellows.

Large Format Cameras

Cyanotypes:

A cyanotype is a photographic print with a blue tint over the image, which was commonly used to form “blue prints.”

Anna Atkins is a famous photographer for her cyanotype prints, and the following article gives examples of her background, and also examples of her photographic prints.

The process is pretty self-explanatory once the chemicals are explained in the process of developing the prints.

Cyanotypes of British Algae by Anna Atkins (1843)

Cross-Processing

Following the explanation of cyanotypes, I thought cross-processing would make a great addition to follow. Cross-processing is developing film in the wrong chemicals (which are used for different types of other films) in order to create uncertain effects.

The Darkroom is a company that specializes in developing darkroom film in San Clemente, CA, and they also produce articles on the different types of processes you can choose from for production results.

“The largest differences in the outcome of your cross processed photos have to do with the film you’re using.

Each film has its own unique look and characteristics and sometimes it can vary drastically. The most obvious difference in film is the color cast produced during development. ”

They have developed the following article on the production of cross-processing:

Cross Processing Film – A complete guide

Although the invention of disposable cameras is said to be first produced in 1949 by PhotoPac, it was not widely used until Fujifilm’s addition in 1986. The 1900s trend of photography has now resurfaced amongst teenagers as a use to receive a photo with a nostalgic quality that depicts the feeling of their experiences with candid happiness. In the Los Angeles Times, Justine Riddle, an eighteen year-old  high school graduate stated “…you capture the imperfect in a seemingly perfect way with just one shot. I use my disposable when I want to capture my friends in their most candid, spontaneous moments.” In addition to the rising consumerism from teenagers, Alex Yi, a film processor owner of 35m Pro Photo Lab in Sherman Oaks, stated “In 2017, 35m processed photos from 15 to 20 disposable cameras per week. It now does as many as 200 per week.” It has to be noted that the use of disposable cameras to have over 200 orders a week, must be a cultural uprising trend versus just a generation-Z based study of interest. Following the comeback of the disposable camera, LA Times report there are now apps like Photo-editing apps like “Huji Cam that make iPhone pictures look like they were taken with a disposable camera, complete with an orange time stamp.” Given this older aesthetic of a stamp upon the photo imprint, it seems the quality of the photograph is being judged less than the experience of the moment captured.

Adding to the resurgence of film photography, it seems as though this correlation coincides with the relevancy of keeping film processing around at least a little longer to provide a different quality that digital photography is missing. In the video produced by Mango Street, they list pros and cons of the use of going back to disposable camera, where the pros included, “you’re just worried about framing, lighting, and composition. Also, you don’t have to do any editing to the photos.” The cons that were listed included, “the field of view versus the actual crop frame is different when produced for the photograph. The cost of developing the film ranges from twenty to thirty dollars, in addition to the initial cost of the disposable camera.”

The last article I researched about the reemergence of disposable cameras, was how professionals are using it to document their life nowadays. Recently, six NFL players were given disposable cameras to document their day-to-day life going through football camp and preseason. In the article’s photo results from the cameras, you can see the clear benefits of reusing this method of technology. The subjects of the photos were timeless memories of activities that are enjoyed each year by different players amongst the team, as well as the engagement that was allowed to be photographed with fans watching their practices as they trained for the upcoming season. Following the captions of what the pictures depicts, there are insider comments from the players about what that moment means to them and the team such as the day they got pizza as a cheat day meal since, Justin read states, “We have a nutritionist so we have all of our food planned out every day of the week, and that just happened to be a cheat day.”

Given the broader topic of the story, multiple sources were used to support the theory of the reemergence. The quality of the craft of photography has not necessarily heightened or detracted from its current standpoint, but rather added a new perspective for those unfamiliar with the older technology of disposable cameras, and offered those familiar, a fresh way to compare how it could be beneficial or more worse than the technology they usually use on a daily basis. The writer’s view from Susan Spillman of the LA Times does give credible feedback from newer users of the medium, but she lacked to add statistical information from a more generalized population, whereas this seems more directed to LA residents themselves. The writers of Mango Street, also have more of an opinionated viewpoint on the subject from a personal experience using the camera, but still based their listed pros and cons to what all users experience when choosing disposable over digital cameras. The NFL article served a more documentary perspective on the resurgence, allowing the public to see how it could still be relevant in the modern day.

I think the authors missed the opportunity to ask if different disposable cameras had different benefits over one another, much like how digital cameras are constantly critiqued based on brand, lens, format, and capabilities. Getting into the technicals of disposable cameras, it could be compared to how the set results of them could be beneficial in some situations such as a consistent look and feel versus having full manual control of the scene.

Letter Grade for each article:

LA Times: B

Mango Street: C

SI: B

Article: Going Dark: How to Build and Equip a Photographic Darkroom

In a post detailing the construction of a darkroom, it may seem unnecessary in a modern era where digital technology has risen to be seen as the superior medium for many consumers. The common myth associated with the building process is that it is too expensive and unaffordable to those who wish to practice the medium while also not wasting too much of their money of a hobby. Derailing the myth, author, Gary Miller, states, “I recently paid $125 for a complete set of darkroom equipment.” As to any researcher of the film photography medium, this would come as a shock, considering the expenses of the equipment at the time is incomparable to the bargain prices they are now.

This article serves as a form of news instead of opinion, because it details the updated version of a do-it-yourself technique that allows an affordable method to take place for a dated medium. It displays how the current market can benefit from learning how to develop there photos from start to finish without having to invest too much money, and if they choose to prefer digital afterwards, then it is not much of a financial loss to them.

Article: Fujifilm Announces Neopan 100 Acros II Black & White Film Coming This Fall to Domestic Market

Although the title of the article may lead readers to think it is a dated title from the 1900s era, it is actually date from June of 2019. This addition of having new film produced in a modern era of technology leads to the conclusion that there is still a large market of film photographers. If the modern era’s newest technology surpassed that of its predecessor, why would there be film photography connoisseurs for any reason other than a nostalgia attraction? According to the Shutterbug Staff, “the film is said to deliver unsurpassed resolution, fine grain and sharpness, and will be released in 35mm and 120 roll formats.” What many novice photographers, or those unfamiliar with the film spectrum of photography do not know, is that the amount of detail transferred onto the negative film is more than many digital format cameras (with the exception of a few highly expensive large format digital cameras, which range into the thousands of dollars on the market). They also stated production would initially be processed in Japan, demonstrating its global phenomenon, and consumers would know the film’s value based upon its varied marketplace due to its future success when it arrives.

This article is a form of news that demonstrates the continual production of new film negative rolls, and the outreach to the global status that it has around the world. Fujifilm has been displayed in this article as a producer of quality shown through dated techniques that will produce genuine, quality photographs versus them focusing on promoting digital software to enhance the details instead.

Article: Opinion: The Film Photography World is a Million Times Less Toxic Than the Digital World 

In the closing statement of Gampat’s article, he states, “film photography is still better as a culture than digital. And I’m not sure that that’s ever going to change.” In part, this is true to the community of film photographers that can see the differences between conversational topics that arise when being confronted by people outside of the photography culture itself. Many of the questions pertain to “one brand vs another,”  and film tends to open up questions “more about creative intent.” The author makes a point, that photographers seem to be more focused on the craft when they’re not caught up in the technological aspect that usually correlates with the rising technological advancements that happen within the industry continuously. Film photography forces the viewer to use their eye critically, and to capture their subject with precision.

This article is an opinionated perspective, where a film photographer uses his bias of film photography’s advantages, without pursuing the benefits of digital photography that could make a well developed counter-argument against the production of film photography. He is also not accounting for the photographers who have experienced both mediums of photography, and possibly preferred to shoot digital after experimenting with film’s techniques and its limits in the craft.

Article:  7 Reasons I Still Shoot Film in 2018

Nato Macedo states, “This article is an answer to all the people who ask me why I still shoot analog today. This is not at all a digital versus analog kind of article, and my main goal is to present film cameras as a viable tool for some kind of work and practices, just as digital is for others.” Although this article focuses on the pros of film photography, it is trying to stay neutral in terms of its rival-digital photography. This article focuses on the pros of film, while negating digital photography from the discussion at all. A very important topic is that of color. Macedo reiterates why film is still used today with this statement: “…analog film color rendition and black and white tones are amazing. There is nothing like it in the digital world. I still haven’t been able to reach the same color results I have in analog using digital cameras.” Unbeknownst to many digital photographers and non-photographers alike is that the film color process is a very unique color palette that is very difficult, if even possible, to replicate with the use of photo manipulation software such as Photoshop and Lightroom. The story and use of color are much stronger in the visualization that is made with the photographer when they use analog photography since there is much more conscious thought put into the process (unless they choose to waste money and film to create mediocre products).

This opinionated article served to show readers that although digital photography is not a bad format to use, there are many rewards regarding the use of analog photography. It is true that she uses the assumption that a film photographer will always think more using analog versus digital, but that is up for debate depending upon the person behind the camera. Although many formats were discussed in the analog process, she tends to lean more towards the description of medium format cameras that allows for more detail and a lower picture count, which could draw viewers away from the medium due to its limited balance.

In the modern day, it is common to disregard old techniques of utilization and replace them with a more modernized invention. One of those inventions was the digital camera. The digital camera, allowing users the freedom to shoot an unlimited amount of photographs without having to worry about the financial costs of wasting film, or having to develop numerous slide of photographs, has deterred camera users away from the mechanical usage of film photography cameras. I personally care much about this topic since I am a professional and hobbyist photographer, in which I have experimented with both tools to experience both their costs and their benefits.

There is a continuous ongoing discussion as to whether film photography should even stay relevant in the modern world, given the new technology. There is a large following of people as advocates on either side, where one believe the nostalgia and hands-on approach that compliments film photography has been lost through unconscious snapshotting through a digital viewfinder. The digital argument is that it is a less expensive approach in the long run to switch to digital and be able to experiment with a variety of topics without having to worry about wasting film or money.

Fstoppers is a community of photographers, both amateur and professional, that is curated by a select few professional photographers who have excelled in the industry of their craft. They supply their audience with information as to the best gear, methods, and problem solving to photographic situations. In this article “You’re Making a Mistake if You’re Not Telling Your Friends to Start With Film,” it states that it would be easier to start as a film photographer since you can focus more on the form of a photograph, while the processing does the color work for you. Many people would disagree with their approach, considering the costs of paying for scans, processing, and the film itself, but there are others who take on a more neutral approach to the advantages and disadvantages of both sides.

The Darkroom, an award-winning film processing lab located in San Clemente, California, has listed the objective information concerning both mediums. In their article, “Film vs Digital,” it goes over how film can help novices in many ways given its advantages, with one being for example, “Film is more forgiving of minor focusing issues and exposure problems.” This may not be seen as a significant matter, but when digital lenses are often so delicate, a small drop can mess up the focus of the camera lens, leaving you to either resorting to manual mode, or not being able to see the photo is focus at all until it is on your LCD screen. Given that notion, a huge advantage comes to the digital aspect, when you are given unlimited use of storage, only limited by the amount of space given by your selected SD card. This offers the opportunity to take as many different angles of one subject, or being able to spend all day at a location in hopes of achieving success through your imagery, given that natural light changes about every 15 seconds, especially during sunset.

During the past 24 hour period, I consumed media through many different sources including, television, music, reading, and social media. I began to consume media through television, viewing a comical television series, but as the morning progressed, I viewed some snippets of the daily morning news of NBC’s Channel 4 News Los Angeles that covered the new event of fire hydrants being broken by nearby homeless people, as well as a continuation on an exposé of a drug dealer being sentenced to seventeen years in prison. Throughout the afternoon, I was listening to a variety of music through the Spotify app as I drove around town for work, and then when I returned home, I spent time on social media, specifically, Instagram and Twitter, using the services to supply me with trending topics of today’s news such as Women Equality, VMAs, and Dave Chapelle concerning his new stand-up special’s content. Later that evening, I decided to consume reading material associated with my photographic interest that connects the perspective of Taoism with the craft of photography. The selection includes methods in which the two relate through the use of pre-visualization and mindfulness to achieve a calm alertness that would allow photographers to be the most prepared for spontaneous moments. Lastly, I was viewing music videos from artists, focusing on their lyrics to gain a better sense of the narrative.

I think media has left a dissatisfying impression given its current state of mistrust, and the surplus of misguided information that leads many false claims and suggestions. My use of media is geared towards the stereotype of how my generation receives their news information, mainly through use social media, and although it serves more of a mass communication to allow the possibility of false information, many people debunk the fake news in a timely manner. My use of social media as a tool to gain informative information, I find not completely credible, is usually sustained through quick corrections over the period of a few minutes. The use of television news seems to be more relevant news in the local area, but given the visual media’s lack of credibility in certain areas, it is hard to assume it is trustworthy in some situations where skepticism should be obviously used. The use of music videos can infatuate the scenario represented when correlated with lyrical description, but it is unaware to the listener as to whether the story told is more for entertainment purposes, or if it meant to be taken as factual evidence given personal experiences.

The ranking of the following news outlets:

NBC Channel 4 News Los Angeles- 7

Although, a “reliable” news outlet to the status quo of society, there is a stigma associated with the news feeding us government based information for favor of a personal agenda, whether that be for money, ratings, or entertainment. With that said, it still has much trust given its long time existence in the television medium. There are some stories that will seem more skeptical than others, and I believe that has to do with more dire situations that concerns a national phenomenon versus a local event.

Twitter- 8

I gave Twitter a much higher ranking on the scale of news outlets, because it is commonly used to talk about trending topics, most of them including, news related sources. Although, Twitter does have its discrepancies concerning its factual information on each topic, it is usually corrected by other informed citizens that did more follow-up research to check the claim.

Instagram- 3

Instagram had the lowest ranking given that it is probably the most used social media platform of the current day, and that advertisements and false promises are made daily on the site to encourage others to pay money for a fictitious following to gain a sense of entitlement.

Tao of Photography Book- 9

This served as a higher ranking given the execution between relating the two subjects based upon its fundamentals. The information is reflected through the use of professionals of the craft, while also relying on a two-thousand year old text that provides insightfulness to its readers.

Music Videos- 5

I chose the lower rank of five, because I believe that although much of what is said can be from personal experience, there is usually an exaggeration given to the context to make it more enjoyable to the audience.

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