Assignment #1- PhotoJournal Part 1: The role of portraits in the early days of photography and portraits today

1. What are main differences and similarities between portraits in the early days of photography and portraits today?

       Comparisons- Many portraits taken in the 19^th century and in the 21^st century were taken to make strong social statements. Aristocrats and other politically/socially labeled individuals believed that a photograph could announce their social status to the people of the world; a method of self-glorification.2 Similar to portraits taken today, photos of celebrities appear in many magazines such as GQ, Maxim, and Allure, re-announcing their status in the social circle to people of the world. Another comparison that many do not take into consideration is the fact that barriers still exist. Even though technological advancements have made photography practically available to every social class, middle-class and lower-class individuals are limited to the ‘studio shoots’ that some celebrities receive from professional photographers of our modern day. Professional grade photos aren’t available to everyone just as different methods of photographs weren’t available to every member of society in the early days of photography.

            Differences- Portraits today have become so unconventional as new creative ideas alter the way subjects are portrayed, as opposed to conventional portraits in the 19^th century that depict the same emotion and style in every photo even as subjects change. 

As seen in these two above photos, you have two different women posing, yet they maintain the same stern look and pose. It seems as if there is no artistic taste to the photos at all. Fashion also sets a big difference between modern portraits and portraits of the past. In the 19^th century anyone posing for a photo could not dress into anything fashionably less than their best clothing, such as the extravagant dress in the above photo to the bottom.

In modern photographs, like mentioned before, the themes, fashion, expressions are unconventional. Observe the photos below.

Kate Perry for the Rolling Stone Magazine

Victoria and David Beckham Photoshoot

 Sexual themes play a big part in photographs we see in many magazines and websites, an act to be frowned upon in early society. Morales have shifted, creating this modern social acceptance.

2. Who was the photographer and who was the subject of photographs in the past and today? 

     In the 19^th century photographers were individuals with great expertise in artistry, and painting/drawing. Knowledge in chemistry was also a trait in many photographers that gave them the ability to carry out the processes involved in developing photographs. Many of the photographers of this century received extensive artistic training, and others with at least some background in painting and drawing.[1] They called themselves ‘Photographer- Painter’ and ‘Photographer-Artist.’1 In the 21^st century any individual with creative insight and knowledge on the functions of modern day equipment could try and become a professional photographer. Besides a professional photographer, advancements in technology between the 19^th century and 21^st century make it possible for any single individual who owns a camera to be a photographer. Those who were able to pose in 19^th century photographs were limited to the individuals of ‘bourgeoisie’, upper classes. This class was made of wealthy individuals and members of political installments such as: industrialists, doctors, lawyers, merchants,  politicians, actors/actresses and intellectuals.1 This is only because members of this ‘upper class’ were the only members of society who were able to afford the pricey costs of portraits. As centuries passed, photography became less expensive and further economically viable to lower and middle-classes of society. We live in a time where anybody can be the subject of a photo, because the cost barrier that once existed is now non-existent. 

 

3. What was the impact on technology on the portraits in the past and today?

       Portraits were first developed from an artist’s hand for the selected few, as paintings were the only method of retaining images of aristocrats. Now we have digital cameras and photo editing software capable of delivering us the best quality and rendering of images at unlimited rates of production. Early forms of the mechanics and processes for photography were lengthy, complicated, costly, and consisted of ‘elaborate field-laboratories’.1 Daguerreotype, the first method of retaining a still image on the camera Obscura was the victim of progressive abandonment for more ‘modern’ methods in the mid 1800’s. A method called the ambrotype was evolving, with many beneficial factors as opposed to the daguerreotype. It was also a step forward for more cost-effective methods as photographers such as André-Adolphe-Eugène Disdéri were looking to reduce the price of portraits in order to expand clientele for their businesses. The carte-de-visite, a popularized ‘small photograph’ was a big hit in the mid 1800’s because it gave the means for people to inexpensively obtain photographs and share them with friends and family, which furthermore fulfilled Disderi’s attempts to reduce prices for photographs. 1Essentially, as numerous decades have passed and technology has advanced people besides the members of the upper class were gaining more economical and political power, and photography became available to a greater population of citizens. 

Unedited photo of low/middle class individuals

            In modern time, we are able to take photos with crystal clear quality, and are given the ability to edit and alter our photos in any way we desire. The possibilities for artistic photography are virtually endless as we can manipulate the photo’s we take however we desire. 

HDR Photo

References:

1.     A History of Photography. Lemagny Rouille

2.     The Photo Portrait. Gisele Freund. Photography And Society

 

      

 

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