A Dying Art Form

Some of our most iconic, memorable and powerful images came from a black and white film strip that someone took the time and hard work to get out just right. The photographers went through the time to perfect their images and bring them to life. As we continue to innovate and include technology in photography we lose an important piece of the old art. We push toward point and click, which is no problem for certain occasions in my opinion but I think it isn't as great of an art as black and white photography.

Technology is getting the outcome faster and cheaper which diminishes the purpose of taking the time to take the pictures. Using film is a process but the work in the dark room can get amazing images and makes you closer, or a part of your work. When you put the paper in the baths you can literally see it pop on to it and see what you've created. There is no screen to see the “image” that you've taken but a work of art.

When you look at black and white images compared to color or digital photos you miss a lot when they are digital. Black and white gives you more feeling and grain to the image and helps tell a story. You catch more detail and emotion in the people or setting that you captured. The overall mood and impact you feel when looking at it is increased. You feel more a part of what the image shows and you can never get that by looking at a screen after you take a picture with a digital camera. Color does not help enhance the picture yet it distracts and give it less depth. It flattens the image visually and in meaning.

Take for instance the image of the sailor kissing the girl after the war was over. The moment is not helped by color but only taken in with less significance.

Why have I discussed this topic today? Well recently it saddened me to find out that my former high school is losing its film photography class and switching to digital, like many other schools because of budget cuts. A class that I took part in and I really enjoyed is being lost and wont be experienced by other students. This is the last year that they will have the class. They were one of the final schools in the district to have it. Students need the opportunity to have the class and be able to produce great art, because if they don't get into it when they're young then we all may miss out on great future art. It is important to keep it living; can you imagine if these imagines here were not around?

Assigned Entry# 5 Media Impact

Since I have delved deeper in the knowledge of what the media actually is, I have seen a more positive outlook toward it. Instead of the typical corrupt media or newscasts that came to mind before I knew what it was, I’m starting to see what great positive power it can have. Take for instance the ever-increasing popularity of our star search shows.

In today’s society, the media has given a chance to talented, driven people to showcase their abilities. Not only letting them show off what they are able to do, but maybe even given a chance to completely turn their life around and become a star. Using television as a medium, the people gain a following which builds their notoriety. With shows like American Idol and The Voice, singers all over can play to an audience of viewers.

Most shows like these give the viewers an opportunity to vote on who they like most, which in return already gives the singers a fan base; with millions of votes I dont think they are off to a bad start. With singers like Kelly Clarkson, 3 time Grammy award winner, and Chris Daughtery, who didn’t win the competition and has hit on the radio, the opportunity given by the media changed their lives for the better.

            Although most people can easily reference those two shows as examples, there are others that some may forget about which have led to other successes. With shows like The Ultimate Fighter and Face Off, people are given a platform to show their athletic and creative abilities respectively. In the sport of MMA, 3 men have won UFC titles coming out of the show, not to mention many fan favorites or contenders. And with the success of the show Face Off the make-up artists have gone on to work in many movies or other areas in their field.

Without the shows, they might not have gotten the chance to do what they love to do.

            If you’re passionate about something, and you want to be recognized for it and do it for a living, then there is a form of media to do just that. Media has the tremendous power to give people the chance to flip their lives upside down for the better. If you’re ready to display your talents, you may be able to reach the level you want, superstardom. All you have to do is utilize your media of choice.

I have never even considered some of these things before I started to analyze what the media actually is. The use of media can have a positive impact and seems to be given a bad reputation from the general public because we fail to see or recognize these types of media and tend to lean toward news/corrupt mass media. A lot of what we have in our culture and everyday lives is due to the media giving it a chance to come forth and impact us, which I can now see and appreciate.