Is Photography Still Related to the Photograph?
Of all the readings, the Benson readings got under my skin and agitated me the most. I have to ask; IS photography the capture process, the printing process, the distribution process, or is the whole bundle under the category “Photography”? Benson discusses the 4 Stages of Photography, yet each stage has a capture method associated with a print method, as so to say that photography is nothing without printing. Sure, he briefly mentions the computer screen, but its all of 5 words, not the lengthy chapters dedicated to even the most esoteric of print methods.
The answer to the question I initially pose seems obvious to me. I feel that photography is the art of the capture. I feel that the rendering process is something else. Intimately related to photography, of course, but an entirely separate entity. Perhaps I am to literal in my derivation, but there are Wedding Photographers, and Sports Photographers, and News Photographers. Yet, they may all go to the same lab to have their results applied to paper by a technician (read: walmart) who may not understand the difference between an F-stop and an F-mount. While at the same time, their photos may never see paper at all. Does that mean they are NOT participating members of the Photography community? I sincerely believe that Benson should revise his thinking. Photography is no longer directly associated with physical hands on final results. Nay I say, results come in forms that have not only surpassed paper prints, but have transcended them.
To illustrate this, I would like to point out my chosen “photo”. Below you will see a link to my QTVR (QuickTime Virtual Reality) movies of the UH Manoa campus at night. It is a fully interactive 360° environment, complete with hotspots (may take a minute to download). To move the view, use your arrow keys, or click and drag left/ right/ up/ down to pan in the respective direction. Zooming can be accomplished with the CTRL and Shift keys. To “show hotspots” click the little arrow (house like icon with a question mark in it) in the control bar. Also note, when you do move the mouse over a hot spot, the cursor will change to an arrow, and the name of that hotspot will be displayed in the control bar. I’ve also included a frame to the left so that you don’t have to search for hotspots to jump to the different locations on campus (I suggest visiting Student Services).
Perhaps, photography is akin to a family. The photographer is much like a “father” where in the whole family assumes its name. We then have the printing/viewing methods (be it screen, or paper) which is analogous to the “mother” whom is able to produce the offspring “photo”.
Posted by David Baker.