After some time off for Reading Week , we are back to studies! This week we looked at the relationship between words and photographs, both in terms of including images and words within a single frame, or by impressing a new meaning through titling, captioning, or other use of text. For example, Yousuf Karsh’s iconicContinue reading “Transforming Visual Narratives: The Power of Captions and Titling in Photography”
Author Archives: Scott Murphy
Interdisciplinary Photography: Cinematic, Baroque, and Architectural Inspirations
Photographers draw inspiration from various creative disciplines, such as cinema and Baroque art, to craft innovative and multifaceted work. They engage with architectural marvels like the Pantheon and the Louvre Pyramid for their photographic potential. By emulating cinematic techniques and architectural elements, photographers aim to capture unique and evocative moments, infusing their work with expressive depth.
Photographic Interpretation: Unveiling Hidden Truths in Images
This week we engaged in reading photographs, in analyzing and interpreting the visual elements, historical/cultural contexts, and underlying meanings within an image. This act goes beyond simply looking at an image, as it involves considering it from a number of different perspectives. Among other methods, such as those based on Barthes’ concept of studiumContinue reading “Photographic Interpretation: Unveiling Hidden Truths in Images”
Authorship and Collaboration
The issue of authorship has never been so complex. With the growing prevalence of generative artificial intelligence programs and services such as ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, Sora, et al, we are increasingly exposed to text, images, and videos that are unattributed, unlicensed, and, I would argue, unaccountable. In this era of uncertainty, our reflections this week onContinue reading “Authorship and Collaboration”
Methods and Meanings
This week we considered photographic methodology and conceptual bodies of work. With respect to the latter, we read that concept may not always be clear during the outset of a project, but may develop organically through intuition, repetition, and introspection. However, Burgin’s quote regarding this process was somewhat jarring: “shoot first, ask questions later”. Continue reading “Methods and Meanings”
Windows and Mirrors
What is the nature of photography? One analogy, proposed by John Szarkowski, is that a photograph could be seen either as a mirror or as a window. In the first instance, such as with a self-portrait, it’s an expression of the photographer’s self. In the latter, such as a crime scene evidence photo, a photographContinue reading “Windows and Mirrors”
Scott Murphy – Photographer 