History of documentary photography

History of documentary photography For this assignment we were required to work in groups to give a formal presentation on early documentary. Specifically the biography and works of the following three 19th century photographers; Francis Frith, Rodger Fenton and Mathew Brady discussing three images of each photographer. These photographers were a few of the first to record history in the making. To explore and share the places they captured and the people living there. This new form of communication played a vital role in the way society viewed painting and drawing. Not only as a method for channelling material but also as a medium of visual or artistic articulation. The Rockland Community College (2007  ¶3) when discussing the history of documentary photography give the following definitions; The Oxford Encyclopedia of photography defines documentary; â€Å"In the broadest sense, all photography not intended purely as a means of artistic expression might be considered ‘documentary’, the photograph, a visual document, of an event, place, object, or person, providing evidence of a moment in time. Yet the term ‘documentary photography’ has a more specific meaning. The Life Librarys Documentary Photography (1972) defined it as ‘a depiction of the real world by a photographer whose intent is to communicate something of importance—to make a comment—that will be understood by the viewer’. Francis Frith, an English photographer, was born in 1822. By 1853 Frith become a founding member of the Liverpool Photographic Society. A good businessman, Frith sold his companies in 1855 and committed himself exclusively to photography. He made three voyages to the Middle East, the first a trip to Egypt in 1856 with a sizable 16 x 20 camera. When he finally made the journey home Frith was regarded as celebrity as his works had reached London long before he had. In 1860 Frith embarked on a monumental mission. He wanted to document every city, town and village in Britain. His intention was to portray a 3D scene onto a 2D box as accurately as possible. While most travel photographers were partial to the more convenient paper-based calotype, Frith preferred to use the collodian process. This posed many problems during his expeditions to Palestine and Egypt where the climate is dominated by heat, dust and insects. His images have a literal, straightforward representation of the most characteristics of a place. This was accomplished by having a foreground middle ground and background. When possible he added people into his images to give an idea of scale and to add information such as hobbies and fashion. (see Addendum A, fig. 1-3) English born Fenton, came to photography from the legal profession. His first works were a series of calotypes taken during a visit to Russia. He became the principal founder of the Photographic Society of London. His most widespread acclaim came in 1855 with the Crimean War and becoming the official photographer for the British Museum after photographing Queen Victoria. Balaklava looking seawards, (see Addendum B, fig. 1) gives us a general view of the landscape and buildings. In the foreground sits the Commandants house, behind to the right, is the arms quay and the harbour, in the distance there is line of ships retreating. In the left corner we see the remains of the old Genoese castle which sits on the hills. Images of the war were originally intended to counteract the general unpopularity of war and occasional critical reporting (see Addendum B, fig. 2). The images from Fenton were transformed to woodblocks and then published in Illustrated London News which was regarded as a less critical publication. This staged image illustrates the civilised, structured and almost glamorized way in which Fenton wanted to portray the war. Widely regarded as the first iconic photograph of war (see Addendum B, fig. 3). This image was captured in close proximity to where the Charge of the Light Brigade (which was made famous by Tennysons poem) occurred. The soldiers writing back to their families called it The Valley of Death Fenton bolstered this by intentionally titling the image The Valley of the Shadow of Death with its specific reference to Psalm 23. This emphasizes Fentons efforts throughout his career to elevate the status of photography as an art. As seen by Fentons description this image fulfils the role of the documentary photographer in that it is a visual record of history in the making. Known as the father of photojournalism, Ameriacan Mathew Brady was one of the most acclaimed photographers of the19th century. Brady is best acknowledged for the documentation of the American Civil War and his portraits of celebrities. He made use of many paid assistants, managing to capture thousands of images of American Civil War. It is from these images taken that we gather the most knowledge and understanding of the curcumstances which occurred during the War. One of Bradys most well-known images of three confederate soldiers who were captured in Gettysberg, 1863 (see Addendum C, fig. 2). Due to the exposure time we can safely assume that Brady asked the men to gather in order for him to capture the image. In doing so the men intuitively posed in such a way that grants us an indication of how they wanted themselves portrayed. While these men are captives they still stand tall and proud, with one man even having his hand on his chest. Brady had the capability to recognize a story and capture the atmosphere of that story on to film. Brady took many group portraits of both Union regiments and Confederate soldiers. These images (see Addendum C, fig. 2) were all posed in a similar way, showing the order and discipline of both sides. Brady portrayed them all as American Heroes, they fight for that which they believe in. In comparison the photographs of both sides tell the same story of men willing to die for their cause, the only difference being their uniforms. The following image (see Addendum C, fig. 3) was taken of a slave known only as Gordon after he had escaped from a Louisiana plantation. Gordon found refuge at a Union regiment camp where, before he enlisted as a soldier, he was examined by doctors who found the horrific scars on his back. The purpose of the image was to record the brutal treatment Gordon was forced to endure. After this portrait was taken it became on of the most important and powerful images used as part of the movement to abolish slavery in America. Prior to the invention of photography all events, occasions and information were illustrated by a painting medium, and although many paintings evoke an emotional response it would be severely misguided to assume that what we are being presented with is not inaccurate, fictitious, or even unashamedly deceptive. Queen Elizabeth I, for example, has had so many different paintings composed that we have no real means of truly identifying her. However, unlike paintings, the images Frith, Fenton and Brady produced could show more accurately new landscapes and record historical events. Nasreen Chothia and Darren van Tonder 1

No one person is perfect Essay

No one person is perfect. Mistakes, just like water, are an essential part of life. It’s not for our faults that we should be judged; rather it’s the way we learn to accept our human nature and change for the better. In Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Puritanical novel, The Scarlet Letter, the main character, Hester Prynne, commits an offense of infidelity against her husband, Roger Chillingworth. From then on her secret affair with the Puritan minister will always be on her mind considering the degradation she was subjected to and the infamous letter that will be forever embedded on her bosom and her child Pearl — the fruit of her sin. Hester was a woman that was well ahead of her time; she displayed the traits of being courageous while being passionate and independent. An attribute that takes someone to be courageous, passionate and independent is strength, which is required for one to endure. These were traits that were uncommon for a woman to possess during the time when Hawthorne wrote this novel, but even more unusual to find in a woman who was convicted of committing adultery. Hester Prynne displays her trait of courage and passion when she stands up to Governor Bellingham. Bellingham and his assistants confront her custody of her daughter Pearl because they think it would be better for Pearl to be raised in a more Christian-like household. But Hester, being bold and strong, stands up and responds, â€Å"I can teach my little Pearl what I have learned from this,† (107) referring to the scarlet letter. Bellingham then follows by indicating that the letter is precisely the reason for wanting Pearl to be removed from her care. This is a remarkable scene, where it is rare to see an aberrant adulterous woman speak up for herself to a person of much higher authority. But, eventually Arthur Dimmesdale, Pearl’s unidentified father, preaches on Hester’s behalf and persuades Bellingham to permit Hester continue her care. Early in the novel, Hawthorne explains that Hester was forced into a marriage to a man she did not truly love, and after being separated for a long amount of time, she became attracted to another man. Then later, she became a victim of a crime, which she was severely punished, despite the fact that  she could only be accountable for half of the incident. Hester was much stronger and more courageous than her partner in adultery. Arthur Dimmesdale her secret lover was a minister in a Puritan church, who hides his sin from his congregation in order to maintain his reputation. He tells Hester, â€Å"happy for you Hester that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret (177).† Meanwhile Hester had enough audacity to stand alone with out a known partner in crime. She respected Arthur’s decision to stay silent without a word against him. Yet Hester accepted the consequence that came along with committing adultery. While learning to live life after the embarrassment she went through at the scaffold and the life long punishment of having to wear the embedded letter â€Å"A† on her chest. That scarlet letter made her stronger, and a woman to be later admired from her Puritan counterparts. In the early chapters of this story, Hester’s social life was virtually eliminated as a result of her shameful history. Knowing that all she had after she walked out of the prison door was her letter on her chest and beloved daughter Pearl by her side. She brought home her income by working as the town seamstress. Hester devoted the remainder of her time for creating garments for the poor. Overlooking the fact that they treat her badly in spite of her good intentions. She was even the object of ridicule to young children who crept up to her house to spy on her. But through the seven years since she had Pearl, Hester’s reputation changed. She was a woman full of passion for the needy and everyone else who befriended her. If asked about the woman with badge, strangers would respond, â€Å"†¦the town’s own Hester, who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comforting to the afflicted! (159)† Hawthorne goes as far to state that, â€Å"the scarlet letter had the effect of the cross on a nun’s bosom.† This effect gave her practically access into every home. The â€Å"A† which formerly stood for â€Å"Adultery,† took on another meaning to the townspeople, to them it meant â€Å"Able† (158). For Hester to change her faà §ade from an adulterous woman to a woman everyone loved. Hester’s â€Å"badge of shame,† made her a stronger person. The symbol made her  stronger because she had to walk through town being harassed by the inhabitants of Boston. Yet, Hester wore the letter with pride and courage that it would not get her down and she did live her life in solitude but yet transformed it in to being a successful seamstress which provided support for her and Pearl. From the appearance of it she turned a demeaning scarlet letter into a well-tailored accessory by embroidering it with gold thread. Hester was also aware that her sin was immoral, but by being open about it she was able to become a stronger person. Hester proved that by repenting and repelling sin, it is capable of making one stronger. Hester was truly an â€Å"Able† woman.

The Education System Of Pakistan - 1381 Words

The education system in Pakistan focuses mainly on primary education however you find that a large number of children ages 5-9 are not attending schools and it would appear that primary system needs to enlarge if universal primary enrolment is to be achieved (Lynd, 2007). In Pakistan, there were 14 million girls studying in basic education in 2005, compared to 18.3 million boys. In other words, there were over 4 million more boys than girls in basic education. This is still an issue in Pakistan where there are more number of boys in education than girls. The disparity in favour of boys was prevalent at all levels of basic education, with the exception of the higher secondary level where the number of girls was very close to equal to the number of boys, which indicates that Pakistan displays a disparity in favour of girls at this stage of education. This implies that many more boys than girls discontinued their education after secondary school with the result that their numbers matc hed those of the girls in the final level. Those that can afford to pay to go school will be able to attend better and improved education but those in rural areas are at disadvantage as they cannot afford to let their children go to school. Governments allow primary education to be free for all as they believe every child should be educated however the costs for uniform, stationary, lunch and funds makes it difficult for poorer families to actually let their children go to school. BasicShow MoreRelatedPakistan s Education System Of Pakistan1392 Words   |  6 PagesMadiha  Hussain is a young girl whose family is from Pakistan. Pakistan is bordered by Afghanistan to the north-west and Iran to the west while the People s Republic of China borders the country in the north and India to the east. 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Crawford Surname Origin and Last Name Meaning

Derived from the Gaelic word cru meaning bloody, and ford meaning pass or crossing, the CRAWFORD surname is believed by most to mean a crossing of blood. Believed to be first assumed by the proprietor of the lands and barony of Crawford, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, Crawford is often a  habitational name  derived from several different places called  Crawford  (e.g. in South Lanarkshire, Scotland; Dorset, England; and Somerset, England). A possible similar derivation for the Crawford last name comes from crawe meaning crow and ford meaning pass or crossing. Alternate Surname Spellings:  CROFFORD, CRAWFFORD, CRAUFURD, CRUFORD. Also a variant of CROWFOOT. Surname Origin: English, Scottish, northern Irish Famous People with the Crawford Surname Joan Crawford - American film and theater actress, and pin-up girlCindy Crawford - American model, film actress and television personality Genealogy Resources for the Surname Crawford Meanings of Common English SurnamesUncover the meaning of your English last name with this free guide to English surname meanings and origins for the most common English surnames. CRAWFORD Family Genealogy ForumThis free message board is focused on descendants of Crawford ancestors around the world. FamilySearch - CRAWFORD GenealogySearch or browse for free access to digitized records and lineage-linked family trees for the Crawford surname on FamilySearch.org, the website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. CRAWFORD Surname Mailing ListFree mailing list for researchers of the Crawford surname and its variations includes subscription details and a searchable archives of past messages. DistantCousin.com - CRAWFORD Genealogy Family HistoryFree databases and genealogy links for the last name Crawford. -- Looking for the meaning of a given name? Check out First Name Meanings -- Cant find your last name listed? Suggest a surname to be added to the Glossary of Surname Meanings Origins. References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Dorward, David. Scottish Surnames. Collins Celtic (Pocket edition), 1998. Fucilla, Joseph. Our Italian Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 2003. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Reaney, P.H. A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1997. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.