Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/09/05

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Subject: RE: [Leica] PHOTOGRAPHY; PHOTOGRAPHERS; Leicas
From: "bdcolen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2003 18:40:40 -0400

Come on, Jerry - Life, Colliers, etc., presented in their photo
journalism a picture of the ideal America, that fat cats such as Henry
Luce wanted Americans to see and buy into. Yes, there were exceptions.
But on the whole...

And let us also remember that much of what we look back on today as
'classic' documentary work - the FSA stuff - was GOVERNMENT PROPAGANDA,
ordered up specifically to win support for a political program. I happen
to think it was the right political program - and that it was great
photography - but it was propaganda none the less.

For that matter, the Family of Man was one of the great, schmaltzy,
feel-good photo propaganda efforts of all time---we're all the same; we
vote in America, they vote in Stalin and Khrushchev's Russia; blah,
blah, blah. ;-)

B. D.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
[mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Jerry
Lehrer
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2003 6:20 PM
To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
Subject: Re: [Leica] PHOTOGRAPHY; PHOTOGRAPHERS; Leicas


bd

Please explain to some of us less perceptive types just what these
"coded messages" were.

Jerry

bdcolen wrote:

> If you think that the old Life Magazine wasn't full of 'coded 
> messages' in its photojournalism, I'd suggest you go spend some time 
> in the
> library.;-)
>
> Actually, I'd suggest that for anyone with half-a-brain, or for anyone

> paying any attention - with or without at least half-a-brain - the 
> attempts at manipulation are generally more obvious today than they 
> ever were in the past.
>
> B. D.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of 
> Saganich, Christopher/Medical Physics
> Sent: Friday, September 05, 2003 5:05 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: RE: [Leica] PHOTOGRAPHY; PHOTOGRAPHERS; Leicas
>
> The difference isn't in the medium, (digital or traditional), rather 
> delivery and consumption of images.  The image no longer has value as 
> the end product, the value lies in its ability to be consumed by the 
> masses and carry a specific message.  The message isn't the usual 
> heroic realism, but, generally fear, violence, and perversion  masked 
> as apple pie, security, and desire.  The average person is exposed to 
> a staggering volume of purposely coded imagery compared to what we may

> call traditional photojournalism, at least in the States.  Europe 
> seems a little more balanced in this regard.
>
> Chris Saganich
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jrhedger@pdq.net [mailto:jrhedger@pdq.net]
> Sent: Friday, September 05, 2003 3:40 PM
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Subject: Re: [Leica] PHOTOGRAPHY; PHOTOGRAPHERS; Leicas
>
> I have had enough you are full of shite. Digital has contributed no 
> more than photography or lying writers. In photography it just made it

> quicker and easier. Stop it.
>
> Jim
>
> On 9/5/03 1:59 PM, "Afterswift@aol.com" <Afterswift@aol.com> wrote:
>
> >
> > In a message dated 9/5/03 10:35:19 AM, bdcolen@earthlink.net writes:
> >
> > << digital technology has worsened the picture by making it very 
> > easy to further blur the distinctions between the reporting, and 
> > government-spin, entertainment-advertising media
> >
> > HOW? >>
> > --------------------------------------------------------------
> > By modifying normal stock images to sell products in magazines. The 
> > same thing is done in government report illustrations and it's 
> > rampant
>
> > in advertising and entertainment. Just look at the posters and the 
> > card ads on buses, etc. There isn't an untouched up photo in any of 
> > those venues. There's a promo shot obviously enhanced of a buxom 
> > working girl that is used in the Times to push retirement stocks. 
> > Digital editing is used all over the place -- including even on the 
> > LUG. I attribute that form of modification to mostly make an
> image
> > clearer on our monitors.
> >
> > br
> >
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