Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/08/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Rei-- Well, true, the article was more balanced than what the headline would lead one to believe. But I do find this section disturbing, especially after seeing a PBS (public television here in the US) special on Shackleton, which used photographs of the expedition to give its history (very well done, too!): "The well-known image of Shackleton's departing open boat is one of those later embellished in the dark room by the addition of a brooding cloudscape, according to the team behind the documentary. The picture is a key element in the detail of a heroic rescue mission. After 326 days trapped in the ice, Endurance was crushed in the melting spring ice. The 28-man crew lived for five months on the ice, then made a perilous seven-day journey to the nearest land mass, where they were left by Shackleton and two others, who went for help. The picture of Shackleton's crew, marooned on Elephant Island, joyfully greeting their returning leader is also a piece of historical fakery. It was, in fact, a picture taken at the time of Shackleton's departure." And then the article goes on with your quoted comment, "Howard admits Hurley was 'very good at manipulating' images, but he says there was always a good reason. 'He would superimpose images, but I don't think he ever tried to alter the outcome.'" I would say that given the gravity of the situation at the point when Shackleton left the men at Elephant Island--it was a very desperate scene and no one knew if anyone would ever return to rescue them, and several of the men were sick and injured at that point--that a fake such as this one is a little hard to accept. At the same time, one has to remember, too, that the standards for "truth" in image-making, esp regarding "photojournalism," were not exactly all that well-established in 1914. After all, photography was still a pretty young sport at that time, and aesthetically, still very much influenced by the painting tradition. I guess we could cut Hurley a little slack! Kit -----Original Message----- From: lug-bounces+kitmc=vuelux.com@leica-users.org [mailto:lug-bounces+kitmc=vuelux.com@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Rei Shinozuka Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2004 8:04 AM To: Leica Users Group Subject: Re: [Leica] Shakleton Photos Faked i think the original article title was a bit sensationalized. the content is far less accusatory than the headline. Alf Howard, one of the survivors of the famous voyage, says of Frank Hurley: 'He would not go against the truth, but he would do anything to highlight a particular point,' said Howard this weekend. 'He would modify the background to a picture. He had a very good idea of what the thing would look like.' Howard admits Hurley was 'very good at manipulating' images, but he says there was always a good reason. 'He would superimpose images, but I don't think he ever tried to alter the outcome.' what a relief! the headline had me worried that shackleton had gone to the alps, built a scale model of the _endurance_ getting smashed in a bird bath, photographed that, skiied for a year and a half and came back to england the triumphant antarctic hero. -rei On Aug21 22:24, Bill Clough wrote: > USA > TEXAS > CORPUS CHRISTI > 22 August 2004 > > This from the London Guardian online: > > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1288286,00.html > > Claims Shakleton's expedition photographes were faked. > > --Bill > > > > > _______________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Yahoo! Enter now. > http://promotions.yahoo.com/goldrush > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information -- Rei Shinozuka shino@panix.com Ridgewood, New Jersey _______________________________________________ Leica Users Group. See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information