Science and forensics
Wootton bridge collapse in 1861
5×7 inch unretouched photograph of the Wright brothers'
first flight, 1903
The camera has a long and distinguished history as a means
of recording phenomena from the first use by Daguerre and Fox-Talbot, such as
astronomical events (eclipses for example), small creatures and plants when the
camera was attached to the eyepiece of microscopes (in photomicroscopy) and for
macro photography of larger specimens. The camera also proved useful in
recording crime scenes and the scenes of accidents, such as the Wootton bridge
collapse in 1861. The methods used in analysing photographs for use in legal
cases are collectively known as forensic photography.
By 1853, Charles Brooke had invented a technology for the
automatic registration of instruments by photography. These instruments
included barometers, thermometers, psychrometers, and magnetometers, which
recorded their readings by means of an automated photographic process.
Photography has become ubiquitous in recording events and
data in science and engineering, and at crime scenes or accident scenes. The
method has been much extended by using other wavelengths, such as infrared
photography and ultraviolet photography, as well as spectroscopy. Those methods
were first used in the Victorian era and developed much further since that
time.
Social and cultural implications
There are many ongoing questions about different aspects of
photography. In her writing "On Photography" (1977), Susan Sontag
discusses concerns about the objectivity of photography. This is a highly
debated subject within the photographic community.Sontag argues, "To
photograph is to appropriate the thing photographed. It means putting one’s
self into a certain relation to the world that feels like knowledge, and
therefore like power."Photographers decide what to take a photo of,
what elements to exclude and what angle to frame the photo, and these factors
may reflect a particular socio-historical context. Along these lines it can be
argued that photography is a subjective form of representation.
Modern photography has raised a number of concerns on its
impact on society. In Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954), the camera is
presented as promoting voyeurism. 'Although the camera is an observation
station, the act of photographing is more than passive observing'.Michal
Powell's Peeping Tom (1960) portrays the camera as both sexual and sadistically
violent technology that literally kills in this picture and at the same time
captures images of the pain and anguish evident on the faces of the female
victims.[citation needed]
"The camera doesn't rape or even possess, though it may
presume, intrude, trespass, distort, exploit, and, at the farthest reach of
metaphor, assassinate - all activities that, unlike the sexual push and shove,
can be conducted from a distance, and with some detachment."
Digital imaging has raised ethical concerns because of the
ease of manipulating digital photographs in post-processing. Many
photojournalists have declared they will not crop their pictures, or are
forbidden from combining elements of multiple photos to make
"photomontages", passing them as "real" photographs.
Today's technology has made image editing relatively simple for even the novice
photographer. However, recent changes of in-camera processing allows digital
fingerprinting of photos to detect tampering for purposes of forensic
photography.
Photography is one of the new media forms that changes
perception and changes the structure of society.[38] Further unease has been
caused around cameras in regards to desensitization. Fears that disturbing or
explicit images are widely accessible to children and society at large have
been raised. Particularly, photos of war and pornography are causing a stir.
Sontag is concerned that "to photograph is to turn people into objects
that can be symbolically possessed." Desensitization discussion goes hand
in hand with debates about censored images. Sontag writes of her concern that
the ability to censor pictures means the photographer has the ability to construct
reality.
One of the practices through which photography constitutes
society is tourism. Tourism and photography combine to create a "tourist
gaze" in which local inhabitants are positioned and defined by the
camera lens. However, it has also been argued that there exists a "reverse
gaze" through which indigenous photographees can position the tourist
photographer as a shallow consumer of images.
Additionally, photography has been the topic of many songs
in popular culture.
Law
Main article: Photography and the law
Photography is both restricted as well as protected by the
law in many jurisdictions. Protection of photographs is typically achieved
through the granting of copyright or moral rights to the photographer. In the
UK a recent law (Counter-Terrorism Act 2008) increases the power of the police
to prevent people, even press photographers, from taking pictures in public
places
Types of Photography
Types of Photography
Photographic work can be divided into dozens of categories, many with lots of sub-categories. The following list describes some common types of photography.
Aerial
From a plane, helicopter, balloon or other airborne device.
Adventure, Action
Adventure sports, daring feats, etc.
Amateur
Any type of photography practiced by non-professionals.
Animal, Pet
Pets and their relationships with humans. Note that the human content is often as important as the animal.
Architecture, Real Estate
The art of making property appear attractive. Often involves panoramic photography.
Artistic
Photography in which creative composition is the goal.
Astrophotography
Space photography, through a telescope.
Aura
A controversial type of photography which some claim can photograph a person's aura. Often confused with Kirlian photography.
Black & White
Not simply photography without colour, black and white photography explores shapes, tones and textures. Shadows and highlights become much more important.
Camera Phone
"Convenience" photography using a mobile phone's built-in camera. While not the best quality, camera phones have opened a new world of spontaneous, on-the-spot photo opportunities.
Commercial
Product shots, advertising, etc.
Digiscoping
Photography through a telescope or binoculars.
Documentary
Journalism, Events, Historical, Political, etc.
Event
Concerts, parties, festivals, weddings, etc.
Forensic
Police and legal photography.
Infrared
Photography in which the recording medium is sensitive to infrared light rather than the normal visible light spectrum.
Large Format
For use on posters, billboards, etc.
Kirlian
A type of contact print photography in which an object touching a photographic plate is connected to a high voltage source, creating an aura-like image. Often confused with aura photography.
Macro
The art of photographing very small and/or close-up objects.
Medical
Specialized photography for clinical purposes, i.e. to help reveal and diagnose illness.
Microscopic
Any technique for photographing objects too small to be visible to humans.
Modeling
Photographing objects to be converted into 3D models.
Nature
Landscapes, animals, plants, sea, etc.
Night
Any technique used to capture images at night. Often includes infrared photography.
Panoramic
Views of wide areas, up to complete 360° panoramas.
Paranormal
Ghosts, unexplained phenomena, etc.
People
Candid, Family, Fashion, Glamour, Passports & Visas, Portrait, Pregnancy, School, Sports, Wedding
Pinhole
Uses the most basic type of camera possible — a box with a tiny hole to let light in.
Scenic
Landscape, Cityscape
Satellite
Views of Earth from orbit.
Scientific
Any specialized photography used for scientific endeavour, e.g. electron microscopy photographs, medical photography, astrophotography, etc.
Sports
The specialized art of shooting people engaged in sports, games and adventure activities.
Stereoscopic (3-D)
Involves taking two photos simultaneously to simulate 3-D vision.
Stock
Photographs taken for distribution to other people, for use in their projects. These photos tend to be quite generic, e.g. people working, landscapes, places, etc.
Time-lapse
Photographs with a very long exposure, used to illustrate something happening over time. A popular example is a street at night with car lights blurred into long lines.
Travel
Photography to showcase locations, illustrate travel literature, etc.
Ultraviolet
Photography in which the recording medium is sensitive to ultraviolet light rather than the normal visible light spectrum.
Urban, Industrial
Emphasizing urban environments.
Water, Underwater
Any type of photography taken under water with a water-tight camera housing.
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