Ерус Е.С. All About Arts. Visual Art

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Do you want to build upon your current skills by studying the artistic

aspect of photography? If your answer is yes, I welcome you to join me in what

can only be an enlightening, though at times challenging, experience.

Read the text paying attention at the words in bold. Give their Russian

equivalents and use them in the sentences of your own.

Is Photography Art?

Robert Balcomb

(I have capitalized Art and Artist to speak of them as being in the true

realm of Fine Art)

We hear over and over the question as to whether photography can be

considered as its own form of Art. And we see numerous treatises on yes it is

and no it isn't. The main objection seems to be that it is primarily a mechanical

process that handles most of the work – that the photographer has nothing

further to do with it, other than some manipulation in the printing of the picture

(if indeed the photographer does his own darkroom work. For example the

WWII photographers overseas snapped the shutters, but the stateside labs

developed the film and printed the pictures – the photographers usually had no

idea what the results, if any, would be).

Perhaps I can offer one way that might help come to some conclusion. In

1956-57 I spent upwards to a year with William Mortensen in Laguna Beach,

California, learning his philosophies and techniques, both of which I have

loyally practiced for over forty years as a portrait photographer. Mr. Mortensen

had developed his own techniques of lighting the subject, determining the

exposure, developing the film, and making the print. At every step, he ran a

foul of the Group f /64 headed by Ansel Adams, who believed that there should

be no "manipulation" in either developing the film or making the print. It would

seem that this philosophy itself would eliminate photography from the

consideration of Art, by their own arguments. The group had so much clout that

they were successful in the elimination of Mortensen from virtually every

history of photography for over a decade. Mortensen reversed the basic concept

of "Expose for the shadows and develop for the highlights" by practicing the

opposite. The concept demanded the darkroom technician to "pull" the negative

at a certain point of development, guided by what's known by the "gamma"

factor. This short-changing of the negative robs it of a certain degree of its

potential by stopping development before it is complete. I cannot argue the

results as shown by luminaries such as the Group f/64 – they have certainly

produced magnificent photographs that will live on forever. But I can argue the

basic concept. Mortensen said that a negative, compared with the ultimate

"camera obscura," the human eye, is restricted enough in its ability to record

the complete gradations of a subject, that to further rob it of that ability makes

little sense. The above concept does just that.

The Mortensen concept "Expose for the highlights and develop for the

shadows" results in complete development of the film, arriving at what he

called his "7-Derivative," or "7-D" negative. He even proved it by giving the

film adequate agitation during the basic time for that film to be completely

developed, say five minutes, then "going out to lunch" – he left the film in the

developer for upwards to 1-1/2 hours, or just up to the time when developer

breakdown would stain the negatives. From the 5-minute development on,

nothing else can happen; everything has been done. With a totally developed

negative, only minimal exposure need be done to the paper for a fully graded

print, from its whitest white to its blackest black. I have done this several

times, the 1-1/2 hour bit, with no untoward effect on the negatives.

Getting to the point of the title, this practice of involving the photographer

in every aspect of achieving a picture goes a long way to place photography in

the halls of Art, but it has one more demand. Mortensen, a most competent

artist, fulfilled that demand. Long before going into photography he studied in

New York with the artists Bridgeman, Henri, and Bellows, painting mostly

cityscapes, spent a year in Greece painting. Back in his home state in Salt Lake

City he taught art classes in his old high school. I saw a couple of his oils that

Myrdith Mortensen had in Laguna Beach – highly competent work. The point is

that he was a proven artist, carrying that talent into his work with photography.

I'm sure that my own competence as an artist, albeit a technical artist as

compared with a fine artist, has been behind my success at totally absorbing

Mortensen's techniques and accepting and applying his philosophies and so

successfully carrying on with my own forty+year practice as a portrait

photographer. I have found no other photographer that produces portraits with

the same quality as mine – I'm not tooting my own horn as much as to show

the Mortensen influence in my work, work that I have seen no match anywhere.

My impression is that everyone learned from the same source: the works of one

are indistinguishable from those of the next. My answer is that although they

are good technicians, they do not have that spark of the artist. And that spark

is a quality one is born with, not learned. However, an in-depth study of art

history and an examination of the works of the Old Masters and successful

Artists does tend to improve one's understanding of Art and to improve his own

work.

I have attended so many photo shows and have gone through so many

photo magazines and books to have seen works by technicians, but few Artists.

One illustration: Mortensen was invited to help judge a photo show in Santa

Ana, one of the few times he was away from his Laguna Beach home and

studio. He took with him his understanding of "Schnitt," a method of

determining the placement of the picture's principle point of interest,

eponymously named after a German mathematician, Schnitt – A is to B as B is

to A-B, both vertically and horizontally. The prints were laid on the floor in

straight lines as in a vegetable garden. The judges walked along between the

lines of prints, indicating their choices. Mortensen looked at each print,

muttering "Schnitt" or "No Schnitt," picking up to too-few "Schnitts" and

leaning them against a wall for further comparing. The other judges were

puzzled – most of their choices were not among Mortensen's. He explained that

if a print did not have good composition, it did not matter how well it had been

exposed and printed, and that the application of "Schnitt" would easily

determine between a print with good composition and one without. The other

judges finally agreed – Mortensen's final choices were the ones given awards.

I have no argument with photographers showing their work in the usual

displays. But when they try to pass off mediocre work as Art, work that is

technically competent but without the true quality that Art demands, I raise an

argument. I'm even no longer asked to judge photo shows because I'm known to

refuse considering color prints that do not indicate who printed them along with

who shot the pictures. Most photographers farm out their color printing to

laboratories that have the expensive equipment – his I understand, but the labs

should be given due credit.

So consider this: For photography to have its place in the world of Art, it

must have within it that quality of having been achieved by the hand of a

competent Artist, along with the hand of a technically competent photographer.

Many technical photographers do magnificent work in the way of recording

what the world has, but only Artist-photographers can do work that can hold its

place in Art salons and Collections.

COMPREHENSION

Answer the questions below:

4. What’s the main point that prevents photography from being called art?

5. Why did Mr. Mortenson run a foul of the traditional photographers?

6. What did Mr. Mortenson concept consist in?

7. How did mr. Mortenson prove that photography can be considered as an art

fotm?

8. According to Robert Balcomb, does every photographer have equal chances

to be called an artist? Why?

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

1. Choose the right answer:

1. This photo is rather because my camera was out of focus.

a) blotted b) blurred c) faded d) smeared

2. I want this roll of film developed and , please.

a) finished b) made c) printed d) stamped

3. I ..... several photographs at our party.

a) got b) made c) shot d) took

4. Do you prefer photographs with a matt or gloss

a) completion b) finish c) polish d) surface

5. As I liked your photo, I had it

a) enlarged b) lengthened c) sized d) widened

6. That picture did not come out because you put your finger in front of the

while you

were taking it.

a) button b) lens c) shutter d) viewfinder

7. My sister is an enthusiastic photographer, and she all her own films.

a) develops b) glosses c) illustrates d) takes

8. I used an especially film to take this photo.

a) sensible b) sensitive c) sensual d) sensuous

2. Put each of the following words or phrases into its correct place in the

passage below.

aperture developing film flashbulbs holder image

indoors lens light light rays opening picture

shutter shutter release button taking

viewfinder wind

The Parts of a Camera

A camera is a box with an aperture, or small ..............at one end. The lets light

into the camera just as a window lets __________ into a room. A shutter over

the opening works like a Venetian blind. When you take a ___________, you

press the ___________ . The __________ opens, lets light into the camera, and

quickly closes. Light passes through a glass __________ when it enters the

camera. The lens bends the ___________ so that they form a sharp image on a

section of the film. The ___________ appears on the film only after the film

has gone through a complicated chemical process called __________ . Before

___________ a picture, you look through ___________ of the camera to make

sure that all of your subject will appear in the picture. After taking the picture

__________ he ___________ on to get the camera set for the next picture. Most

cameras are equipped with a ___________ for flashbulbs. The use of adds

extra light to a scene, especially ___________ .

COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES

1. Read the extract from the Internet forum about photography. Which

viewpoint does mostly appeal to you? Choose any ides and dwell on it.

Is photography art?

Some lunatics consider some photos to be art, but the photos must meet

these conditions before they can be considered ART:

1) The photo must be of something no one in their right mind would

normally take a photograph of (old rusty pipe sticking out of a wall, crushed

beer can with the background out of focus, dead animals, etc.);

2) The camera is tilted so that the subject matter is crooked or not properly

framed;

3) Any photograph that is taken in black and white automatically becomes

ART;

4) A photograph of a person where part of their face is cut off, so only part

of their head can be seen;

5) A photograph of a waterfall, famous landmark, or mountain scene (using

any of the above methods with this subject matter makes it even MORE art);

6) Any photograph that is framed with a brass plaq of the photographer's

name on the frame becomes instant ART, regardless of the photograph's

content;

7) Any photograph made by a person who is unable to paint portraits or

landscapes, make lifelike sculptures, or do any other sort of Art that requires

talent, becomes ART.

I didn't see your definition, but anything lacking an act of creation is off the

map as far as I'm concerned... you said it right above, a "rally driver" is a skill

as is a personal shopper (who should have current-good-taste/fashion sense and

know their client...) but it is not art, regardless that "some" consider it to be so.

A short order cook is a production labourer.

A seamstress is a production labourer.

A wordprocessor (pers. who operates) is a labourer.

A chef might be performance, visual, olfactory and taste artist.

A clothes designer is an artist...

A writer is an artist...

A photographer (or painter) can be a labourer or artist.

It's up to that individual to figure out which is most important, rewarding

(in many senses of the word) to them.

Skill is skill... but art is creative endeavour.

How about the talented artist that abandons his talent and produces junk

just to make lots of money.....(Picasso is a good example) Is everything that

he/she produces art? Does a capable artist produce art always? Again, is the

process important, or just the end result?

Very good way of putting it. Any inexperienced bafoon can point a camera

at something beautiful and press the shutter button. Not everyone can paint a

portrait or landscape that looks as good as a photograph. That takes talent. Art

is made from talent, not machines like cameras.

Just like a police artist's rendition of a criminal suspect may be a line

drawing but is hardly art, some (most) photos are not art. But some of them are.

I agree with you that the majority of images are far from artistic, but if you are

suggesting that NONE are art, than I think you are throwing the baby out with

the bathwater.

Of course, Pete is baiting the thread. Picasso could paint realistically. He

chose to transcend the so-called natural representation of things to introduce

human inspired renderings: ideas. Many will recall that there was in society an

emerging change of perspective from a classic physical representation of things,

time, ideas to a new form – from physics to art.

Picasso knew this and made an advantage of it.

To the guy who was there, and who painted the scene, they show the

important things....The things that he remembers...Which is OK, because you

are seeing it through his eyes....He only leaves out the things that he

forgets...the things that were unimportant to him......The photograph, if there

was one, would attempt to show it all...Better in some ways, but worse in

others....

I didn't say it was just pressing a button. You are confusing what I said

with the exaggerations of others. Is that agreement or disagreement? You use

the word "either", which implies that you are accepting what I said and adding

something of your own to it.

I didn't say a photographer is not an artist. I am avoiding dealing with that

question because I believe it to be an ill-defined question in the first place. I did

not say anywhere that I prefer painting to photography or that photography is

not art. You seem not to be paying attention to what I am saying and are still

arguing with a point that I am not making, a point that I said I want to sidestep

because I think the question is ill-defined. I addressed this elsewhere, at length.

Sure it is, because word processing includes editing, and editing involves

making a choice as to how to reword a sentence to make it more clear, or more

correct, or sound better. This involves some human choice, and that makes it an

art. Anything two human beings can do that differs from one to the other, and

that can be said to be better done by one than the other, is art. (My definition)

…..

2. Student A: you are convinced that photography is not an art form. Stand

your ground.

Student B: you believe that photography can be called art. Convince your

interlocutor.

3. Make a table of comparison of a photographer and an artist.

NOTE

To know more about the world’s masters of photography go to

http://photography-now.net

READING 4

Read the text and think whether body painting can be seen as art:

Rae Schwarz

It has been traditional for the Fremont Solstice Parade in Seattle to be led

by a cadre of bicyclists. It is also custom for the bicyclists to be naked and body

painted, a situation that causes annual delight and anxiety for parade organizers

and authorities alike. Nudity is not officially sanctioned, however, no one is

about to stop the cyclists. So, the festive and colorful start to the parade

continues each year, as dozens of body paintings ride out to begin the event.

The body seems to fall into two schools of thought in body painting. In the

first, small designs are painted all over, leaving an effect like the old time

stickers on a traveling suitcase, much like the same way designs are applied in

Western tattooing. The second school of thought involves the body as a flexible

canvas, a surface that just happens to be shaped like a human being. In either

case, a large bold design or effect has the best visual aesthetics.

Water-based stage makeup has evolved to the point where it works well, is

reasonably affordable and available more readily. It can be applied with

sponges or brushes when doing larger areas, and some brands can be thinned

and airbrushed onto the skin. Friction and surface sweating are the two biggest

factors when considering how long your designs will hold up. By using water-

based makeup, a wide range of colors should be readily available, most people

should be able to tolerate it without adverse skin reaction, and it showers off at

the end of the day.

Fancier and more complex makeup is available if you are willing to invest

in the product and learn to apply it well. A second person to paint your back

and anywhere else you can’t reach is very important. Having a practice session

or two can be invaluable when trying something for the very first time, or when

you want to do something more elaborate very well. Have a comfortably warm

and private location for doing the actual body painting. You will need

appropriate clothing, as part of your outfit or, as a cover-up to go to the party or

event location once everyone is painted.

You've seen them in magazines, on television, and most likely they've been

screaming and cheering just feet away from you at the stadium or ball field. The

half yellow, half green guy. The three all blue guys. Or the carload of kids all

with wings on their foreheads or brightly-colored numbers on their faces. Body

painting is a favorite with sports fans, letting them show their love for their

team and displaying more than the average interest and intensity than everyone

else sitting around them. In high school, it often starts with all the kids painting

their faces and then going to the big homecoming game. In college, being up for

a big bowl game can be serious enough to warrant full torso painting. For fast

and easy body painting, nothing works as great as a small set of Caran D'ache

crayons. If you moisten them by dipping them quickly in water, they turn right

into paint sticks that work great on the skin. They are nontoxic, come in a great

range of colors, and clean up with soap and water. Cautions include red colors

being able to stain skin and watching out for getting it on fabrics.

If you want to go up a notch, give water-based makeup a try. These are

often small pots or jars which you can put on with either your fingers or a small

brush. This stuff is a tad less damaging to clothes and is made to come off your

skin with just soap and water. Caution when wearing it as if you get super

sweaty, your own sweat can make the paint run.

If your team is up for the finals and your body painting needs to be right

there with them, you want to use a type of makeup called greasepaint. It's oil-

base and needs to be set with powder, but this is the real deal! It's what was

invented for old-style theater usage and will stay put even if you are sweating

and will even hold up if you get water splashed on you. You will need some

sort of skin oil and/or cold cream to liquefy this stuff and then you wash all the

oil off with soap and water.

Read the programme of the World’s Body painting Festival and prove

whether body painting can be considered art or just entertainment:

World Bodypainting Festival

General Information

12 – 18 July 2010

Since 1998 Europe’s most colourful event has taken place every year in

Seeboden, Austria.

The “World Bodypainting Festival” sponsored by Kryolan is the biggest art

event in the bodypainting theme and thousands of visitors admire the wonderful

work of the participants.

Aritsts from 40 nations worldwide come to this unique event and put body art

into the mountain and lake scenery.

The festival week from July 12th – 18th contains the

 WBF Academy

 BodyCircus & Side Events

 3 Main days in the “Bodypaint City” in the Klauberpark Seeboden

The WBF-Academy, with workshop classes and lectures from 12 – 15

July

Only the best in their field are teaching in the WBF Academy. Many

workshops are supported by our partners like Kryolan, Fantasy Worldwide,

Brennig, Mehron, Diamond FX, BodyFX, Vargas, Charles Fox or Nikon and

Adobe to mention a few.

The WBF Academy offers an extensive program for beginners,

intermediate and advanced. Group arrangements for schools can be organized

on request.

We offer workshops in the areas of bodypainting, airbrush bodypainting,

facepainting, special effects, body deco, beauty and fashion make-up, colour

theory, uv effects as well as photography and digital artwork.

100

The demonstration program takes place on the 16th July in the culture hall

in Seeboden.

 Meeting places and party locations

Some bars, restaurants and other locations create a nice surrounding for

festival visitors.

The "Point bar" in Seeboden is the official "WBF Institute of Sound Lounge".

The party location on the 14th is of course the castle Sommeregg where the

magical and crazy fantasy ball “BodyCircus” takes place.

On Thursday, July 15th is the first event in “Bodypaint City”. The PreGlow

with the Artist Portfolio Night is starting at 8.00 pm with free entrance.

 BodyCircus”, the shrill fantasy ball in the historic castle

14th July presented by "Snazaroo"

The fantasy ball “BodyCircus“ is the main attraction in the festival week

side events.

On the 14th July the medieval castle Sommeregg will be turned into a magical

and mystical surrounding.

The visitors show up in fantasy costumes combined with bodypainting,

decoration and masks up to extreme make up and fantasy fashion.

- International Dj’s from Ministry of Sound, ForceFM London and more

are playing on 3 levels, live music, visuals, costume prizes, percussion, shows

and entertainment are provided for visitors till the early morning hours.

- 6.30 pm: Styling Jam Session in the culture hall in Seeboden, 1st floor

from 7.00 pm.

Get ready with other people in the styling jam.

- from 8.45 pm: the free bus shuttle will bring you up to the castle.

The tickets are limited for 600 visitors.

 The festival main days from 16 – 18 July 2010 in "Bodypaint City"

The main days of the festival are from Friday to Sunday, 16 - 18 July, daily

from 10.30 am in “Bodypaint City”. The artists start painting in the public park

and later in the day the artwork is judged by a professional jury. The models are

then presented to the audience on the main stage. During the day lots of music

and show acts are presented. There are music concerts on program till late.

 World Bodypainting Award, the world championships for

bodypainting artits

At the world championships during the main days artists from 40 nations

worldwide compete. The World Awards are given in the categories: