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Explain what is Reportage Photography?

Reportage photography is taking the most powerful images to communicate the atmosphere of an event and to preserve a moment in history. Reportage conveys the emotion felt by the subjects and helps you feel like you were there.

Is there a difference between Reportage and Documentary photography?

They two terms are used interchangeably, implying that they are the same.

Why is it so important to society?

Reportage truthfully informs the public in a series of images about what is going on in their, and other, societies.

Is there such a thing as a photograph that isn't reportage?

In a sense. Depending on the definition, the answer varies. Yes, every photograph captures a story, tells a narrative, but that may not make it a reportage. I suppose for it to be truly reportage, it would have to properly capture the atmosphere of the event.

Photographers

J. Henry Fair - that factory one

Michael Dyrland -Hazmat Surfing

J. Henry Fair is an American photographer and activist. He has two unique specialities - portraits of musicians, and abstract environmental pollution photography. He wants to use his photographs to tell stories about people and the things that affect people.

This is a photograph from J. Henry Fair's photographic series "Industrial Scars". This image was taken at a power-plant in Grevenbroich, Germany.

This is a very visually appealing image. The red pipelines create a contrast to the grey cooling towers and stark white smoke. The theme of air pollution is explored beautifully with the vast amounts of smoke rising to the sky. The height Fair would have had to have his drone just to fully capture the height and width of the factory is incredible.

Michael Dyrland is a self-taught entrepreneur from America that simply dreams of travelling the globe and going back home, able to share his story through his art. Telling someone's story through his art is what he wants to do the most.

His photograph in the series "Hazmat Surfing" shows a grim picture. The visual contrast between the grey sky and the green, disgusting ocean horrifically shows the deep pollution of the Los Angeles oceans. The camera sits in the water, showing both the surface and under the water.

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Environmental E-Zine Task - Practical Research

These are the 5 topics I have explored-

Pollution

Nearly 2,500 deaths in Scotland every year have been caused by pollution with 38 places officially in Pollution Zones as the towns have been failing air quality safety standards. Air Pollution has been a worlds problem for years, even before the industrial revolution. Research shows that 9 out of 10 people breath in polluted air.

Air Pollution has been associated with causing cancer, respiratory issues, and more recently, dementia and diabetes.

There are five major air pollutants:

Particle Materials-

These are inhalable particles made out of sulphate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust, and water.

Particles with diameters less than 10microns (P10) pose the greatest threat of death as they can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream

They are from Combustion engines (diesel and petrol), solid-fuel (coal, lignite, heavy oil) and industrial activities (building, mining, manufacturing of cement)

Black Carbon-

Black Carbon is a major component of PM2.5 and is a main element of climate change

Despite having a short atmospheric lifetime, it is one of the largest contributors to global warming, after CO2, as it expedites glacier melting

As well as that, it also is known to decrease agricultural yields

Carbon Monoxide (CO)-

CO is a colourless and odourless gas that is sourced from motor vehicle exhaust and machines that burn fossil fuels

High levels of this gas are harmful as they can reduce the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream and reaching important organs

Recent studies also show that long term exposure to low concentrations can also lead to large amounts of health issues

Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)

SO2 is mainly caused by fossil fuels (coal and oil)

It can affect the respiratory system and lung function, which could lead to aggravation of previous lung issues such as asthma or bronchitis

It can also irritate the eyes

Also, SO2 combining with water in the air forms sulphuric acid, which is a main component of acid rain

Ground Level Ozone

GLO is a major component in photochemical smog (which is a haze in the air, characterised by high levels of nitrogen oxides) and is a secondary pollutant, meaning that it is not directly emitted.

Key health risks linked to Ground Level Ozone are breathing problems, asthma, reduced lung function, and respiratory disease.

Stopping air pollution is difficult, as it would require global cooperation. Windblown dust from heavily polluted countries (such as China or Bangladesh) carry large concentrations of particle matter.

Poverty

In Scotland alone, around one million people are in poverty (even before Covid-19). This is the lowest rate in the UK, second only behind Nothern Ireland. Poverty is defined as an income of an individual or household not being able to meet the needs of people, resulting in restrictions in the ability to work in society. It is also used to describe when a large portion/all of an income is used for one specific thing (such as rent), leaving less money for other deemed essentials (food, fuel, funerals, broadband). There have been many different factors that could lead to poverty, such as:

Unemployment or Low Paying Jobs-

A lot of jobs do not provide efficient pay, prospects, or security. Most places are in high concentration of those types of jobs, or failing that, having not enough jobs.

Lack of Education-

Young people and adults without the necessary skill or qualification often can't get any high paying, or any, jobs.

Benefit System Failing-

Welfare system not giving enough money to those in need to live off of. More often than not it has people staying in poverty when it really should be trying to lift people over the line. It is also somewhat confusing and hard to engage with, leaving many people unable to access it.

High Cost-

The high cost of housing and essentials (food, credit, gas, electricity, water, council tax, broadband) creates poverty as even if individuals are able to get enough money, they have to spend it on items that are considered essential.

Abuse, Trauma, Chaotic Living-

Abuse/Trauma can cause a bad impact on mental health, leading to unemployment, educational/motivational issues, and low earnings. Prison time, criminal records, drug misuse can also lead to a deepening in poverty.

Here are some consequences of Poverty,

health issues

housing problems

being victims or perpetrators of crime

drug of alcohol abuse

lower educational achievements

poverty for later generations (studies show that children in poverty often grow up to live in similar situations)

homelessness

biological effects (young children growing in poverty has shown to have an effect on the brains development)

Street Dumping

Street Dumping is the act of leaving rubbish in places where it isn't meant to be, i.e. not in a bin. This can negatively impact the environment. The most commonly littered items are,

food packaging

cigarette butts

used drink bottles

chewing gum wrappers

toys

glass

food scraps

There are many reasons for littering, such as,

Litter being in the area (studies show that there is a correlation between litter already being in an area and the intentional act of throwing litter)

Construction sites (Workers lunchtime waste and inevitable building waste)

Laziness (People not wanting to properly through away their waste)

Belief of no consequence

Lack of bins

Lack of education (Smokers, as an example, are sometimes unaware of the damage cigarettes cause)

The main problems with street dumping are how it affects the environment and the people in the area.

Littering can cause serious harm (Needles, blades, and broken glass can harm or kill humans and wildlife)

Spread Disease (Littering can encourage the spread of pests and disease as it can provide adequate breeding grounds for both that can then be passed onto humans and animals)

Pollutes Environment (Toxic material from Litter can be blown/washed into lakes, oceans, creeks, seas, etc. which pollutes waterways, land, soil, and forest areas)

Kill Wildlife (Many wildlife and ocean life are found dead with glass, plastic, cigarette butts found in their stomachs. They can be poisoned over long periods of time through eating litter, or they can become trapped and suffocating in waste)

Affects Aesthetics and Local Tourism (Litter isn't very nice to look at and it can cause people to not want to go to places, which prevents local businesses from making money out of tourism)

Governments have been trying to prevent the dropping of litter through fines, education, signs, and campaigns but litter is still a major issue and a major pollutant.

Renewable Energy

Over 90% of Scotlands electricity is from Renewable sources, proving it is possible to live off this energy. Renewable energy is the step forward in viable, clean energy. It’s sustainable. Every type uses natural reserves that can be replenished over the years.

Other benefits include little to no waste or carbon footprint, economic improvements and less overall maintenance. This will be able to help with air and water pollution as many pollutants come from burning fossil fuels for energy. However, there are disadvantages to some, as renewable energy sources can be expensive. There are areas that just can’t afford to get it operating in place of coal-fired power.

The different types of Renewable energy include,

Solar Energy

Wind Energy

Hydro Energy

Tidal Energy

Geothermal Energy

Biomass Energy

It is estimated that the number of renewable energy sources will increase as the demand for power rises, which will also cause the price of renewable energy to fall, making it the cheaper, and cleaner, alternative.

Face Masks

Face masks have made a jump in popularity ever since the start of Covid-19, considering that they are now mandatory. Face Masks have been proven to work in preventing the spread of viruses, but the effect on the environment hasn't been for the better. Roughly 53 million face masks have been filling up in landfills daily, which is not counting the amount abandoned in towns and cities. Like with most disposable things, people tend to just drop them after they've finished using them. Masks are slowly becoming similar to disposable plastic bags, meaning that it is another waste product slowly becoming another infectious, irreversible mark on the environment. Over 90% of people use disposable masks rather than reusable ones, in these masks, three layers of plastic are used, including polypropylene.

Abandoned face masks are polluting streams, oceans, green lands, etc. and since Covid-19 has been shown to be able to last on surfaces for up to 9 days, they are also a biohazard.

The only thing we can do to try help stop this is to buy and use washable face masks that we don't throw out.

I chose to research these topics as all of them hit fairly close to home. I feel like all of these topics are very similar in the sense that they all connect. Many of these hits close to home, the main two being pollution and street dumping. I will be focusing on Pollution. There are different types of pollution, caused by different things.

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Tiny World Scene

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Storyboard

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Tiny World Mindmap

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What If

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Magnified Image Making Equipment

Macro Lens

A macro lens is a type of lens that has a reproduction ratio to 1:1 magnification. It usually costs around £130-£1500

Close up Filters

A close up filter (sometimes called a close up lens or macro filter) is a seco dary lens used to allow macro photography without needing a special primary lens. It usually costs between £65-£110

Extension Tube

An extension tube is equipment that is placed between the camera body and the lens. It is used the move the lens further away from the focal plane. It costs between £50-£1400.

Reversing Rings

The reversing ring allows for a regular prime or zoom lens to be attached onto a camera backwards. This costs around £3-£12

Bellows Extension

The extension bellows allow for the lens to be moved with respect to the focal plane for focusing. This costs around £15-£25

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Tiny World Mindmap

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Ansel Addams

What group did Ansel Adams start?

Group f/64

Why did he set up this group?

He set it up to reject the principles of Pictorialism and make way for Pure Photography.

What did Ansel first train as?

He trained as a musician first

When did his love for photography begin?

During his family trips to Yosemite National Park

What was his first camera?

A Kodak Brownie Box Camera that his father gave him

What age was Ansel when he had his first images published?

When he was 19 his first images were formally published

What type of techniques did start experimenting with?

Pictorialist Techniques (such as edging or soft focus) during the mid-1920s

How much did Ansel sell his first portfolio for?

$4000, which would be almost $50,000 today

What Artists did Ansel meet whilst in New Mexico?

George O'Keeffe, John Marin and Paul Strand

Who was a huge influence on Ansel?

Paul Strand

Why was group F64 significant?

It showed that there was a modern alternative to the Steichen Stieglitz clubs

Find the groups manifesto online.

What is Pictorialism?

It is the act of borrowing techniques from painting and other art forms

What age did Ansel open his first gallery?

At the age of 31, he opened an art gallery in San Fransisco

What happened on a trip to Mexico in 1941?

Produced one of Ansels most famous photographs, "Moonrise Over Hernandez"

How long was Ansel Adams career?

Over 60 years long

Along with Fred Archer, what did Ansel Adams pioneer?

The zone system, which is a method for converting light into a formally measured density

What was Ansel's biggest selling image called?

"Moonrise Over Hernandez"

Show an example of this.

What type of camera did Ansel mainly use?

4×5 view camera

Why did Ansel use a red filter?

He only had two films left, and after he took the original photo, he decided he would use a red filter to just try it out.

What typical technical camera settings would Ansel use and why?

Long exposures and small apertures so that he could get the maximum sharpness, depth of field, and so that he could print larger pictures.

Steichen and Stieglitz? Who are they and what are they known for?

They were photographers that were in favour of pictorialism. They were trying to get photography recognised as fine art.

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Magnum Photographer

Yael Martinez

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Inspired by Art Plan

Aim -

To plan and produce two portraits beased on an old Dutch Masters portraits from the 17th Centuary and A Portrait from the Impressionism movement

Objectives-

Produce 2 portraits

Research Ideas

Develop communication skills

Recreate paintings best I can

Investigation -

I began to research influential paintings throughout history, where I came across a painting known as "A Girl With A Straw Hat" By Pierre-Auguste Renoir, which he painted during the Impressionism Movement.

Despite the portrait not being from the Dutch Masters Era, it still caught my attention. The girls bright red hair and how it contrasts with the yellow of the hat, how she looks like she in contemplating something while running a hand through her hair. I really liked the photo, so i decided to stick with it.

Eventually, I did find a Dutch Masters Painting that caught my attention. It was a "Young Man Seated at a Tamble" by Rembrant van Rijn. The mans face and how the lighting is very similair to a side lighting photograph caught my attention. I decided I liked how the man was seated and how the man somehow looked smug through a painting.

Possible Materials and Techniques -

I may use a yellow hat and a blue blouse, however, I may also need to find a red scarf or blanket to recreate the long red hair.

For the second photo, I may use a black jacket, a white coller, and a big black hat. However, I may need to find alternatives for the hat and coller, such as a whte towel, or a black bag.

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Alphabet City Part Three

T-Z

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Robert Mapplethorpe - Lighting Techniques

Pattie Smith (1975)

Marianne Faithfull (1976)

Iggy Pop (1981)