Context - article now 17 years old. In 1999, digital photography was in its infancy. Milestones included Nikon D1 digital camera, photography highway.com (where photos could be uploaded to and stored), lithium batteries and compact flash cards had only just been made available.
Summary of the main points from this chapter:
Following the themes of photography is dead arising from two main concerns in 1999 over technology (introduction of computerised images) and epistemological concerns regarding cultural changes, ethics, knowledge and validity) Bachten explored whether these could signify an end to photography.
Balzar viewed daguerreotypes as black magic thinking portrait photography removed a spectral layer from the body which was transferred to the photo.
Motion blur from a slow exposure time was overcome by propping the subject up with a frame giving them a corpse like appearance.
Development of "Memento Mori" (photographing the dead)
Double exposure produced ghosts - became a profitable business
Photography replaced miniature paintings and prints made from copper or steel engravings.
Walter Benjamin wrote The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (1936) in which he hypothesised that photography transforms an aura or authenticity into a commodity which would speed up the downfall of capitalism. "One could expect [capitalism] not only to exploit the proletariat with increasing intensity, but ultimately to create conditions which would make it possible to abolish capitalism itself." (Benjamin, as cited by Bachten, 1999:12) Bachten concludes that "like the
daguerreotype, it is a force that is simultaneously positive and negative." (Bachten, 1999:12)
Development of photography in the 1800's came from death of the Natural Philosophy and Enlightenment.
1839 - Talbot defined his early photography as the "art of fixing shadow."(Bachten, 1999:13)
Daguerre captured passing of time by taking 3 exposures at different times of day. "By bringing the past and the present together in one viewing experience, Daguerre showed that photography could fold time back on itself." (Bachten, 1999:13)
1845 - The Athenaeum "photography has already enabled us to hand down to future ages a picture of the sunshine of yesterday." (Schaaf as cited by Bachten, 1999:13) Photography important for recording passage of time and intimating at individual's mortality.
Barthes - Camera Lucida - photography shows the past and future in same photograph. Reality is truth to presence rather than truth to appearance. ("A matter of being ... rather than resemblance" Bachten, 1999:14)).
Death of chemical photography predicted by increase in digital imaging. More research and advertising was put into digital imaging and related products. Bill Gates (1989) bought company which leased electronic images and a fee was paid for "use rights".
Public concerned with image integrity - scanning and manipulating of images altered "truth" of documentary images. Users of digital imaging argued for creativity and art form. In an attempt to identify manipulated images to the public, papers considered adding an M to manipulated images which raised the question of truth and validity. Photography is manipulation of light levels, exposure times etc.
Sontag and Krauss believed a photograph was proof of being if not truthful.
Digital images could be created from a computer programme but looks like a photograph. A representation of perceived representations. Digital image is virtual reality. People were defending the reality of the photograph.
Digital imaging is still subject to the people who take, make, programme the image just as in photography. Human values and culture important in the process and control of photography and digital imaging.
Changing world makes us question issues such as how human we are with GM foods etc. So what happens to the culture of photography? Peirce - real and representation inhabit each other.
Derrida "this concept of the photograph photographs all conceptual oppositions, it traces a relationship of haunting which is perhaps constitutive of all logics." (Derrida as cited by Bachten, 1999:22)
"Photography will cease to be a dominant element of modern life only when the desire to photograph, and the peculiar arrangement of knowledges and investments which that desire represents is reconfigured as another social and cultural formation. " (Bachten, 1999:22)
References
Bachten, G. (1999) Over Exposed: Essays in Contemporary Photography. New York: The New Press.
Bibliography
Practical Photography Tips. (n.d.) Digital Photography Timeline - Part 2 1990's. [online] available from: http://www.practicalphotographytips.com/Photography-Basics/digital-photography-timeline.html (last accessed 6/1/17)
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7/1/17
I was interested to read a press release published by Kodak Alaris during CES (Computer Electronics and Tradeshow) 2017 which promoted Kodak's development of an old product Kodak Professional Ektachrome Colour Reversal Film E100 Extremely fine grain. This will be on the market by the end of 2017. It was discontinued in 2012. This is a slide film which is colour positive when exposed and processed.
"Resurgence in the popularity of analog photography has created demand for new and old film products alike. Sales of professional photographic films have been steadily rising over the last few years, with professionals and enthusiasts rediscovering the artistic control offered by manual processes and the creative satisfaction of a physical end product." (Kodak Alaris, 2017)
“Film is our heritage and we remain committed to meeting the evolving needs of today’s film shooters,” said Dennis Olbrich, President – Kodak Alaris Imaging Paper, Photo Chemicals and Film. “We’ve been listening to the needs and desires of photographers over the past several years and wanted to bring back a color reversal film. In assessing the opportunity, EKTACHROME was the clear choice.” (Kodak Alaris, 2017)
This once again raises questions of the future of the digital image. Will we be looking at the death of the digital image in a few years from now? If a large company has reinstated an "improved film" after 5 years, will other companies follow suit? Is there a move afoot back to analogue processes or is it that dedicated film users prefer this medium? Will the photographers or users of the images try and justify that these are "film" images instead of digital images and how does this address the issue of asking the consumers of images to question the validity and truth of images? It will be interesting to follow this during Digital Imaging and Culture.
Reference
Kodak Alaris. (2017) Kodak Alaris Reintroduces Iconic EKTACHROME Still Film. [online press release]. Available from: http://www.kodakalaris.com/en-us/about/press-releases/2016/kodak-alaris-reintroduces-iconic-ektachrome-still-film (last accessed 7/1/17)
I really liked your Information. Keep up the good work. Different cultures photography
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