The Index and the Icon

This week focused on authenticity and representation within a photograph. There were a couple of interesting things that got me thinking about my practice with this in mind. Currently my practice I believe that authenticity is critical element within documenting historical sites. Not just for my own piece of mind but also the viewer would anticipate that the photograph that they are viewing is indeed a true likeness to what is there.

https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/alexander-gardner-home-of-a-rebel-sharpshooter-gettysburg-from-gardners-photographic-sketchbook-of-the-war-1865

I was surprised to see Alexander Gardner (1983) Home of a Rebel Sharpshooter was a constructed image and more Garner’s representation of the war. As a military photographer we certainly do not consider constructing images to that extent although for Gardner, he did so because of the technology of the time and the inability to capture uncontrolled action from the war. I can see in other contexts why representation within photography is favourable. It gives the greater opportunity to create a symbolic, aesthetic pleasing photograph that could perhaps achieve greater meaning. Given these factors I would say it greatly depends on the audience and want they expect to see/get within that photograph.

Independent reading this week was from Snyder and Allen (1975) Photography, Vision, and Representation. Which also tied in our final presentation that focused on the importance of indexicality within photography and iconic, indexical and symbolic characteristics of the photograph. I believe whether you favour authenticity or representation within a photograph the primary factor within photography that it is indeed a physical mechanical process and is tied with capturing whatever is in front of it, unlike other visual mediums. From Snyder and Allen (1975) “Most people, if asked, would no doubt say that, whereas the painter can paint whatever he wants, the photographer must depict ‘what is there’. The painter creates, the photographer ‘finds or ‘captures’ or ‘selects’ or ‘organizes’ or ‘records’ his pictures”. As in terms of a peculiar practice I really don’t think my practice is, as I am more interested in capturing locations with what the eye would see and occasionally with higher vantage points to capture as much detail as possible. My work needs to be visually correct if I can, so distortion, quality (noise), creative lightening need to be kept to a minimum.