Questions
from Goshen College students
inspired
by Mary Ellen Mark's exhibition
October
27 to December 3, 1998
Goshen
College Art Gallery
Intention, content,
and meaning | Effects on
the photographer
Ethical
issues in photography | Making
a living in photography
Compositional
questions | Technical
questions
Intention, content, and meaning
-
Do you want to change things, simply record things, or are you searching
for other lifestyles?
-
What got you started in photography dealing with social issues?
-
Why do you take this style of photograph?
-
How do you find this type of subjects?
-
What are you hoping to say by photographing seldom seen oddities and misery?
-
How well do you know the subjects before taking their pictures? x2
-
How do you get to know people in order to take their photos (people with
guns, needles, etc)?
-
How do you approach subjects for such intimate portraits?
-
To what extent are the subjects aware of the photographer?
-
What are their motivations for them to accept the camera and the photographer?
-
Why do you not have subjects smiling (not happy)? x 2
-
How do you get subjects to do what you want? x 2
-
Do you photograph anything other than people?
-
Why was number 42 (Sydney, Australia) made?
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Effects on the photographer
-
Is the photographer at risk of being emotionally effected by working in
such sad situations?
-
Have there been times when you were too frightened for your own safety
to take a photograph?
-
How do you feel (you own emotions) as you seek to document such painful
things?
-
Are there times when you decide not to take a photograph or to show a certain
picture?
-
How do you feel about the photographs where the subjects appear to be posing?
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Ethical issues in photography
-
Are some photographs a form of victimization of the subject? When does
this happen?
-
Can photographs highlight and contribute to the marginalization of "freaks"?
-
Do you agree with laws that protect subjects from having their images used
without releases?
-
Should anything about copyright law be changed?
-
Is it okay to make a profit from the sale of photographs of poverty?
-
How are prices for prints determined?
-
Should dealers and collectors have to share their capital gains with the
photographer? to top of page
Making a living in photography
-
Where does a photographer get financial support to do this type of photography?
-
Do you decide what to do and then get sponsorship, or do sponsors decide
what you do?
Compositional questions
-
How much is set up or directed by the photographer? x3
-
Are you aware of shadows are you while working and what role do shadows
play.
-
How do you decide what to include compositionally?
-
Do you ever crop or do you print whatever is on the negative? to
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Technical questions
-
What films, cameras, papers, and processes are used?
-
Is there manipulation of the prints? x2
-
How much enhancement is done in the darkroom?
-
Why is it black and white?
-
Has she done work in color? Why?
-
How does the camera size effect the ability to get around and get the picture?
-
Was any of the work done with a 35 mm camera?
-
Does the black edge indicate no cropping?
-
Was the tilted work tilted with the camera or in the printing?
-
How is the flash used (straight, bounced, etc.)?
-
Could the blurred background lights be eliminated in number 117?
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back to photography assignments
page for Art/Comm 255
back to Advanced
Photograhy page
updated 11-16-98
prepared by Marvin Bartel, instructor ©
1998
e-mail: marvinpb@goshen.edu