Mediation in Relation with Photography

Mediation in Relation with Photography Name Course Date Introduction Mediation indicates that there is intervention to bring people or things together or balance them and this is especially when they are differences between them. When there is reconciliation of the two opposing ideas, concepts of people it is more likely that there is communication that influences the mediation process. The media creates active cultural and social spaces that communicate to the audiences where the media focuses on shaping opinion based on the information highlighted and what is left out. The photographic image has played a crucial role in the development of visual arts and good lighting is necessary to achieve the desired results. Photography functions in mediation as a medium that integrates extremes and the most common is the contrast between light and darkness. Being able to see several shots, in different positions and needs allows photographers to capture the intended moments and show contrasts. Photography has the power and potential to transcend our understanding of reality and it does not always have to be limited by our own perceptions. Section 1: Duality Duality indicates the existence of two phenomena or different characters in the same person or in the same state of affairs. In Barbara Probst’s work she merges black and white photographs with colored ones depicts herself in different positions and divided locations in the form of photographs. There is focus on duality rather than opposition as the images reflects the subject in the same poses, but the color, lighting and emphasis on the surroundings differ. Duality affects how we interpret art and photography since it provides context, which is strongly influenced by environment and circumstances. A collection based on contrasts draws attention on how small changes affect how the viewers interpret the images.[Kate Lauren Sherman,. "The Manipulation of Perception: Barbara Probst's Exposure# 106." The Journal of Undergraduate Research at Ohio State 6 (2016),2.] In Probst‘s picture where there is a female subject walking in the direction of the camera, and in an urban setting taking behind her, there are differences in how the two images focus on the female subject walking. The moment are transformed by choosing different locations and distance from where the photographs are taken, and the more close up the photos the more they appear personal as is the case with focus on the woman in nature. On the other hand, in the urban landscape, this is a long shot and shows tall buildings and the figure of the female is smaller. The differences are trapped and the photographer reproduces situations of the same subject in contrasting situations. The patterns of duality, are subject to time, space, polarity and separation where polarization is defined by its opposite poles. The photographs are combined or merged to demonstrate that opposite poles can share the same reality. It is possible to identify with two places at the same time, they both have meaning. It as though there are dissected moments in Probst ‘s of the same women in the alpine landscape and skyscraper where the background is black and white. Time and space limit where people can be at a certain moment, but mentally they may be in more than one place. To better understand the photographer’s idea it is necessary to pick out details by looking at the images more than once to notice the differences and how they are related to the subjects Significance of how the duality exists in photography The theme of duality has been exploited by various photographers and artists and sometimes relict split personality or presence of a double or a variant of an identity. Duplicity of the people and the settings helps to highlight the most outstanding features in the photography work and merging the photos minimizes the differences. Probst mainly uses framing and shooting angle to achieve duality on the same subject. The duality of the image influences the aesthetic experience since there is focus on context with the difference clearly defined and evident. In any case, photography is a process that determines the final output and photo quality partly depends on the level of lighting and dark to light contrast. Unlike duplication whether is an exact image that is replicated in duality there is opposing and the notion of duplicity. This implies that there are two things that are based on the same thing, but there are differences that stand out and the terms act simultaneously. Sometimes there may be a third term that opposes the two terms, and this result to continuation of dualism. The photographers create dualities between themselves and the viewers or subjects and by doing so they manage to highlight the possibilities inherent in the medium. Even as reflection implies duality when reflection is reproduced in photographic image, the viewers may need to be keen to determine whether there is distortion and what appears to be the original image. As such, viewers reflect on what they see and try to interpret based on the circumstances and understanding of authenticity and identity. There are differences in interpretation of visual representation of the photos when they are viewed together and when viewed separately when there is a selection of only some photographs, those that are absent are not represented and yet may be significant to show the artist’s ideas. Absence of the images is like erasure and incompleteness of representation, and duality then is important to reflect completeness and validate the photographer’s idea. Incomplete representation of duality then erodes the power of the images yet photographs inevitable represent a particular moment in the past or present. There may be various layers of meaning and different levels of interpretation when photographers focus on dualism where there are distinct and separate elements that are still tied together. Section 2: Horizon/Line Henri Cartier-Bresson a street artist in the 1920s and 30s focused on what he called the decisive moment to take photographs to ensure there was perfect composition and content. In the image focusing on a bicycle rider the rider is oblivious that someone is observing him and the photographer took the photo at the decisive moment. He relies on the light and shadow effects to balance the image, with the stairway, building, and walls providing a perfect setting to take the photograph. Cartier-Bresson captured moving objects, mostly people and he had to wait until the objects/ subjects were in certain positions.[Nadya Bair. "The Decisive Network: Producing Henri Cartier-Bresson at Mid-Century." History of Photography 40, no. 2 (2016): 152.] The stair case is at the center line of the photograph, which generates a sense of balance and the rider is moving away. The picture is taken from the top level increases the differences between the building and the rider since there is open space this accentuates the surroundings volumes. Both the road and the stair case, provide rhythm and repetition. In the frame the rider is moving away and this draw s attention to his presence as he is the only one moving. There is a very careful composition where each of the line relationships that have been carefully planned and the open space is in perfect harmony with the rest of the present forms while the dominant lines direct the viewer’s gaze. To ensure balance of the images photographers focus on achieving perfect harmony based on the placement of the objects and subjects in the images. Another example of transient photography in Cartier-Bresson’s work is “Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare” and while there is no narrative sequence, it is clear the one is coming from one direction to another. In the image there is jumping over a pool of water and while the image seems to have been generated spontaneously the decisive moment does not occur   by chance since one has to be in the right place at the right time. At the same time, Photographers ​​giving meaning to a person or event and, such recognition is linked the compositio...