Assignment 1 PART 1 - Web 2.0 Photo Journal Blog
The role of portraits in the early days of photography and portraits today
1. What are the main differences and similarities between portraits in the early days of photography and portraits today?
 |
Edith Patch Early Portrait
by Unknown |
People have produced their images or others’ throughout history either in the form of painting or photograph. The main difference in portrait between in the early days and today is its accessibility. Not everyone could afford to have their portraits in the early days of photography because of the required devices and skills to produce portrait. It was expensive. It represented social status and wealth. It was a means to parade what they had. The subjects were therefore the nobility or rising classes who gained political and economic power and wanted to declare their new status.
 |
| A Happy Family by Vic Orenstein |
On the other hand portrait today is accessible to almost everyone regardless of social status, wealth or power. It is now more like a means of expressing and capturing the essence of ourselves. Due to the advanced technology it is easier to take those moments when the true personality is revealed. The purpose of portraits became various; fine art, commercial, promotional i.g, a picture of the author of a book on a book jacket. Even so-called ‘paparazzi pictures’ became a popular form of portraits. Today portraits can be produced by anyone anywhere and anytime.
 |
Official Portrait of President Obama
captured with Canon EOS |
Portraits in the early days of photography and portraits today have similarities in that the subjects are most of times non-professional models and their no.1 purpose is to display themselves. Another similarity is constructing a certain image or idea around the portrait such as trustworthy politician, happy family, caring leader, successful merchant and so on.
2. Who was the photographer and who was the subject of photographs in the past and today?
 |
| Nr 1 Bulgarian General Photo portrait, 1903 |
In the early days, few people with the right skills and devices only were photographers. They were usually in short supply. According to Gisele Freund, painters, miniaturists, skilled craftsmen, photographers and physionotracists were the photographers in the early days. Today however not only the professional photographers but anyone with a camera or anyone who wants to show off their artistic ability can be the photographer due to the development of technology.
The subjects of photographs in the past were as I mentioned above the nobility and rising middle classes who entered into the rim of the circle of aristocracy and were eager to affirm and enjoy their new status. Today however everyone can be the subject of photographs.
3. What was the impact of technology on the portraits in the past and today?
 |
Fishwives and Fishes: Mrs. Logan;
Mrs. Seton; two unidentified men |
 |
| Abraham Lincoln by Nicholas H. Shepherd |
Daguerreotype Calotype
The development of photographic process such as Daguerreotype process and Calotype process brought high progress in photography. Daguerreotype process creates a highly detailed image and Calotype process created a negative image that allows multiple copies from. These processes contributed to higher quality of photographs.
Due to today’s advanced technology such as various types of cameras from classic camera, digital camera, phone to webcam and digitalization, photography became a part of our daily lives. Technology made everyone the ‘subjects’ as well as ‘photographers’. It also enabled us to produce and manipulate portraits more easily and effectively in a way that we want to be seen and remembered.
 |
| Madonna's wrinkles from Vogue.it |
Sources :
*2_PrecursorsOfThePhotoPortrait_GiseleFreundPhotographyRevised.pdf - on Jan 24, 2011 7:34 PM by Gordana Icevska (version 1)
*AHistoryOfPhotography_revised.pdf - on Jan 24, 2011 7:34 PM by Gordana Icevska (version 1)
(pictures)
http://www.edithpatch.org/photo/
http://www.cameratown.com/news/news.cfm?id=7011
http://www.7photographyquestions.com/2009/02/p40-all-piled-onto-one-another-this-photo-spotlights-a-happy.html
http://www.shopbulgaria.com/photos-documents-29/5402/nr-1-bulgarian-general-photo-portrait-1903.html
http://www.zazzle.ca/abe_lincoln_daguerreotype_1846_poster-228677932659015638
http://www.gla.ac.uk/services/specialcollections/collectionsa-z/hilladamson/calotypeprocess/
http://www.vogue.it/en/slideshow?ID_Gallery=5201
