Interpreting: Gla 625: History Of Photography

Markelle Palombo
GLA 625: History of Photography
Lisa Levine
Fall 2014

Take Home Final Exam

In the following essay, I will look at 6 plates from the Rosemblum text of selected photographers and classify their work using the following categories for interpreting photographs found in Terry Barrett’s Criticizing Photographs:
1) Descriptive
2) Explanatory
3) Interpretive
4) Ethically Evaluative
5) Aesthetically Evaluative
6) Theoretical

I will explain why I have placed each of these images in such categorization. I will then go on to discuss, in my personal yet humble opinion why I believe or do not believe it makes for a successful photograph.
I will also discuss the value (if any) the image holds in being pictured in a historical textbook
Mary Ellen Mark’s photograph can also be categorized as
Explanatory because the image can be viewed as a sociological or anthropological perspective because it is a visual study of a Seattle area using a very documentary style of photography.
This is a successful picture because it is aesthetically pleasing in that the photograph is very stylistic: the picture is in black and white so it gives off a moody vibe.
Mary Ellen Mark’s photograph should remain in the history books because it provides insight on how society was during this era and the poverty that some people had to live in.
Streetwise was produced during the Modernist/Post-Modernist era because the portrait is untraditional in the Pictorial sense. In other words, it’s not meant to be smoothing to the eye or flattering but more of a documentary style picture.

Personal Work
As a photographer, I must also be able to evaluate and categorize my own work.
Not only that but it’s important to identify as to WHY we capture certain images.
What is interesting about the pictures we create? If we can’t identify with or answer these questions, why would someone else care about the work or
A way of seeing that would be impossible without the camera. My work would be
Theoretical because I use the camera to collect data. Long exposures, collages or triptychs, etc are all about using the photograph and objectively collecting data. But my photography is more than just Theoretical in the sense I described above.
In order to place pieces of work in more than one category, you must interpret the photograph. To interpret a photograph is to figure what the photograph is about to the best of your ability then build an argument based on the evidence of our understanding.
The categories are overlapping. To be descriptive is to be explanatory and interpretive. And all art is based on prior influences.
I see these categories as a useful tool in studying the history of photography and without this foundation to build on, you can’t be a strong artist. In other words a strong artist knows why certain elements of an image draws the viewer to look at the image and actually study it. A real artist knows the rules of the game and knows when he/she can break those rules or respectfully abide by them. Finally a true artist creates out of the love of art and the act of creating