Art Through The Lens
It was a hot summer July afternoon in Key West, Florida with my family. We were on our first family vacation in a long while. All of us were standing in the ocean water watching the trainer directing the dolphin to do tricks. She each let us interact individually with the dolphin. It was one of the best feelings ever to just be so close to this gentle creature. It was one of the most memorable experiences of my life that I never want to forget. How would I remember this exact moment in time? Photography is simply the answer. Photographs were taken during the whole time of this event. I can always look back at these photos and not forget one detail.
In the words of Jim Jonnard, who is the founder of the Red digital camera system, “The camera is arguably one of the most important of all inventions…it is he single tool that has the ability to stop time, record history, generate art, tell stories, and communicate messages that transcend language like nothing else ever conceived.” (Red Camera) I agree with this statement and the depth within it. The way it changed art is still unexplainable with its eternal lasting impact. The invention of the camera was completely necessary in order for original art to grow and change its direction throughout history and present time. (Berger 16-20) When the camera was first invented it immediately changed how people saw. This was first depicted in paintings. It had taken away the uniqueness of paintings by conveying a different message. When looking at a painting on a screen its surroundings include but are not limited to furniture and the appearance of the walls in the background. This interferes with the true meaning of the image because its environment is causing a distraction to its viewers. Instead of the viewer finding its way to the painting, the painting makes its way to the viewer. The whole meaning changes in its path. This is when the
Cited: Berger, John. Trans. Array Ways Of Seeing. London: British Broadcasting Corporation and Penguin Books, 1972. 16-20. Print. Kenny, Essay: The Impact of Photography on Painting. ArtRev.com, Inc, December 05 2009. Web. 15 November 2012. <http://www.artrev.com/blog/blogentry.asp?bid=156>. Lane, Jim. "The Camera and Art." HumanitiesWeb.org. HumanitiesWeb.org, June 16 1999. Web. November 15T 2012. <http://www.humanitiesweb.org/spa/gai/ID/514>. Mcrae, Shelly. "The Impact of Photography on Art." Helium. Helium, Inc., May 02 2012. Web. 15 November 2012. <http://www.helium.com/items/1039535-how-photography-affected- the-art- world-and-artists>. Red Camera, Enki Studios. Enki Studios, n.d. Web. 15 November 2012. <http://enkistudios.com/tag/red-camera/>. Tenney, Tom. "The Influence of Art and Performance on the Rise of American Independent Cinema." . WordPress, May 20 2010. Web. 15 November 2012. <http://inc.ongruo.us/2010/05/20/the-influence-of-art-and-performance-on-the-rise-of- american-independent-cinema/>.