CATEGORIES OF PHOTOGRAPHY

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CATEGORIES OF PHOTOGRAPHY

DESCRIPTIVE

Ansel Adams, "Gate of the Valley"

http://anseladams.com/ansel-adams-yosemite/ (accessed March 17th)

Descriptive photography refers to an image that describes something. It's only used to describe something with no other intention. You can describe it by calling attention to qualities such as  selecting it, cropping it, labeling it, framing it, and distributing it. This photo is descriptive because it shows the landscape and map of the snowy location.

                 EXPLANATORY

Eadweard Muybridge, "Mahomet Cantering, 6 Images"

https://exhibits.stanford.edu/muybridge/catalog/hq255hg3120 (accessed March 17th) reformatted digital

Explanatory photography refers to imagaes that aid people to understand hard concepts that you can't see with the naked eye. It should provide visual explanations that should be verifiable (refutable) with further evidence of a scientific type. This photo is explaining the understanding that when horses gallop all four horse hooves leave the ground at the same time.

INTERPRETIVE

Jerry Uelsmann,“Dream Theater, 2004.”

https://www.digitalphotopro.com/profiles/jerry-uelsmann-the-alchemist/# (accessed March 17th)

Interpretive photography also seek to explain how things are, but they do not attempt scientific accuracy, nor are they accountable to scientific testing procedures. They are self-expressive and reveal a lot about the worldviews of the photographers who make them. They are exploratory and not necessarily logical, and sometimes they overtly defy logic and play with ambiguity and are open to a variety of readings. This photo shows interpretation because when looking at this photo you can have a different approach than someone else looking at it. The photo has an idea of supernatural ideas with an unusual appearance. 

ETHICALLY EVALUATIVE

Marc Riboud, "Young Girl with a Flower"

http://marcriboud.com/en/portfolio-4/(accessed March 17th)

Ethically evaluative photography describe, some, attempt scientific explanations, others offer personal interpretations—but most distinctively, they all make ethical judgments. They praise or condemn aspects of society. They show how things ought or ought not to be. They are politically engaged and usually passionate. This photo describes the mode because there's power in this photo. It incarnates non-violence and the sweet face of American youth. The photo inspires pacifists and idealists everywhere.

AESTHETICALLY EVALUATIVE

Andy Biggs,"Elephants and Clouds"

https://www.andybiggs.com/gallery/ (accessed March 17th)

Aesthetically evaluative photography is the wonder of visual form in all its variety and how it can be rendered photographically. Typically they're photographs of beautiful things and known as "art photography". This photo shows the beauty of nature and how aesthically pleasing to see the elephants aline just right and the clouds to arrange themselves in the sky for a picture that was taken for that moment. 

THEORETICAL

Cindy Sherman, "Untitled #118"

https://www.icp.org/browse/archive/objects/untitled-118-0(accessed March 17th)

Theoretical photography refers to an image that comments on art or the making of art. It rises the question of how the photograph was made, about the politics of art, about modes of representation, and other theoretical issues about photography and photographing. This mode is also concerned with aesthetics that is philosophical, issue not specific to photography. This photo depicts a women dressed up and modeling her outfit from that time period of 1989. Sherman avoids the use of text, and has resisted making theoretical pronouncements about her work.