Linda Nanthavong
Digital Media
Photographic Truth Reflection
For this project, we were instructed to create six scenes that placed us somewhere in history. The phrase “photographic truth” refers to having the photo be true even if it is altered to look as if it was true. First thing I did was find a part of history that I was very interested in. Then I went onto Google and searched my subject. I found six images and considered where I could place myself in each one. I had Ms. Weigand take pictures of me posing for each picture. Once I got my pictures, I edited them onto the appropriate pictures using Adobe Photoshop. I adjusted each one so it looked as realistic as possible. Once all six pictures were done, I printed them out and made them into a book!
My book is in all black and white. I chose to alter every picture onto a grayscale even though all of them were in color. I added myself to each image using the magnetic lasso tool to cut myself out of my picture and paste myself onto the Haiti picture. I also used the blur tool to blend in certain spots and the eraser to erase awkward edges. I used adjustments like contrasting and lighting to match the amount of shadowing in each picture. I also used the burn tool to create shadows. I don’t think that my presence alters the meaning too much. In some, I do seem to blend in more than others.
I choose my theme to be Haiti. I chose this theme because it was a recent event that effected a lot of people. A few of my friends had family there and I even had one friend who went there for two weeks to help out after the natural disaster. My presence alters the images because it seems like I am there with them. In one of the pictures, I am helping them carry a man out on a gurney. In another I am standing with a group of them.
I have learned that many things can be done to a picture to make it look realistic. I learned how to use the burn tool a lot more effectively in this project. This project has to be the most challenging out of the past projects. Finding pictures was really hard because I knew I couldn’t just pick out random pictures. I also thought adjusting the contrast was hard also. I think I was partially successful cause I only like three of my photos. The other three look less realistic to me. If I could do this assignment all over again. I would spend a little more time practicing how to cut out images neater.
