Truth, Fabrication and Manipulation in Photography

Searching for photographers that dealt with traditional manipulation process was interesting because digital manipulation has becoming the dominant definition. Jerry Uselman and Starn twins for example are the reigning champions for describing this type of media. I enjoyed the articles we read because it shed light on the people who are using straight photography to manipulate. Webster’s dictionary defines manipulation as “to treat or operate with or as if with the hands or by mechanical means especially in a skillful manner, to manage or utilize skillfully”. One a photograph is taken the viewer manipulates it as well, they don’t see the artists’ intent, and all they have to work with is their perception that could also manipulate the photo. The Artnews article was very interesting because it talked about staged photography, the idea of fabrication. The photographer doesn’t have to wait for the perfect moment to arise say like Bresson; they can create their moment. One artist who does this that I appreciated is Anna Gaskell, who used Alice in Wonderland imagery to show female adolescence. Photographers are artists’ now more than ever using movie stills books as examples to help them express their ideas. Fabrication is merely using the tool of photography, to capture this staged idea whether it is like capturing the meticulous Sandy Skoklund’s brilliant ceramics or Cindy Sherman’s feminism in her movie stills. Joel Peter-Witkin and Duane Michaels are two brilliantly twisted on, opposite ends of the spectrum, directors of photography. I appreciated that Michaels never went to art school; he did what he needed to do in the most natural form. He understands what art is. When describing Joel Peter-Witkin’s work he says, “It scares me but I’d much rather be frightened than bored. Until you find your own truth you have nothing.” I think that is what makes them so interesting because they are putting their own ideas of truth out in the world and regardless of the “beauty” its truth in the purest sense of the word. Witkin makes another interesting quote in saying that “ we have to solve the things that make us unclear, the forbidden things, the things we’re told to love and trust and respect. We have to see them for what they are through our own true eyes.” I really think this statement is beautiful. Michael’s makes an early comment about a Mapplethorpe print and he said it was decoration, beautiful artful but not art. As much as I enjoy Mapplethorpe I understand what he means because Michaels and Duane are searching for something, their art comes from a universal idea of truth whether it be in life, death, sex, and personal memories. The artist has to question what exists, and once create