On Photography

An interesting point Sontag brings up is that from the tourist perspective, photography provides an outlet for the anxieties produced by travel and being outside of our comfort zone when we are in a strange or new place.  She calls it a "friendly imitation of work";

"...stop, take a photograph, and move on.  The method especially appeals to people handicapped by a ruthless work ethic -- Germans, Japanese, and Americans."  It is something that becomes robotic, almost imitating the 9-5 work routine most people endure throughout their daily lives.  It's interesting that the same type of behavior that is helping a person relax while they are on vacation is the same kind of thing they are trying to escape by being on vacation.  People feel guilty for not working, so they emulate it with some other routine that comforts them.  Luckily, it happens to be photography.  A good choice.

On Photography

On Photography is an interesting read for anyone wanting to look further into the history of photography and the theory behind it. Susan Sontag explores photography as a cultural phenomenon and how it became this way, which leads you to question why people started taking photographs in the first place.

On Photography Photograph

The author described one of his experiences about seeing some images that really caused an impact for him. In pages 19-22 he writes, "Nothing...in photographs or in real life ever cut me as sharply, deeply, instantaneously." He was talking about images he saw of Bergen-Belsen and Dachau, concentration camps. The image above is of a A crematoria oven where the corpses of prisoners were burned in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. (April 28, 1945). The camp was established in 1940 as a prison. By 1943 it was converted into a concentration camp. On April 15th, 1945 the people were liberated.

Mayra

On Reading Susan Sontag

One of the points that Susan Sontag brought up was that photography is often used for the typical "group photo." Immediately, it brought to mind a picture I took at my birthday party of my "peeps". Everyone kept grouping together when I had my camera out, when I was actually just trying to take photos of them being their normal geeky selves. This also brought to mind where she spoke about photography about being non-intervention. I tried my best to not intervene, but what can I say....the camera makes some people do the strangest things.

On Photography

To me, this photo demonstrates what Susan Sontag was describing, how it has become customary to document every part of an event or vacation with a photograph. It's almost as if the photo is needed to even prove that it ever existed. I love how the "group photo" has become so customary that even when someone doesn't even want to take the photo they go along anyway because that's just the way things are done.

I really enjoy this photograph.  This moment for the child looks to be terrible but I love the way the camera is right up in her face just capturing every emotion. 

-Ortolf

Arbus-esq photo

I chose this photo because of the anger, confusion, and intimidation portrayed by the individual. This photo, which is of the actor Tony Trejo, was taken by photographer Estevan Oriol. The majority of Oriol's work is in black and white, and usually features Latinos and gang members. Much of his work shows a glimpse into what gang life is like. He takes shots of average people, as well as celebrities such as Eminem, Snoop Dog, Lance Armstrong, and Tim Roth. Oriol also collaborates many times with celebrity tattoo artist Mr. Cartoon.

On Photograph

I posted this Diane Arbus photograph because I think that her photographs challenge photography ethics. If I knew more about her motives for taking the pictures that she did, I might be able to justify or understand what she was trying to get across. For me, a person seeing this photograph years later and in a completely different society than the one she lived, I don't know what this photograph has really accomplished for the person in it. - Tayler

On Photography

I found this picture of a boy walking through Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. It was taken by George Rodger in 1945.The reason a chose this photo was that in the article Susan Sontag said "One's first encounter with the photographic inventory of ultimate horror is a kind of revelation: a negative epiphany. For me, it was photographs of Bergen-Belsen."

Chad Miltenberger