NM – Assessment 2

Assignment 2- Review
Name: Amelia Hirst s3784833

I declare that in submitting all work for this assessment I have read, understood and agree to the content and expectations of the assessment declaration – https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-and-facilities/student-support/equitable-learning-services

Blog reflections

Week 5 – Analogue Photography (practice analysis)
Week 6 – Analogue Video (practice analysis)
Week 7 – Networked Photography (practice analysis)
Week 8 – Networked Video (practice analysis)

Review (1,091 words)

Provide a definition for ‘analogue photography’.

Analogue photography (AP) is a process where the film in an analogue camera is exposed to light to capture a moment in time. Distinguishable by the long processes involved, AP was executed by ‘other’ people rather than anyone and everyone (Kuc & Zylinska 2016, pg. 7). Analogue photographs were rare in the sense that film rolls only allowed for a specific number of photos to be taken. The process of developing the images was then down to a science, where images needed to spend specific amounts of time in the chemical baths to produce a recognisable photograph to be produced. Therefore, AP, done by people such as Henri Cartier Bresson, was considered ‘art’ rather than a hobby (Kuc & Zylinska 2016, pg. 9).

Provide a definition for ‘analogue video’.

Analogue video (AV) is comprised of the electronic transfer of signals within a recording device and its reproduction equipment; and is therefore considered to be an electronic medium (Speilmann 2007, pg.1). An analogue video image is produced when light is recorded onto a photosensitive surface within the recording device, which creates signals recognised by the cathode ray tubes. These visual signals work with the audio signals to create a seamless and progressive video when transmitted to screen. What differentiates AV from AP is its ability to be effortlessly modified and manipulated (Speilmann 2007, pg.1) which appealed to many artists giving rise to ‘video art’.

Provide a definition for ‘networked photography’.

Networked photography (NP) is a process carried out on digital devices that record and display photographs. Unlike the tedious processes behind AP, NP can be edited, published, and distributed all from the one device due to the rise of Web 2.0 technologies (Palmer 2014, pg. 245). This makes the process of NP fluid, as well as being more accessible and user friendly. Additionally, NP does not exist as an object, rather the data from capturing an image is converted into numbers that can be transferred and shared to online sources without modification (Lister 2009, pg. 16).

Provide a definition for ‘networked video’.

Networked video (NV) utilises the recording component on digital devices to capture moving images and sounds as data working together in unison. This video is then uploaded to the network on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Flickr for mass consumption. With the rise of such platforms, NV is accessible and achievable for an ‘amateur’ (Berry 2018, pg. 9) to execute confidentially and with little difficulty. This has created a much more diverse library of videos online and allows consumers to actively subscribe to content they want to, rather than being limited.

Provide definitions for the terms ‘authoring’, ‘publishing’ and ‘distributing’.

Authoring: Authoring encapsulates everything that is involved in creating a product. From the ideation to production and execution, authoring differs from one individual to the next depending on the tools and devices used by the creator.

Publishing: Publishing is the preparation and execution of releasing the content created for viewing, either as a physical hard copy through exhibitions and galleries or on a digital platform such as Instagram.

Distributing: Distributing works in conjunction with publishing and focuses on how the content reaches a wider audience. This can be done by word of mouth or if digital can be reposted and shared to generate a larger viewership.

What differences and similarities did you discover between the way analogue and networked photos are authored, published and distributed?

Authoring:

One of the overarching differences between analogue and networked photography is the devices used to capture the photo and the affordances and constraints they hold. AP was typically more considered and purposeful in its execution because film cameras could only take a limited number of photographs. As artists of the time show, they had to be patient but prepared to capture the perfect shot, and they only had one chance. However, with NP, the devices are limitless. From smartphones to digital cameras ranging in size and functions, the process of taking a photo is much easier. With digital devices, a collection of photos can be taken within seconds (bursts) and then viewed instantly. Although the devices show differences, one thing remains a constant; that is lighting (Kuc & Zylinska 2016, pg. 11). Without adequate lighting, a photo is not able to be executed to a high level and is usually not worthy of publishing.

Publishing:

The publishing process between analogue and networked photography is more separable due to the editing processes. With AP, editing an image was done by hand and was dependent on science. The process was tedious, detailed, and required a lot more equipment. Additionally, an image was not able to be seen until the later stages. NP, however, can be done within a few touches on a screen. There are set filters on platforms such as Instagram which can be applied and allow for a constant aesthetic to be published. However, even in the digital age, it is still common to see photographs with a description as they provide context and relevance for the content being published.

Distributing:

The ability of AP to reach greater audiences was restricted in comparison to NP. Due to the rarity associated with analogue photographs, transmission to larger audiences meant republishing and hence diminished its desirable trait. In contrast, with NP and platforms such as Instagram that utilise hashtags and tagging other accounts, a photograph can travel from one side of the world to another within a click. Therefore, NP has a greater ability to reach people with less effort.

What differences and similarities did you discover between the way analogue and networked videos are authored, published and distributed?

Authoring:

One main difference in authoring between AV and NV is the accessibility. AV was considered to always be produced by a professional and whilst there are still perceived professionals in the digital age, NV gives rise to the everyday person as seen on platforms such as YouTube. Additionally, with NV, a person can film and then speed up and slow down the clip very easily, whereas in AV the electrical signals had to be altered to create an effect which was much more difficult.

Publishing:

I feel as though publishing for AV and NV have similar intentions. Through my analysis of practitioners, I have seen a pattern that shows intent and purpose when publishing a video. Both AV and NV show similarities as they are published to fit the artist’s certain aesthetic in order to gain a reliable audience and connect with those who consume the content.

Distributing:

The potential for networked video to be distributed further in comparison to analogue video is what sets the two apart. Analogue video was only able to be viewed and experienced in person through an artist’s exhibition or alternative displays of their work. This meant that limited audiences could view the content as the exhibition was only in one place at one time. Alternatively, networked video can be shared on platforms, such as YouTube, Instagram, Vimeo, which allow audiences to watch and re-watch content when it suits them. During the digital age art has become more accessible and more opportunities have been created for content to be recognised on a mass scale.

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