In the book “In Our Own Image” by Fred Ritchin, he describes the concept of “fluidity of the digital” that digital photography is much more flexible compared with previous imaging forms. This is mainly reflected in two aspects: firstly, just as Ritchin states, “photographs have long been decontextualized, misdirected, cynically relied upon to confirm certain values by those who control their use”(Ritchin, 125). In other words, the identities, positions, and intentions of the photo users and photographers will all affect the photos. For example, Time magazine made the cover of O.J.Simpson’s image darker and out of focus to indicate that he was the criminal. However, later it turned out that he wasn’t guilty. Therefore, photographs may misrepresent the truth. Secondly, the evolving technology has also greatly improved the fludity of the digital. Digital photography is more closely connected to media such as virtual reality environments. Since I’m studying Adobe Photoshop at the moment, I come to understand how convenient it is to revise the digital photograph with only a click on the mouse. In a sense, these techniques also reduce the authenticity of the photo.
As Ritchin argues “We will not be stopping time but tracking it,not fragmenting space but enlarging it. This will be “digital photography, ’ one which starts with the fragmentation of things and synthesizes it in interesting andunusual ways”(Ritchin, xx). In terms of photography itself, it captures a moment so that the focus is clear and it takes the role of documentary (proving sth does exist). For digital photography, it actually provides us with more possibilities to think outside the box, especially when it comes to a collaged series of composites rather than a single photo. For instance, what’s the context of the photo? What will happen next after the moment captured in the photo? In comparison, books are more detailed but they are not as intuitive and clear as photography. Videos are the combination of constant visual images so that the focus is on a period of time instead of one moment. Since virtual reality uses multiple senses, they may give users a better experience under the effect of synaesthesia.
Work Cited
1.Ritchin, Fred, Steve Dietz, and Phyllis Thompson Reid. In our own image. Aperture Foundation, Incorporated, 1999.
