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FILM-PHILOSOPHY  October 2010

FILM-PHILOSOPHY October 2010

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Subject:

Re: ontology, transparency and the "disposable camera"

From:

Nicky Hamlyn <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

Film-Philosophy <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Sun, 31 Oct 2010 20:12:14 +0000

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (357 lines)

There's a good essay by Ernst Gombrich on this called Mirror and Map.

Off the top of my head, in a different way, loudspeaker design also  
manipulates frequency response curves to try to make the sound "nice",

Nicky Hamlyn.


On 29 Oct 2010, at 19:17, John Matturri wrote:

> But the claim isn't about the eye, visual system, or reproducing  
> vision. The first thing that a photographer has to learn is that the  
> camera doesn't reproduce what we see: for example, the constancies  
> don't work in a photo in the way they do in vision: so you take a  
> picture and your subject turns out to be too small in the frame. The  
> objectivity of the photography just is the systematic mechanical/ 
> chemical mapping of values from the world to the sensor or film.  
> There are conventions of camera/lens/film/sensor design but any of  
> these provides just as much objectivity, a wildly anamorphic lens as  
> much as a standard lens.
>
> j
>
> On 10/29/10 1:04 PM, bill harris wrote:
>> --_05163c74-9a97-4118-813c-283ca3383045_
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>>
>>
>> Here's a small example-- on the level of simple=2C accepted  
>> technique-- as =
>> to how the camera cannot capture the 'rteality' of the eye.
>> =20
>> Eye focal length is about 35mm. At that perspective=2C what the eye  
>> sees is=
>> =2C among other things=2C a hugely oversized nose. So the brain  
>> readjusts t=
>> he perspective=3B which is to say that the eye is only one part of  
>> the visu=
>> al system.
>> =20
>> But as we speak=2C cameras are yet to be fitted with brains that  
>> might dist=
>> inguish=2C say=2C the intentional detailing of a face from reading  
>> the keyp=
>> ad in a cellphone.
>> =20
>> Therefore=2C to portray a realistic face=2C the shooter must adjust  
>> back th=
>> e focal length to the 60-80 range. Photographic reality=2C from the  
>> basics=
>> =2C relies on human convention and adjustment.
>> =20
>> BH
>>
>> =20
>> =20
>>> Date: Thu=2C 28 Oct 2010 13:44:05 -0400
>>> From: [log in to unmask]
>>> Subject: Re: ontology=2C transparency and the "disposable camera"
>>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>> =20
>>> On 10/28/10 1:10 PM=2C William Brown wrote:
>>>> Photos are not necessarily 'transparent' indices of a reality=2C  
>>>> then=
>> =2C
>>>> but they do have (potentially) a photonic-indexical link across  
>>>> time
>>>> to what was in front of the lens at the time of image capture.
>>> What you call "photonic-indexical link" seems pretty much to be  
>>> what is=20
>>> meant by transparency. Though I guess that there can be non- 
>>> photonic=20
>>> photo-like indexicality=2C like a kind of Alexieff-type pin  
>>> animation in=
>> =20
>>> which the pins were pushed by the actual objects represented.
>>> =20
>>>> My contention would be
>>>> that photography can 'echo' real photons.
>>> The metaphysics of light lives on in some filmmakers. I've seen=20
>>> filmmakers hold up a strip of camera-original reversal stock and  
>>> exclaim=
>> =20
>>> that the photons the bounced off the subject directly hit these  
>>> very=20
>>> frames. This desire for getting as close to unmediated  
>>> representation as=
>> =20
>>> possible goes deep. The best painted pictures of the Virgin were  
>>> those=20
>>> believed to be done from life by Luke (an amazing artist who  
>>> anticipated=
>> =20
>>> medieval styles by centuries) but even better were those icons  
>>> said to=20
>>> be made miraculously with human hands or with mechanical contact  
>>> like=20
>>> Veronica's veil and the shroud of Turin. (Right about the time  
>>> that the=20
>>> chemical tests of the shroud came out I went up to the US shroud=20
>>> headquarters in the Bronx to get publishable pictures and  
>>> permission to=20
>>> publish them=3B given the debunking of the time the priest in  
>>> charge was=
>> =20
>>> initially skeptical but when I explained that I was writing about=20
>>> photography he saw the point immediately.)
>>> =20
>>> I suspect that the uncanniness of all images is also based=2C as  
>>> you say=
>> =2C=20
>>> on the fact that they are processed by the visual system and its=20
>>> recognitional subsystems in the same way that ordinary perception  
>>> is.=20
>>> "Seeing is believing" may be the default working principle of  
>>> visual=20
>>> belief production but this default can be over-ridden by awareness  
>>> that=20
>>> we are seeing an image rather than the actual object. But we are  
>>> also=20
>>> aware of how different images are made=2C so the over-riding  
>>> process may=
>> =20
>>> be weaker for photos: we get a sense of real contact=2C perhaps=2C  
>>> but no=
>> t=20
>>> to the point where we try to carry on a conversation. The  
>>> uncanniness=20
>>> may be retained despite the over-riding=2C just as we still have a  
>>> sense=
>> =20
>>> the the Muller-Lyer lines are different sizes even after we come  
>>> to know=
>> =20
>>> and believe that they are the same size.
>>> =20
>>> j
>>> =20
>>> *
>>> *
>>> Film-Philosophy
>>> After hitting 'reply' please always delete the text of the message  
>>> you ar=
>> e replying to
>>> To leave=2C send the message: leave film-philosophy to:  
>>> jiscmail@jiscmail=
>> .ac.uk
>>> Or visit: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/film-philosophy.html
>>> For technical help email: [log in to unmask] not the salon
>>> *
>>> Film-Philosophy online: http://www.film-philosophy.com
>>> Contact: [log in to unmask]
>>> **
>>  		 	   		=
>>
>> *
>> *
>> Film-Philosophy
>> After hitting 'reply' please always delete the text of the message  
>> you are replying to
>> To leave, send the message: leave film-philosophy to: [log in to unmask]
>> Or visit: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/film-philosophy.html
>> For technical help email: [log in to unmask], not the salon
>> *
>> Film-Philosophy online: http://www.film-philosophy.com
>> Contact: [log in to unmask]
>> **
>>
>> --_05163c74-9a97-4118-813c-283ca3383045_
>> Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
>> Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>>
>> <html>
>> <head>
>> <style><!--
>> .hmmessage P
>> {
>> margin:0px=3B
>> padding:0px
>> }
>> body.hmmessage
>> {
>> font-size: 10pt=3B
>> font-family:Tahoma
>> }
>> --></style>
>> </head>
>> <body class=3D'hmmessage'>
>> Here's a small example-- on the level of simple=2C accepted  
>> technique--&nbs=
>> p=3Bas to how the camera&nbsp=3Bcannot capture the 'rteality' of  
>> the eye.<B=
>> R>
>> &nbsp=3B<BR>
>> Eye focal length is&nbsp=3Babout 35mm. At that  
>> perspective=2C&nbsp=3Bwhat t=
>> he eye sees&nbsp=3Bis=2C among other things=2C a hugely oversized  
>> nose. So =
>> the brain readjusts the perspective=3B which is to say that the eye  
>> is only=
>>  one part of&nbsp=3Bthe visual system.<BR>
>> &nbsp=3B<BR>
>> But as we speak=2C cameras are yet to be fitted with brains that  
>> might dist=
>> inguish=2C say=2C the intentional detailing of a face from reading  
>> the keyp=
>> ad in a cellphone.<BR>
>> &nbsp=3B<BR>
>> Therefore=2C to portray a realistic face=2C the shooter must adjust  
>> back th=
>> e focal length to the 60-80 range. Photographic reality=2C from the  
>> basics=
>> =2C&nbsp=3Brelies on human convention and adjustment.<BR>
>> &nbsp=3B<BR>
>> BH<BR>
>>
>> &nbsp=3B<BR>
>> &nbsp=3B<BR>
>> &gt=3B Date: Thu=2C 28 Oct 2010 13:44:05 -0400<BR>&gt=3B From:  
>> jmatturr@EAR=
>> THLINK.NET<BR>&gt=3B Subject: Re: ontology=2C transparency and the  
>> "disposa=
>> ble camera"<BR>&gt=3B To: FILM- 
>> [log in to unmask]<BR>&gt=3B<BR>&gt=
>> =3B On 10/28/10 1:10 PM=2C William Brown wrote:<BR>&gt=3B&gt=3B  
>> Photos are=
>>  not necessarily 'transparent' indices of a reality=2C  
>> then=2C<BR>&gt=3B&g=
>> t=3B but they do have (potentially) a photonic-indexical link  
>> across time<B=
>> R>&gt=3B&gt=3B to what was in front of the lens at the time of  
>> image captu=
>> re.<BR>&gt=3B What you call "photonic-indexical link" seems pretty  
>> much to =
>> be what is<BR>&gt=3B meant by transparency. Though I guess that  
>> there can =
>> be non-photonic<BR>&gt=3B photo-like indexicality=2C like a kind of  
>> Alexie=
>> ff-type pin animation in<BR>&gt=3B which the pins were pushed by  
>> the actua=
>> l objects represented.<BR>&gt=3B<BR>&gt=3B&gt=3B My contention  
>> would be<B=
>> R>&gt=3B&gt=3B that photography can 'echo' real photons.<BR>&gt=3B  
>> The met=
>> aphysics of light lives on in some filmmakers. I've seen<BR>&gt=3B  
>> filmmak=
>> ers hold up a strip of camera-original reversal stock and  
>> exclaim<BR>&gt=
>> =3B that the photons the bounced off the subject directly hit these  
>> very<B=
>> R>&gt=3B frames. This desire for getting as close to unmediated  
>> representat=
>> ion as<BR>&gt=3B possible goes deep. The best painted pictures of  
>> the Virg=
>> in were those<BR>&gt=3B believed to be done from life by Luke (an  
>> amazing =
>> artist who anticipated<BR>&gt=3B medieval styles by centuries) but  
>> even be=
>> tter were those icons said to<BR>&gt=3B be made miraculously with  
>> human ha=
>> nds or with mechanical contact like<BR>&gt=3B Veronica's veil and  
>> the shro=
>> ud of Turin. (Right about the time that the<BR>&gt=3B chemical  
>> tests of th=
>> e shroud came out I went up to the US shroud<BR>&gt=3B headquarters  
>> in the=
>>  Bronx to get publishable pictures and permission to<BR>&gt=3B  
>> publish the=
>> m=3B given the debunking of the time the priest in charge  
>> was<BR>&gt=3B in=
>> itially skeptical but when I explained that I was writing  
>> about<BR>&gt=3B =
>> photography he saw the point immediately.)<BR>&gt=3B<BR>&gt=3B I  
>> suspect t=
>> hat the uncanniness of all images is also based=2C as you  
>> say=2C<BR>&gt=3B=
>>  on the fact that they are processed by the visual system and  
>> its<BR>&gt=
>> =3B recognitional subsystems in the same way that ordinary  
>> perception is.<=
>> BR>&gt=3B "Seeing is believing" may be the default working  
>> principle of vis=
>> ual<BR>&gt=3B belief production but this default can be over-ridden  
>> by awa=
>> reness that<BR>&gt=3B we are seeing an image rather than the actual  
>> object=
>> . But we are also<BR>&gt=3B aware of how different images are  
>> made=2C so t=
>> he over-riding process may<BR>&gt=3B be weaker for photos: we get a  
>> sense =
>> of real contact=2C perhaps=2C but not<BR>&gt=3B to the point where  
>> we try =
>> to carry on a conversation. The uncanniness<BR>&gt=3B may be  
>> retained desp=
>> ite the over-riding=2C just as we still have a sense<BR>&gt=3B the  
>> the Mul=
>> ler-Lyer lines are different sizes even after we come to  
>> know<BR>&gt=3B an=
>> d believe that they are the same size.<BR>&gt=3B<BR>&gt=3B  
>> j<BR>&gt=3B<BR=
>>> &gt=3B *<BR>&gt=3B *<BR>&gt=3B Film-Philosophy<BR>&gt=3B After  
>>> hitting 're=
>> ply' please always delete the text of the message you are replying  
>> to<BR>&g=
>> t=3B To leave=2C send the message: leave film-philosophy to:  
>> jiscmail@jiscm=
>> ail.ac.uk<BR>&gt=3B Or visit: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/film-philosop=
>> hy.html<BR>&gt=3B For technical help email:  
>> [log in to unmask] not =
>> the salon<BR>&gt=3B *<BR>&gt=3B Film-Philosophy online: http://www.film 
>> -phi=
>> losophy.com<BR>&gt=3B Contact: [log in to unmask]<BR>&gt=3B  
>> **<BR><=
>> BR>  		 	   		</body>
>> </html>=
>> *
>> *
>> Film-Philosophy Email Discussion Salon
>> After hitting 'reply' please always delete the text of the message  
>> you are replying to
>> To leave, send the message: leave film-philosophy to: [log in to unmask]
>> Or visit: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/film-philosophy.html
>> For technical help email: [log in to unmask], not the salon
>> *
>> Film-Philosophy online: http://www.film-philosophy.com
>> Contact: [log in to unmask]
>> **
>>
>> --_05163c74-9a97-4118-813c-283ca3383045_--
>>
>
> *
> *
> Film-Philosophy
> After hitting 'reply' please always delete the text of the message  
> you are replying to
> To leave, send the message: leave film-philosophy to: [log in to unmask]
> Or visit: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/film-philosophy.html
> For technical help email: [log in to unmask], not the salon
> *
> Film-Philosophy online: http://www.film-philosophy.com
> Contact: [log in to unmask]
> **

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Film-Philosophy
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