Ian Has Spent a Lot of Time Developing a Photography

question 2

Multiple Choice

Ian has spent a lot of time developing a photography portfolio with a theme he is proud of.As he presents his portfolio to the class and explains his theme, he fields questions of his classmates who will then critique his work.Which scenario below offers the best models of giving and receiving constructive criticism?

• A)Critique: Ian, I feel like you have exploited people here.As photographers, shouldn't we consider the subject and not just the photograph? Ian's response: I understand where you are coming from, and I agree with you to an extent, but when the theme is to educate people on the plight of those living in this area of the city, it is our responsibility to show that slice of life as it is.
• B)Critique: Ian, I feel you have captured so many great moments within this theme yet it seems like there may critical elements about this area of the city that are not captured here in the portfolio.Did you do research about this part of the city, and did you think about what you wanted to capture before heading out to do this work? Ian's response: That is a great question.I actually did do some research on this before heading out and plan to continue my work in this area to rework the portfolio beyond this class.If anyone knows about this area and has any suggestions, I would love to talk.
• C)Critique: Ian, I see this work as content rich but technically poor.How you juxtapose your subjects in their surroundings is rather displeasing to me from an aesthetics viewpoint.Ian's response: I am showing life as it is just shooting from the hip.We all hope to capture these moments in the perfect frame, but I am more concerned with the content.
• D)Critique: Ian, the theme you have chosen is noble, but your eye on this world seems to come from a juvenile viewpoint.Who did you have in mind as your audience when you developed the portfolio? Ian: I suppose I just had our class in mind, thus my juvenile eye should yield a satisfactory portfolio for folks like yourself.

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Definitions:

National Security

A state or condition where a nation's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and citizenry are protected and maintained against external threats.

International Obligations

Duties and responsibilities that a country or an organization owes to the international community, often under international law or treaties.

Extrajudicial Execution

The killing of a person by governmental authorities without the process of a legal trial, often associated with human rights abuses.

Autonomy

The right or condition of self-government, often relating to an individual's capacity and freedom to make their own choices.