HUMN 303 Week 6 Assignment: Essay–Art Creation & Reflection – Photography/Cinema

Student Name

Chamberlain University

HUMN-303: Introduction to the Humanities

Prof. Name:

Date

Amateur Photography and Cinema with a Naked Eye

Since 1839, when Louis J. M. Daguerre processed his first photograph using a silver-coated plate known as the daguerreotype, there has been an ongoing debate about the impact of photography on traditional painting. While many artists initially feared that photography would diminish the value of painting, early photographs, which were black and white, did not replicate the vibrancy of colorful paintings. However, photography revolutionized the art world by allowing events and moments to be captured more efficiently than through painting. As camera technology advanced, photography began to compete with traditional art forms, and today, almost everyone can take photographs using smartphones. Modern smartphones offer a range of features that enable users to easily alter images—cropping, editing, brightening, darkening, and even applying sophisticated filters.

In my personal experience, nature has always been my primary inspiration when using a camera. For instance, I was deeply influenced by the BBC television series Seven Worlds, One Planet. This series, described by The Times (2019) as “each episode covers a different continent, with stunning footage captured over four years…92 film shoots in more than 40 countries” (p. 23), showcases extraordinary wildlife. One episode filmed in South America follows a rare group of Hyacinth macaws, known as the largest parrots by length. Their vivid blue color and unique behavior captured my imagination. This segment resonated with me because my first pet was a parrot that lived with me for over 16 years, sparking a lifelong connection to birds.

HUMN 303 Week 6 Assignment: Essay–Art Creation & Reflection – Photography/Cinema

Inspired by this, I decided to create my own artistic project involving birds. While visiting a park, I encountered a small bird, which I named “Little Bird,” as the subject of my film. I observed its natural behaviors, such as bathing and drinking from a fountain, before it flew away. While trying to follow its movements, I realized the challenges of capturing fast-moving subjects, even with advanced smartphone features like zoom. This difficulty highlighted the expertise of professional filmmakers in documentaries like Seven Worlds, One Planet, where camera operators effectively capture dynamic wildlife moments.

In conclusion, creating a short film using a smartphone is far more challenging than it initially appears. Despite the advanced features available on modern devices, editing footage, incorporating music, and creating a cohesive narrative proved difficult for me. Ultimately, I left my video unedited, presenting it in its raw form. This experience deepened my appreciation for professional filmmakers and their ability to transform raw footage into compelling visual stories.