Art in general and a certain art like photography, aims to celebrate or keep the beauty of life, whether is the happy or miserable moment.

However, under the booming of social media, many people think art is just about social media popularity nowadays and it’s true in some ways. Public, especially young people, are obsessing with visual language. iPhone photography and Instagram has undeniably become a phenomenon and anyone with a smartphone in hand can be a photographer.

Actually if you google Damon Winter, you will see this professional photojournalist used an iPhone and an app called Hipstamatic to take a series of photograph in Iraq about the US soldiers. Normally

As a young adult, I’m so familiar with Instagram. It’s the morning ritual, the endless aesthetics rabbit hole that once you fall down to, your day will end before you even realize. There are thousand of different filters, styles and color choices in Instagram that everyone can find something for themselves. However my favourite image at the moment is the really simple one, which was taken in black and white.

 

 

“While photography used to be something that others – professionals equipped with large machines that allowed them to capture a better image of the world out there, advertisers trying to sell us chunks of that world, photojournalists dispatched to the world’s remote corners that few of us could regularly access – did, we can safely say that, in the age of the camera phone and wireless communication, we are all photographers now. Yet we are all not just photographers today: we have also become distributors, archivists and curators of the light traces immobilised on photo-sensitive surfaces.”

 

Who is the practitioner (what is their name?) and when were they practicing?

It’s the photo of Manon et Jacob, a photographic duo who have their own website and Instagram account. Manon and Jacob have been good friends and worked together before they start a relationship. This beautiful photo is taken from the lovely album in which Manon and Jacob shot each other. There is no way to figure out where the photos were taken sadly. However I find the composition and framing tell great visual story, the peaceful vibe soothes my soul and although the black and white filter doesnt catch the eyes the way color filter does, it’s such a choice that makes the photo appears timeless.

What is the title of the photo or video you have chosen to analyse (can you provide a link?)

The photo is from C-head Magazine under the title Manon et Jacob.

With the photo or video you are examining when was it produced (date)?

It wasnt mentioned in the article about the date of this lovely photo, however the article was published in 26/7/2018.

How was the photo or video authored?

Under the rise of social media network and technology, the process of authoring, publishing and distributing become easier than ever. iPhone’s new features and camera update allow anyone to become a photographer.

This image belongs to Manon et Jacob. They shot each other in the beach randomly to keep some casual moments. There is no specific information about the camera they used or the dates.

How was the photo or video published? 

C-head Magazine interviewed the couple and made an article using these photos. Manon and Jacob also published it in their website and Instagram. There is no other websites which published or took the photo off.

How was the photo or video distributed?

This photo had been distributed mainly through C-head Magazine, both online and printed versions, to followers. The couple also distributed the photos to their followers and customers through their website Manon et Jacob  and Instagram @manonetjacob.

 

References

Palmer, Daniel. ‘Mobile Media Photography’. The Routledge Companion to Mobile Media, edited by Gerard Goggin and Larissa Hjorth, Routledge, 2014, pp. 249–55.