Term 2: Digtial Tech Week 4 Self Directed Task Contextualise

Self Directed Task Contextualise

All images copy right James Porto 2008

What were you thinking about when you made this work?
The contrast in the world. War and peace. Black and White. Honest and Corrupt. Radical differences.

What was going on in the world and did any of these events influence your thinking at the time?
ISIS and Christians conflict. Seeing the white on black flag of ISIS. Many atrocities committed by religion.

What photographic genre and sub genre (if applicable) does your work fit into?
Creative genre and Editorial documentary

Who are your photographic influences? What photographic genre do these photographers fit into?

James Porto: http://www.jamesporto.com Creative Genre (Commercial)
Evan Sharboneau Reference trickphotographybook.com Creative Genre (Commercial, Creative Stock)
Vera Lutter Body of Work http://www.prixpictet.com (Fine Art, Creative Stock)
How to read a photograph by Ian Jeffrey Editorial Genre (Educational)

Eugene Atget's trees Editorial Genre (Nature)
Thomas Struth Paradise http://www.prixpictet.com Editorial Genre (Nature)

Are you influenced by artists working in other disciplines? (eg: film or painting)
Fames on the Land Early Landscape Painting in New Zealand by Francis Pound  Pohutukawa, Edward Friström, 1903-1915, 1967/9/1 Editorial Genre (Nature)

Who took the photo and why?

James Porto took the photo. He was commissioned by Bell Helicopters and Boeing aircraft Corporation.

What is their ethnicity and does this influence the work?

He is european and this does not influence the work? James Porto was born in 1960 in Saudi Arabia to an Italian American father and Belgian mother.

When and where did they take this photo? America.

The challenge of the assignment was that my team’s access to the aircrafts, of which only a few prototypes were available at the time, was very limited. We had a to shoot the aircrafts overnight on a military base, from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, because they were either out for testing or being worked on during the day. We then shot them on their training runs as the sun came up. In the images that I created, I had the aircrafts straddling the hanger (on the left), where they were being tested and worked on, and the field situations that they were being used in (on the right). I was so impressed by the machine and what it could do that I created an art piece titled, Rescue at Sea. Reference: http://jamesporto.com

  

What are their political beliefs and are these relevant to the work?

Political beliefs do not influence this work.

What is their social status and background and how does this relate to their subject matter?

This is a military craft and it does not have any bearing on his social status and background.

In what decade or century was the work taken?  Does this influence your reading of this work?

2008 this does not influence my choice of work only inspires me to learn more.

  

Were there events happening at the time that may have influenced this work?

Yes, In the run-up to formal approval for the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey, the American military workhorse tilt-rotor aircraft, I was charged with creating images that would show the capabilities of the one-of-its-kind hybrid helicopter-jet. The military had experienced some difficulties mastering the innovative craft—designed to function as a helicopter as well as a long-range, high-speed turboprop jet—but it had been redesigned and rebuilt and the push was on to gain Congressional approval for full production. Reference: http://jamesporto.com

  

How is the work presented?

Professionally presented in the run-up to the formal approval for the manufacture of the aircraft. 

Where are you viewing this work and how does this affect your reading of it?

I am viewing his work on the internet. It inspires my photoshop creativety and the need to learn more about new techniques used to present the final work.