The Art and Science of Depiction What is a Picture? Frédo Durand and Julie Dorsey MIT- Lab for Computer Science
Photoshop assignment • Perspective – Converging perspective is OK in the 3D real world – It is not in 2D • Distracting elements – Are usually not distracting in “reality” – But are harder to “filter out” in the picture – The image does not “read” as well What is a picture? 2
Reading • Photo-surrealism – Unable to detect discrepancy – Non realistic physics helps tell story • Jet Lighter – New approach to making images – Photos are the new building block to make photos – Very different from traditional montage – The same may happen to cinema (Lucas) What is a picture? 3
Discussion • Visions of Light What is a picture? 4
Visions of Light • Intuition, realize afterwards • Craft, not art • Dominance of the actor – Must be beautiful – No shadow on faces – Dietrich more luminous, pops out • Film noir • Color in The Last Emperor • Communication Director Photo-director What is a picture? 5
Visions of Light • Formal rules / breaking rules – The rules are broken, not eliminated – Only when necessary – The counter-example does prove the rule • Difficulty with new language – Silent to talky, Black and white to color, wide format • Invention – Technological – Pictorial, new language • Importance of fresh eyes • To be “realistic”, do not use formal rules What is a picture? 6
Relativism of realism What is a picture? 7
Questions • What makes a picture a picture • Would a 100% faithful hologram be a picture? • Could it be artistic – Would it be better than a “normal” picture – Would it be inferior? • Example of cinema – Static to dynamic – Silent to talkie – Black and white to color – 3D What is a picture? 8
What is art • Craft (Painting, Cinema) • Religion • Beauty • Self expression • Emotion • Enhanced experience What is a picture? 9
Plan • The chain of representation of reality • Duality of images 2D/3D What is a picture? 10
Reality • Objective, physical • May be imagination – But always references to reality Reality Light transferts Objects Material optics perspective What is a picture? 11
The Artist • Visual system – Not straightforward! Reality Artist Light Visual transferts Objects system Context Material social historical artistic selection interpretation intention message optics perspective What is a picture? 12
The Artist • Visual system • Intention • Context Reality Artist Light Visual transferts Objects system Context Material social historical artistic selection interpretation intention message optics perspective What is a picture? 13
The Picture • Flat, limitations • Seen in a given environment, conditions Picture environnement limitations optics perspective What is a picture? 14
The Beholder • Visual system • Interpretation • Context Beholder Picture environnement Visual system Context social limitations historical artistic selection interpretation optics perspective What is a picture? 15
The Chain of Depiction Reality • Differences, Artist Light Visual transferts Objects Mismatch Context system Material social historical – Context artistic selection interpretation – Conditions intention message optics – Perception perspective – Message Beholder Picture environnement Selection Visual system Context social limitations historical artistic selection interpretation optics perspective What is a picture? 16
Context Reality • Historical Artist Light Visual transferts Objects Context system • Political Material social historical artistic • Gender selection interpretation intention • Artistic message optics perspective Beholder Picture environnement Visual system Context social limitations historical artistic selection interpretation optics perspective What is a picture? 17
Conditions Reality • Darker Artist Light Visual transferts Objects Context system • Distance Material social historical artistic • Etc. selection interpretation intention message optics perspective Beholder Picture environnement Visual system Context social limitations historical artistic selection interpretation optics perspective What is a picture? 18
Perception Reality • Is the Artist Light Visual transferts Objects perception Context system Material social historical of pictures artistic selection interpretation different intention message optics from the perspective perception Beholder Picture environnement of reality? Visual system Context social limitations historical artistic selection interpretation optics perspective What is a picture? 19
Perception picture/reality • Photos usually do not look distorted • Why is the photo of the photo distorted? What is a picture? 20
Picture vs. Reality • We see reality the way we see pictures • Not the other way around • Make up • Stage lighting • Statues as 2D views • Architecture un-distortion What is a picture? 21
Message, selection Reality • How can Artist Light Visual transferts Objects the artist Context system Material social historical transmit artistic selection interpretation a message intention message optics and select perspective what the Beholder Picture environnement viewer Visual system Context perceives social limitations historical artistic selection interpretation optics perspective What is a picture? 22
Selection • Viewpoint selection, framing What is a picture? 23
Selection • Depth of field What is a picture? 24
Selection • Edge burning What is a picture? 25
Selection • Lighting What is a picture? 26
Selection What is a picture? 27
Message, selection Reality • How can Artist Light Visual transferts Objects the artist Context system Material social historical transmit artistic selection interpretation a message intention message optics and select perspective what the Beholder Picture environnement viewer Visual system Context perceives social limitations historical artistic • Caption selection interpretation optics perspective What is a picture? 28
Caption What is a picture? 29
Caption, context • Christina’s world, Wyeth What is a picture? 30
Making pictures Reality • Simple in principle: Light transferts Objects Draw or paint what you see Material Artist Visual optics Context system perspective social historical artistic selection Picture environnement interpretation intention message limitations optics perspective What is a picture? 31
Making pictures Reality • Simple in principle: Light transferts Objects Draw or paint what you see Material • Problem: Artist what we Visual optics Context system see is not perspective social historical artistic so simple selection Picture environnement interpretation intention message limitations optics perspective What is a picture? 32
Making pictures Reality • Previsualization (Adams) Light transferts Objects Material Artist Visual optics Context system perspective social historical artistic selection Picture environnement interpretation intention message limitations optics perspective What is a picture? 33
Making vs. analyzing pictures • Practice • Feedback What is a picture? 34
Making vs. analyzing pictures • Practice • Feedback • Clouds, Constellations • Rorschach What is a picture? 35
Goals of pictures • Optical vs. Haptical • What we see vs. What we know • What we feel/mean • Other “channels” – Sound, data, etc. What is a picture? 36
Do we always need photo-realism? What is a picture? 37
Plan • The chain of representation of reality • Duality of images 2D/3D What is a picture? 38
Duality of pictures • Pictures are both – Flat 2D objects – Depictions of 3D scenes • The dialectic between these two essences is crucial What is a picture? 39
Duality of pictures • Magritte • Anecdote Matisse What is a picture? 40
Duality of pictures • Magritte • Anecdote Matisse What is a picture? 41
2D/3D What is a picture? 42
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 43
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 44
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 45
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 46
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 47
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 48
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 49
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 50
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 51
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 52
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 53
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 54
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 55
Is it 2D, is it 3D? What is a picture? 56
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