In class we discussed some characteristics of digital images. Since there is no sanctioned definition of what they are (or rather, there are many) it would be important that we have our own. Please share your own attempt to such ‘personal’ definition.
Like we discussed in class, I feel that a digital image is a symbol or representation of reality. Digital images are made possible through the relationship between light and electricity. Through this unique mechanism, images are constructed as an approximation of reality, yet the instrument’s precision can often blur the line between reality and illusion. As a result, digital images can also influence our relationship with reality.
Hi Laura, I like the fact that you use a word ‘reality’ in your definition. Through the whole class last week, I was questioning myself what could be a meaning (s)of ‘reality’ whenever people inculding the professor mentioned about it. What is reality in images? What is reality in digital images? What about those words like illusion, false, dreams, minds, imaginary, fictional, or abstract regarding images or digital images? What about a word ‘truth’ in (digital)images?
at least i understand
Images are representations of both the physical and nonphysical elements of experiences, places, people, objects, sentiments, anything and everything can be represented within the idea of “image”.
Relating to photography, image refers to visual representations of these things. Whether or not one wishes to consider digital to be within the pure definition of photography (drawing by light), it is a means of producing images that is descended, along with traditional-process photography, from the camera obscura.
While it can be argued digital replicates instead of records, the methodology of projecting an image onto a digital sensor remains fundamentally similar to that of the camera obscura or photography by analogue methods. A digital photograph, by this logic, is created by digital means after the light has been focused and projected onto the recording medium.
Digital as a recording medium uses pixels to display information, and so a digital image is a visual image composed of pixels, while a digital photograph (if the term may be used) is the recording or reproduction of images produced by a camera in pixels.
It is correct that the digital process of image capturing remains faithful to that of the traditional camera obscura. It is also right that the digital photograph is created by digital means after yet, How do these “digital means” operate? Isn’t there important differences with traditional processes?
Yes, I believe there are important differences. Centrally, the camera makes some decisions in the recording, where a piece of film does not. While the type of film used has a profound effect, it is directly controlled by the photographer and presents fewer opportunities for manipulation later. The manipulations which exist in analogue are finite and defined by the technical possibilities of the darkroom, where digital recording allows innumerably many more.
The differences relate mainly to the possibilities of manipulation, so if little manipulation is done the results are similar, but the simple possibility of these manipulations certainly changes perception of the two formats.
Digital Image is a manipulated TRUTH which is created by digital world.
What is the truth you are referring to? The one in front of the camera? What is the ‘digital world’?
If I understand ‘digital world’ correctly, Aren’t truths created in that world? For instance, is Second Life or any other ‘virtual’ worlds True of False?
A digital image is a subjective view of the photographer’s reality and at the same time it is an attempt to make it objective. The digital image opens up for the possibility to manipulate the image in the meaning of making it more subjective.
Why would a photographer try to create an objective reality out of a subjective one? Is this possible? By which means/process?
Is a digital image objective or subjective?
As we discussed in class, I believe that a digital image is an approximation or representation of reality in accordance to the device used to capture this it. Since digital images are produced through a computational algorithm, translating light into electricity through a mechanical process, it is not a reflection of reality, rather the algorithms interpretation of reality.
An ‘algorithmic interpretation of reality’ is something we can’t still see. It is more like a machine’s thought, a mental image of a machine and as such, we (humans) cannot see it. What else do we need for this to be an image to us?
An image is a two dimensional representation of objects in a scene. A digital image is a two dimensional arrangement of pixels where pixels represents a value of intensity.
What does a pixel represent? What is ‘a value of intensity’?
Digital images are images can be created with digital image software or images taken by a digital camera first and later these images can be manipulated with computer image editing software if it is necessary to manipulate images to obtain a specific meaning(s). There are some characteristics about digital images; as we discussed in the last class, digital images are created without a chemical and physical process; once digital images are manipulated, digital images can be understood as representations of combinations of information about an object(s), ideas, sounds, colors, or anything in the world one has experienced.
” digital images are created without a chemical and physical process; once digital images are manipulated, digital images can be understood as representations of combinations of information …” How about non-manipulated images, What are they?
Are non-manipulated images meaningless?
I said digital images can be manipulated with computer image editing software ‘IF’ it is necessary to manipulate images to obtain a specific meaning(s). I didn’t say all the digital image has to be manipulated.
Digital images taken with a digital camera are not the combination of information since you don’t combine information, which I can say ‘manipulating’. Rather they’re just images (just representations) like any other images taken by an analog camera, yet they’re groups of pixels, which makes its difference from images taken by an analog camera. Therefore both digital images, regardless taking a process of manipulating with digital software, have their own meaning(s). I said digital images can be manipulated to get a ‘specific meaning(s)’ by a photographer, which can be obtained only with digital software.
Digital images are the record of any moment which are taken by digital camera or digital software.
How do you record a moment?
I mean, what is a moment? is it just that which happens in front of the camera? What about that which the camera excludes? is it not part of the moment?
Are digital images only those created with a camera?
I believe that digital photography is a testament to the digital revolution that has taken over the world. Even as there was photography before, now pixels and software can do for us what was originally the domain of our eye and brain; it is therefore, a perverted truth, but at the same time, an honest representation of our world. As partial cyborgs, striving to see beauty beyond the beholder
Adrian, your definition is very intriguing:
Is the truth that we obtain from our senses and brain superior (or less perverted) to the one that the digital offers?
For science, our senses are misgiving and we should trust data, Is this different for art?
Who are this ‘partial cyborgs’ and how is the beholder?
Hello Manup
By partial cyborg, I was actually referring to modern day humans. What is a cyborg but a frantic combination of machines and human? Without the machine aspect, a cyborg cannot exist as a concept or an object. Can anyone in this class live without their computer? Cellphone? Digital Camera?
A digital image is a representation of something (ie. the past, present, a concept) through the use of a digital medium
This is a simple and solid definition, but could you please unpack the term ‘digital medium’?
A digital image is a representation of the world captured by a digital camera, which uses sensors to transform light into information (pixels) via an algorithm. The capturing of this specific information represents the freezing of a moment within a frame, somewhat like a memory. Like Adrian mentioned, this mimics the biological processes of the eye. Unlike the eye, however, the settings (focal length, aperture, focus, shutter speed etc.) at which the image is captured can be manipulated beforehand, and post processing can manipulate the image afterwards (much more so than analog).