Unit Synopsis

The first unit of my first photography course was unique and special. We started by learning about a famous photographer, John Baldassari, and his “masterpiece” named “WRONG.” Then, we mimicked John Baldassari’s art piece and took several “wrong” photos to demonstrate our understanding of what it means to take a good picture, allowing us to describe the “rules” for taking photos.

“WRONG” by John Baldassari

It is not wrong to take a “wrong” photo. The “Wrong” series by John Baldessari was on display in 1967. He employs a number of text-anchor-supported photographic pictures. The most well-known of these, labeled “wrong,” features an image poorly composed with the word “wrong” underneath it. In a book on photographic skills, the composition chapter is referenced in this picture. What makes the image so alluring is the irony of the term. Baldessari attempted to convey in the photo, “Why must our work be judged? Why should we adhere to traditional photographic or artistic standards?” A thought can never be correct or wrong when carried out as a human response, which is an intriguing reality.

Context in Photography

Context is essential in photography because some of the missing information can be retrieved by looking into the context of an image. Context shapes our understanding and interpretation of every visual information we come upon. The context for images can take many forms, such as supplemental text, related images, and even audience cultural familiarity. “WRONG,” by John Baldassari, is a fantastic illustration of a picture with context. It enables the viewer to comprehend the meaning John Baldassari attempted to express, as mentioned above. Some viewers may interpret this image as a poor photo made by a less skilled photographer if they are unaware of the context or the word “wrong.” They’ll fail to see the irony in the image and its real meaning, which would make a big difference.

Contact Sheet

Here are the eight “wrong” photos I’ve taken. These photos all broke the “rules” of photography, and some even broke more than one. Each title refers to the rule they violated and briefly explains how it was broken and why I chose this photo.

 

I learned from this unit at least eight rules and how to take “wrong” photos by disobeying them. I also observed that most rules are recommendations, not requirements; it all depends on the photographer’s personal preferences.