Manual Manipulation by Gavin Mannino

 Manual Manipulation

By Gavin Mannino

3/23/2022   10:23:00 P.M. EST

                    Duane Michals, The Illuminated Man (1968)    Photo Credit (Duane Michals | Duane michals, Duane, New media art (pinterest.com))

               The common similarity between all the photographs are the surreal, bizarre elements that are present. I feel that those elements make a more interesting spectacle when compared to ordinary portraits. The Illuminated Man is a perfect pick for the elements I find intriguing. What could have been a standard, run-of-the-mill portrait has been altered to be more artistic in presentation. I imagine that a very bright light was aimed at the subject's face in order to cause the over-exposed, bright effect which seems pretty simple but makes for a hell of a picture. The composition is perfect, center-framed, and the use of light and dark draws the eyes directly to the head of the subject because of how bright it is and how dark the background is. Even though the process was presumably simple, the method paid off and made for a beautiful image.

            Duane Michals, The Spirit Leaves the Body (1968)    Photo Credit (Duane Michals Spirit leaves the body (Muy frecuente en mis parálisis de sueño) | Duane michals, Duane, Human condition (pinterest.com)

        Duane Michals was on a roll in 1968. The Spirit Leaves the Body is yet another eerie, interesting photo that leaves you wondering. I remember talking about the manual manipulation tactic used to create images like these during the class lecture on Monday. The trick, like we discussed, is not forwarding the film and double exposing a single frame of film. The camera has to be in the same position that the first image was taken, in order to keep the same positioning. This technique is more difficult than the one used in The Illuminated Man because it is an in-camera effect. Understanding what Duane Michals had to go through in order to capture this image, I appreciate not only the photograph, but the work that went into it. It may seem silly to say, but I feel a lot of people take for granted what exactly artists go through to make something, especially photographers.

    The field of photography requires perfection, which is difficult enough, but to go above and beyond and add more difficulty to the whole process truly illustrates the professionalism that Duane Michals possesses to create such works of art. I hope to achieve the same skill level in filmmaking. You can see the care that goes into the whole process because of how good the product is. I want to try my hand in manual manipulation like with The Spirit Leaves the Body once I feel comfortable and confident enough. For now, I can study photos like Duane Michals' and find compositions and ideas that interest me and that I could use for later.