LSAT 139, Section 3, RC Passage 2, Photography

RC Passage 2 Explanation

This is an explanation for passage 2 of LSAT 69, the June 2013 LSAT. This passage is about artists and the renaissance in old photography techniques.

This section has the passage analysis, links to the explanations for the questions are below.

Paragraph Summaries

1. Bidaut liked the detail in tintypes.
2. Estabrook wants to plant fake antique photographs in markets.
3. Old film techniques are making a comeback.
4. The old techniques are uncertain. They produce different photos each time due to errors. Artists value these errors.
5. Artists like the old photos because they’re unique and intimate.

Analysis

This is a description of the renaissance in old photographic techniques. The motivations of the artists are important.

The artists like the individual variation that comes from using old photographic techniques.

Photographers used to minimize errors (last sentence of paragraph 4) but these new photographers seek errors in order to add character to their pictures.

Estabrook is important, he’s mentioned twice. He likes the idea of fooling people into thinking that his new photographs are old.

Paragraph 4 shows that Estabrook likes the unpredictability of old techniques. He also thinks that the old techniques can change the meaning of pictures. When we think a picture is old, we project our feelings on to it.

We don’t know much about the techniques themselves, apart from the fact that they produce errors. (Last sentence of paragraph 4)