Reading Comprehension

PT139 · S3 · P2 · Q14 A Return to Tintypes

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When Jayne Hinds Bidaut saw her first tintype, she was so struck by its rich creamy tones that she could hardly believe this photographic process had been abandoned.

Topic

A current trend of people resurrecting old-fashioned photographic techniques.

Framework

Highlight Noteworthy / Explain Something Puzzling

Main Point

Since our author is spotlighting this current trend of re-discovering old, janky, idiosyncratic photographic methods, what does she think is most distinctive / impactful / interesting about it?

Her voice enters the most in the last two paragraphs, where she seems to be trying to explain the appeal of these techniques to the people engaging in them.

Those paragraphs sound like an answer to the puzzling question of,

The main point should be a distillation of "current trend + motivation for trend", like:

There is a recent trend of photographers' rediscovering old photographic techniques, because they love the unpredictability / imperfection / intimacy / mystery that they get out of using these techniques.

Summary

P1 - Teaser Example 1 (Bidaut, tintype)

In realtime, we probably assume we're reading a passage about Bidaut or about tintype. It's only when we get to paragraph 3 that we realize the trend being discussed is broader than just Bidaut and Estabrook and broader than just tintype.

P2 - Teaser Example 2 (Estabrook, tintype)

This rinky-dink 4-line paragraph is very unusual in LSAT RC, so we would proceed curiously, like,

If we asked ourselves the $1 million question, , we'd come up with stuff like tintype, photography.

P3 - Introduction of Central Topic

Here we figure out that the 1st two paragraphs were just examples of this broader trend that's happening within photography. We would probably use a framework of Highlight Noteworthy (since it feels like a descriptive article about some topic the author finds compelling), or Illustrate General Claim (because we realize now that paragraphs 1 and 2 were just examples of a broader thing).

P4 - Background on Central Topic

This paragraph's first couple sentences telegraph that we will be informed about why these old techniques that are trending are appealing / why they disappeared in the first place. Turns out the two answers are intertwined. The reason they disappeared is because they produce a lot of irregular, blemished results, and that's precisely what these photographers enjoy about them.

P5 - Artistic Analysis

Here the author gets more explicit about the artistic statement practitioners are able to make by using these old techniques, as well as the artistic experience they get to have in making their art.

14.

The reasoning by which, according to the passage, Estabrook justifies his choice of certain strategies in photographic processing would be most strengthened if which one of the following were true?

  1. Correct

    When advanced modern photographic techniques

    Why this is right

    This rules out an Alternate Option, thereby strengthening. Since Estabrook wants the "stains and imperfections of prints made from gum bichromate or albumen coatings" (in order to heighten the sense of nostalgia), one might say, "Why don't you just use a digital camera and then Photoshop those stains and imperfection in later?" But this answer is saying when you try to achieve the same antiquated look by using modern techniques, the result invariably looks artificial. The viewer can tell that you've tried to replicate some old-fashioned feel in some way that's "cheating". Thus, if Estabrook really wants people to find these photos at a flea market and be convinced that they are originals from some long bygone era, he needs to use the actual old-school processing methods.

    Skill tested: Strengthen · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

    55% picked this

  2. The various feelings evoked by

    Weakens

    This answer makes it seem like we could tell Estabrook, "Hey, I feel ya -- I get the various feelings you're trying to evoke with your photograph. But you should know .. those feelings have nothing to do with the techniques you use to produce the work." That would make it seem like there's no reason for Estabrook to use these more complicated, labor-intensive techniques.

    11% picked this

  3. Most people who use photographs

    Weaken, if anything

    This answer is saying that most people want photos to do as good a job as possible at recording subjects accurately. Meanwhile, Estabrook is wanting photos to have weird stains and imperfections. So this answer seems like it's setting up a mismatch between what most people prize in a photo and what Estabrook is attempting to create in his photos.

    9% picked this

  4. People who are interested in

    Weakens, if anything

    Estabrook is someone who sees a lot of artistic value in photographs that appear antique but are not really antique. This answer is saying that most people interested in artistic photography don't share that view. Ultimately, it doesn't matter whether people share Estabrook's view or not, but if anything this answer gives off the vibe of going against Estabrook, not with him.

    7% picked this

  5. The latest photographic techniques can

    Too Weak

    This is pretty similar to what we were looking for, which was something like "modern techniques don't have features that heighten nostalgia. they don't allow for people to project sentiments and associations." But this is saying that modern techniques can produce photos that are almost free of [the blemishes and imperfections that Estabrook wants]. However, it doesn't say that modern techniques have to produce blemish-free photos. This answer still leaves open the possibility that Estabrook could get the same effect he's going for while using modern photographic techniques. By comparison, (A) tells us that Estabrook can't get the same effect he's going for with modern techniques (the modern techniques would inevitably betray that the photographer was trying to fake an old photo).

    18% picked this

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