Lazy Hazy Daze

This photograph was taken from the shutter sisters photography blog. One of the main reasons I chose this picture to blog about was due to the vantage point. This picture is taken from above the boy, rather than at his level. There could be several explanations for using this vantage point. One of the reasons could be that the photographer is trying to allow the viewer to see a child from a parent's perspective or even just an older person's perspective. Also it could be taken from this angle to make it seem like this picture is suppose to be secretive. It may be trying to capture what a child does throughout the day without that child noticing. This picture fits into the category of the thing itself. The boy is the main part of this picture. It also captures time. The boy is either playing with toys or taking a nap. The toys surrounding the boy are very eye-catching. It may be due to the colors of the toys being brighter than the carpet underneath. All in all I think this is a very cute picture capturing the innocence of a child.

Vahid Sharifian: Untitled (Sophia Loren): i heart photograph

This image is of Sophia Loren, and was taken in the late 1960s. The 60s was a time of great social upheaval, specifically in terms of the roles certain individuals were expected to perform in society. I believe this image contests the ideal of the American Nuclear Family. In this Nuclear Family, women were expected to cook, clean, and raise kids. By showing the disgruntled look of a women who is seen to be imprisoned by a gigantic fork and spoon set, we realize the lack of fulfillment and disappointment that can be strongly related to such a preordained lifestyle. By exposing us to the image of someone famous (Sophia Loren) we can also further associate with the meaning behind this picture.

Blog Post 11/18

I really enjoy this shot.  Not only is it capturing the social interaction between two individuals, but it effectively puts the viewer in context with the situation:  the shot is taken close to sea.  I like how the photographer uses the door frame effectively to frame the photograph.  This not only structures the photograph aesthetically but it creates this sense of passive observation from the photographer.  The buoy off to the left side of the picture emphasizes the context that this couple are close to the sea.  Finally, the horizon that separates the ocean from the sky is beautifully captured by the photographer.  The line comes perfectly above the couple’s head’s which adds depth and dimension to the photograph.  At the same time the difference between the two is obscured since both are close to the same color.

Waterkiss

Waterkiss
Willy Marthinussen
http://1x.com/photos

The reflection of the child's face on the water captures the child's innocence. Her sweet, playful expression gives the photograph an overall comforting mood. The emotions conveyed by this photograph remind me of my carefree childhood days. This photograph also captures the child at just the right moment. I can imagine it would be difficult to tell a child to pose like this so that the photographer can take the picture. This makes me think that the photograph was probably created without direction from the photographer. The playful expression on the child's face and the gentle placement of her hand become even more meaningful because of this. Another strong aspect of this photograph is the use of shape. Not only can the viewer see the reflection of the child's face in the water, but he can see the circular ripples in the water and the curved shadows that the ripples project onto the child's face. The smooth projections of light as well as the tonal range in this photograph add to the fluidity and simplicity of the child's action.

Sadness

The is picture is really worth a thousand words. A portrait of a girl who seems to have been crying for a long time and is powerless has so much emotion packed into it. The faded tears, the texture in the picture, the shadowing, and the black frame bring set the mood for this picture. The perfect lighting accents the melancholy and creates an amazing contrast. I find this picture very interesting because it tells a story. I like her posture, the way her hands are folded in front of her and the way her head is a little to the side. It is like she is saying “please do not hurt me anymore”. Even though the whole picture has a melancholic feel to it, the eyes seem to be telling a different story. There are tears and we can see them , however they sparkle as if they see hope. In a way it is ironic because the eyes in a way are the happiest and most alive part of this picture. It just makes you wonder what has happened to this girl? Is the pain going to go away?

I really like this action shot. It is one of those critical moment pictures. This fun activity, a soccer game , seemed to have turned into something very serious and competitive. The facial expressions on the kids faces are amazing. They all seem very serious. There is a lot of color contrast in the picture that adds to the intensity of the game. The movement of their feet, arms , their hair pushed to the side by the wind and most of all the ball, which seems to still be rolling make me feel like i am at the field watching them and wondering if the guy in the front will score or not. I also like the symmetry of the picture two guys in the back, two on the side and the guy with the ball at the center. Also i noticed that there is symmetry in their uniforms too and the way they move. I really like the lighting and overall color contrast in this photo.

i heart photograph: Cortney Andrews: after bellmer: 1938

I chose this image because I believe that it strongly subverts our expectation of the human form (particularly that of females). Our eyes are led from the bottom of the legs up to the torso, where we then expect to see the typical upper half. However, we are instead confronted with a horizontal symmetry of the lower and upper halves. To supplement, shooting this picture in a natural setting (the surrounding forest) seems like a conscious decision to also subvert what we naturally expect.

Walk on an Autumn Day

This picture was taken from the Shutter Sisters photoblog. I choose this one because today I was just thinking of how beautiful the trees are in autumn. This picture gives a good sense of autumn: yellow leaves on the trees, brown leaves on the ground, and a sense of gloominess. This picture fits into Szarkowski's category of framing. You have trees framing both sides of the picture. There really isn't a "thing itself" in this picture, there is a lot of detail though. For example, both people walking in the picture have on black jackets. You can also see the difference in the color of the leaves still on the tree, compared to the brown leaves that have fallen off the tree. The two people walking in the picture are kind of mysterious. We can't see their faces from behind cannot , so it leaves it up to the viewer to determine the relationship between the two. Personally, I think they are two friends maybe walking back to their house after class or something. Also, the road they are traveling on looks abandoned, but it does not look like the road is blocked off. So why is the road so deserted? This picture leaves lots of room for viewers to make up their own story about the picture.

Dancing on the Streets of Russia

Vitaly Sokolovskiy created a series of photos called Dance-Petersburg. This collection features professional dancers, acrobats and ordinary people on the streets of Russian cities. In this photo, a very flexible girl is sitting on a bridge on the computer, with her legs in a dancer's position. This is a type of position that you would never see on an ordinary day, let alone while someone is on the computer. This photo mixed technology and a form of ballet into one. Two completely different things. She seems to be so focused on the computer and is acting like her position is normal and that nothing is wrong. I also love the background of this photo and I think the colors really support the girl and her position.

Life: Robyn Beck: If Bears Ruled the World (November 9th, 2011)

My first reaction to this picture was laughing. The image is kind of ridiculous, and it only gets weirder after you look at it for a while. It is, in fact, a conglomerate of world leaders - in teddy bear form - to commemorate The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. However, besides being just a ridiculous picture, you start to realize why it is so ridiculous. Our world leaders are depicted here as cute and cuddly, and completely accessible. I can't really speak for anyone else, but this is the exact opposite feeling I get when I consider our world leaders, particularly in light of the current duress encompassing seemingly the entire world. This is what the photographer seems to go for in this picture.

Love Tunnel

This beautiful train tree tunnel is located in Kleven, Ukraine. It’s called the Tunnel of Love. I absolutely love this picture because it looks so unreal and out of a fantasy world. The overwhelming green color and the different shades through out the picture make it even more unique. the very little ground and brown highlights come from the tree branches and trunks, while a bronze color also comes from the rail road tracks that run through the tunnel. The way the picture its taken shows the light shining through in different spots, the great length of the tunnel and it looks like there is a light coming at the end. This picture opens up so nicely, first wide big arches and then smaller ones that are expected to just close at the end but the light shining through makes it seem to go on much further. I also love the fact that it gives off a romantic vibe and privacy which really seem to fit its name Tunnel of Love.

i really like this picture because you dont actually see the person, but you know she is there becasue you see a hand. the use of the post it notes to tell her story is very intriguing. all you kno about this person is that she owes more money now than when she left college, but you almost feel like you know her and can sympathize with her. this photo could go under detail or framing because you see the shadow of the notes and the deatils of her handwriting. its a very basic photo but I feel that it tells a story.

i like this photo because you get to see two animals interacting. its cool how the one moose is in the water to which allows the viewer to see its reflection. the color of the grass is also cool because you can see that the tips are a brownish color which shows the amount of sunlight the area is exposed to. if this photo was under a category I would say time because the photographer catches the animals at the moment they touch

I really like how this picture reflects the Tableau theme we have been discussing in class.  The picture has a mysterious aura surrounding it, almost like there is some story as to who lives in the tent and why.  The tent's color adds to this mysterious aura, almost as if the tent was never suppose to be discovered.  The two trees in the forefront of the picture are cut off but manage to frame the picture perfectly.  This makes the picture easy on the eyes and adds to its aesthetic value.  Finally the natural scenery in this picture is great and gives us a frame of reference for the picture.

Iwo Jima

This is a very famous picture in American history taken by Joe Rosenthal. It was taken at the battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. This photograph has a lot of character. You can tell the soldiers in this photo are going through a lot. They look physically beat up as they stand on a pile of rubble raising the American Flag. This photo is a good example of time. The uniforms that the soldiers are wearing let the viewer know that this is an old picture. The clouds in the somber sky also show that this moment was isolated in time. The flag is folded in half which shows the wind is blowing it, this is another element of time.

Sign of the Times

This picture was taken from the Shutter Sisters photoblog. I think this picture gives viewers a good understanding of what Americans are currently feeling during these rough times. It isn't just the middle class or upper class or lower class, but rather everyone is facing difficulties during this time in history and everyone is in it together. This picture was taken of Occupy Wallstreet protesters. The first thing you see in the picture is the sign the lady is holding that says "We're all in this together". For this reason, I believe this picture could fit into the thing itself. Although the sign is not the only part of the photograph, that's the first thing you see when you look at the picture. I think this picture exemplifies Szarkowski's category of time perfectly. The photographer captured a moment of history. The woman with the sign and the man behind her are the two main objects in this picture, but the other protesters can be seen in the background. I think this picture does a good job of capturing an important part of history.

Against the Wall

Against the Wall, San Francisco, 1934
Dorothea Lange

Dorothea Lange's photograph entitled Against the Wall depicts a man in despair. The subject is set against a blank background which focuses the viewer's eye on the man. It appears as if the man is in an unfortunate situation. The man's body language expresses a sense of defeat and anguish, and the upside down wheelbarrow lying next to him also adds to the emotions being conveyed in the photograph. The wheelbarrow's upside down positioning parallels the man's plight. Another aspect of the photograph that draws attention to the man's emotions is the way Lange framed the photograph. She included much of the wall above the man. This framing causes the man to appear very small against the large, weathered wall behind him and thus adds to the subject's sense of despair and feelings of insignificance.

I am...

This picture was photographed by Kristin Zecchinelli and was taken from the Shutter Sisters photography blog. Although this picture is pretty plain, it fits into almost all Szarkowski's categories and has a lot of meaning to it. This picture fits into Szarkowski's categorie of time. The writing on the wall stopped someone's thoughts . In a particular moment, someone was feeling either positive or negative emotions towards themselves and wrote "I am" on the wall. This picture also fits into the category of frame. The "I am" is in the lower right corner, and we cannot tell if there is any writing below the "I am". By having the writing in the lower right corner, the photographer leaves the viewer wondering if there is more to the phrase. It also lets the viewer decide for themselves what belongs after the "I am".This picture can also fit into detail. You can see the texture of the wall and the crack going right in between the a and the m. Although this picture isn't very detailed, it is a meaningful picture that leaves the viewer guessing what the writing on the wall is all about.

Purple Lane

There is so much purple in this photo that you seem to get lost in it. As your eye follows the path from the foreground through the flowers and greening plants, into the background, you get distracted by all the purple. Its almost impossible to stare down the path without looking away. Also, the purple flowers that are coming from the trees, look like rain. They get a little blurry in the background and give you a sense of depth. A key feature of this photo is the bench in the center left. It sticks out compared to the other bright colors and is the only part of the photo that uses straight parallel lines, a huge contrast to the other parts of the photo.