Communication Pictures

The above image is an example of how a photo can display a memory. This group is clearly taking a photo to remember their group in the future.

This photo "A Wounded Solider is Taken Prisoner by German Soldiers in WWI" by an Unknown Photographer 1914-1918. This photo is taken to maybe remember the event, but also tells the story of the solider who is taken captive and the German Soldiers. The expression on their faces shows how serious they feel, and the wounded soldier looks beaten and tired. This photo makes you wonder what is to come and communicates to me the pain and brutality of war.

This photo "Approach to Fear: Voyeurism" from 1976. It is a feminist portrayal of fear. This could express fear of rape or oppression. However, someone else could look at this photo and think she is just hiding from someone or maybe from herself. This photo is simple but is communicating to me the struggles she goes through as a woman.

Communication in Photography

Photography has always been something I have enjoyed. Although before this class it was just with my digital camera setting up perfectly aligned photos, it is something that to me captures a memory. If you had asked me this question before taking Photo I, I would think that photography is about just displaying memories. Taking photos is a means of capturing the past to help you recall the events in the future. Most of the photos I had seen up until this point, were different events or places in which a memory is formed.

However, now when I think about photography and communciation it is very different. A quote I came across while reserching the history of photography I think portrays a lot of what photography is about. It stated that, "Today, photography has become a powerful means of communication and a mode of visual expression that touches human life in many ways." It is not only about creating and saving these different memories but also photography itself is a method of communication, whether it be to a friend, within a country or across the world. When you really look at a photograph whether it is of a simple tree, or a person crying, there is something more to those pictures then meets the eye. You have to really sit back and examine the photo. The photographer in the photo was expressing some point, whether it is that they themselves liked this scene and wanted to take it, or like us students, trying to create a perfect picture that represents light and shadow, or displays different aperatures. The photo could just be of a birthday party and was only created for the memory. No matter what the photo was taken of, it is expressing a statement that the photographer felt at that moment. I can't remember at the moment, but when we were in class there was a photographer who would tell different stories through his photos. This made me think about that even when you are taking a photo to express some feeling or story, that someone else could get a different feeling or story from that picture. Photography is truly a way to communicate with one another. A photo could be taken here in America and someone in a different country who speaks a different language could get the same feeling from the photo, which is amazing to me.

Photos Along With Library Assignment!

Child with Hand Grenade in Central Park, NYC 1962

A Child Crying, N.J. 1967

Library Assignment

At the library, I looked through mutiple photo books and quickly was able to decide if I enjoyed the style or not. The first book I looked through was by Alfred Stieglitz. The photos were ok, not my favorite. I really enjoyed one photo called The Steerage, 1907. However, overall I thought the photos were a little boring and did not really capture me, as others might.

Another photographer I looked at was Graciela Hurbide. Her photos were a blend of Mexico and her own thoughts. However, I thought they were a little repetitive. I felt that some were really well done and different but overall it would be like looking at another photographer who took pictures of Mexico. I did enjoy however one picture called procession, chalma, state of mexico, 1984. I really enjoyed the way the picture was taken at an angle and really showed a candid view of Mexican culture.

I also did not really enjoy Edward Weston's photos as well. They were a little bland and did not spark my interest.

After looking through more I realized I enjoyed the candid shots, or portrait shots that seemed true. Peter Hujar's portrait pictures I liked. The people or animals he took photos of were usually alone and either gave the feeling of lonliness or a peaceful feeling. They either seemed content alone or unhappy alone. The catacombs pictures were really good and sparked my interest.

Arthur Tress was a photographer that I really enjoyed. His pictures were very theatrical and stood out to me. One I thought was hilarious. It was one of my favorites. Although it was wierd it made me continue to look and laugh. It was called "Man with Mickey Mouse" New York 1976. It was really interesting and different. It was a man naked on a bed with a goofy hat on looking at an inanimate Mickey Mouse. However, some of them were also plain photos such as the "woman sleeping on lawn, san francisco, california, 1963. However, I still enjoyed it because it seemed sincere.

The photographer I enjoyed the most was Dianne Arbus. She had a wide range of photos but they were all taken randomly. She states that "the subject of the picture is always more important then the picture." She seemed to take pictures that reflected the feelings from the person or scene versus a specific feeling of hers. My favorite picture from all was A Child Crying, N.J. 1967. This picture was the most honest and that is why I think I loved. It was so sad to look at but true. I liked Mother holding her child, N.J. 1967 and Child with a toy hand grenade in Central Park, NYC, 1962. They were all different pictures throughout the book but really captured the subjects or scene. They had a wide variety of people which captured real life versus the small old people in the pictures.

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"Patience is a virtue." That line never meant so much to me as it does today. I thought this photo class would take up time, however, this pinhole process has been a long frustrating process for me. After spending the entire weekend and beginning of the week at the lab, facing late nights and exhaustion I kept getting to the point of giving up. During the pinhole process I went through three cameras. Finally I got my granola bar box to work. In the beginning I had no negatives that developed. Eventually I made another camera and the negatives started to come out, however, they were warped. I was not sure why this was happening. It was now Sunday afternoon and still no pictures to use. Therefore, I decided to create my last camera. Finally the negatives were coming out but it was a process trying to figure out the exposure time, ghosting, etc. Making the positives was another process, while trying to figure out test strips, filter level, etc. Finally at the end of the process I was happy with the photos I finally was able to achieve. It took a looonggg time and I was starting to get impatient and frustrated I was wasting paper. However, I waited and continued with the project and finally had pictures I was proud of and that related to each other how I wanted them to. Overall this first project made me love and hate the photography class. There were many emotions that came to me during the photography process. However, I feel that in the end, it teaches us about patience and not taking for granted the actual cameras we are going to use and to really focus and work hard until you find that perfect picture. No matter what obstacles you face with the process you need to just keep going!

Expressions of Myself

While searching to find different black and white photos, I had a hard time connecting them together and trying to create a "dialogue". I realized I was overthinking what I needed to do. I was trying to "create" creativity. However, during this project I realized that it is something that comes to you, and you work with. So then after letting myself just look at different pictures in different ways, I came up with 5 photos by 3 different photographers that express I an inner peace in myself. There are certain spots or scenes that I would love to truly be at or in. These places would be were I would be able to be completely at peace. The following pictures althought different, all come together in a story. This is becasue I feel they represent the previous feelings I described in the way they are captured, the scene itself and the contrast of the black and white color, which at the same time really separates each picture as well.


The photo above was taken by Ansel Adams. This picture really stood out at me as gorgeous. A feeling of serenity overcomes you when looking at this picture. One of my favorite parts is the mist floating above the crashing waves. I think that really represents the peace I get from the photo.

This next photo is another black and white by Ansel Adams. The reflection of the mountains in the water brings the peaceful aspect to the picture. This picture completely represents somewhere you would go to find a part of yourself. The reflection of the mountains in the water that was captured in this picture is so clear and perfect which I find beautiful

The next two photos I feel incorporate a true happiness from withing myself. I love the country of Ireland and while staying there for a semester truly found a special part of myself. I felt completely whole there and now truly feel the country has become a large part of me. Therefore, when I found these photos, I felt they were places I could sit alone and reflect. The two photos portray different shots taken in the country.

The photo above was taken by Philip Pankov. The line of trees represent for me a welcoming path or entrance to something. The trees seem to hover over the path in a protecting manner for those who walk down it. This photo has great contrast within it, but there is still this overlying calm to the photo.

The photo above was also taken by Philip Pankov. It is a photo taken of a landscape in Ireland. As I mentioned before these shots of the country make me feel whole. They represent a definate place I would enjoy at any moment. I completely feel at peace looking at this photo. The variations of the black and white coloring in the sky I find beautiful and are my favorite part of the photo.

The photo above was taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt and is of a reunion on V-day. This photo you may think stands out from the others since it is not of a landscape. However, this black and white photo is one of my favorites. It may be a cliche, commonly used picture for many things, but I feel it is truly a classic and gives me that same peaceful feeling like the others. I think it is because although they are in a crowded busy street, it seems as though just the two of them are there. They are blocking out the world and finding an complete love for one another. There is a true beauty to a photo like this where although busy there is a main focus emphazing life and a completeness.

First Impressions

There are a few reasons I decided to enroll in the Photography class. I have always been interested in photography and learning how to really use a camera to create different and meaningful pictures. I have always thought that you can capture the most amazing moments or important events in a single shot. Therefore, I really wanted to take this class to learn how to take and develop these types of photos.

Before attending the first class my expectations were pretty high. I expected to be spending time really learning to take and develop photos. Also learning how to really operate the camera to take so many different shots. However, my expectations are now even higher after the class. I realized it is going to be even more work than I had anticipated but it seems that it should be worth it in the end.

My personal goals begin with planning to work hard and do well in the course. I also really hope to learn how to operate the camera and learn all the different techniques. I really want to capture some great pictures this semester, but also see an improvement in my pictures over the semester.