Germini Towers

This is a photo of the Germini Towers by Elena Baroni. I choose to look at this picture because of the unique position and vantage point to the photo was taken from.  I like how the contrast of the photo makes everything black and white, with just small pieces of gray throughout. When looking at the photo I can’t tell the main focus of the photo because my eyes seem to wonder all over because of the spiral staircase. The image gives of the feeling of emptiness and it seems like the picture was taken the building was completely empty. I think the image may also represent a feeling of not living or the end of life, as there are no people involved and the photo was taken several stories up, as repulsive as that may sound ,a place where someone who was trying to end their life may think about jumping from.

Abbas

This photograph is title Abbas and was made by Uttar Pradesh in 2011.  I think this photograph is very striking with the bright moon above the dark horizon and the bird flying toward the moon from so close to the camera.  I love how clear the background of the photograph is and how blurry the bird is, making it the least important yet most interesting aspect of the image.  The color of the sky at the top of the photograph is a beautiful color and the way the bird blurs into the color gives the viewer the impression that the bird is flying up and toward the moon.  Overall I think this photograph is very successful and leaves the viewer wondering where the image was taken and how that bird was so close to the camera.

Mardi Gras in 1938

This image, entitled Mardi Gras by William Vandivert, shows two horses and lots of people surrounding a carriage. This is a great example of perspective and is again photojournalism because it shows an event that took place in 1938. The perspective is interesting because the image was taken from one side of the horses so the viewer can see the people in the carriage and the two horses. This allows the viewer to see the costumes of the people riding the horse, which allows the viewer to conclude that this image was taken on Mardi Gras.

Motorcycle Madness at Daytona, 1948

This is an image of the motorcycle race at Daytona Beach in the 1940s. It was taken by Joseph Scherschel and I think that it is a good example of photojournalism and contrast because it documents an event. The two men on motorcycles stand out against the lighter background because they are darker and clearer than the people in the back. This image gives the viewer a good understanding of what happened during the event. In the background, the viewer can see the beach and this reveals the location. He or she can also see the people watching the race. Finally, the viewer can see that 138 is ahead of 161 at this moment in time.

When I first saw this picture it just made me smile; I thought it was adorable.  It envokes feelings of happiness, simplicity, and contentment.  I love how the boy and the camera are crisp and clear and the background is blurry and out of focus yet the colors still range from dark black to bright white.  I like his blonde almost white hair and shirt against the black camera.  It reminds me of a true candid moment which is why I liked it so much.

Sea Creature

The thing that made me choose this photo was the wonderful detail and the way the photographer made time freeze for the viewer. When looking at the photo you can tell that the photographer used a shorter shutter speed in order to allow less light to create better detail in the photo. The forefront of the photo shows a lot more detail in the background meaning the photographer also used a low aperture setting to allow the thing itself, the sea creatures, to be the focus of the photo. The detail in this photo is just spectacular, as a viewer I am able to see each drop of water frozen in time as it drops back into the water coming from the animal’s mouth. 

Warped Vantage Point

Ireland Yard Pinhole:

http://www.nyclondon.com/blog/page/2/

This picture was taken using a pinhole camera, and that is what lends it the twisted look, though I am inclined to believe the street is at least a little bit rounded as well. The focus is a little blurry at the edges and certainly in the distance, but it really draws focus to the center, on the double doors. Traditionally, photographs are not composed to have the subject dead center like in this one, but even though it falls right onto the center line, something about the skewed background keeps this piece active despite the centering. The content of this photo is also very thoughtfully composed I think; first of all it is eerie to see an empty street in such a constantly bustling city as London. It makes us think it must have been taken early in the morning. And of course, the words over the door:"courage". This lends a whimsical touch to a scene that could have gone a quite depressing route.

Irina Werning: Back To The Future Project.

this is a photograph from a fantastic photo project I have been following for a short while now. The picture on the left was taken by an amateur, presumably the child's parents. The picture on the right, taken in the present day, was composed by the photographer to perfectly mirror the original photograph. The idea behind the project is that the only thing that changes is the subject, and then only by time. The girl in both pictures is the same person. I love this picture in particular because of the boots. Neither of these pictures are anything to write home about in terms of composition, but the difference in the size of the boots draws our attention to the huge perception shift, from a small child to a young woman. I think this is a very compelling picture of time.

The rest of the project can be found here: http://irinawerning.com/back-to-the-fut/back-to-the-future/

My first thoughts of this picture included words such as dispair, sad, lonesome, dirty, and desolate.  i really like the range of grays in this photograph.  I like how the photographer captured the whole side of a room and had it looking light enough to see everything inside.  I love all of the detail.  Every part of this picture has detail from floor to ceiling.  I like how your eye travels from the floors and up and eventually out the window on the right hand side.  I'm not sure why but i think that window adds something crucial to that picture because without the subtlenss of it I think your eye wouldn't have a resting place.  I noticed that in the glass of the cubbord door you can see the reflection of what looks like a tree in it.  You really feel like there's a story behind this picture, and just seeing the destruction in this house, it makes you want to know what that story is.

Where Childhood Memories Go?

My instant reaction to this picture was to be a little sad.  It brings back memories and I feel almost everyone can relate to playing on a playground when they're little.  I really like the contrast in this picture; it has every range from really bright white to really dark black and all the grays in between.  I normally dont like when pictures look busy, but I think it really works for this picture.  I like the broken swings and how you can just tell they're old and well used.  I like the detail seen in everything from the grass to the swings to the sky.  I really like how how everything seems crisp and clean and sharp then the clouds in the back are soft and fluffy.  I also like how the poles from the swingset are kind of framing the swings

Lonely

I really enjoy this picture even though it is rather plain.  The first thing you notice is the bench just sitting there by itself.  But if you look closer, you notice it's next to a lake and across from some plants.  What confused me about this picture was that just looking at the background you think it's nighttime.  But then again, the foreground is really bright and there's reflections from the plants and shadow under the bench.  I like how much detail you can see in the ground and how it shifts into becoming more blurry as you move back.  I also like how there's a faint tree in the background that you really can't see unless you're staring at the background.

Upside Down

What really caught my attention in this photo was the different style and approach the photographer had when capturing the image. This photo has a different vantage point then a standard photo considering the fact that everything is upside down. The lighting in the photo draws the viewer’s eyes to the shadow of the man doing the handstand and eventually leads to the man itself. Exploring the photo more I noticed the great detail and focus that the camera was able to capture. The footprints in the sand are enhanced by the lighting and the shadows within the footprints show the distance and depth of each footprint. It’s interesting to see that many of the footprints just stop in the sand and don’t actually lead anywhere. I think that makes the viewer think about where those footprints actually lead to, and why the tracks completely stopped. Overall I thought this was a very creative and unique picture that really caught my attention.

I like this photo for a few reasons. One is how when looking at it one can create a full story. why are those boats there, what are they used for, who do they belong to, where was this taken are all questions that immediately come to mind. there is also a great deal of contrast in the picture. the only negative aspect of the contrast is how the photo seems to 'fall off' in the upper left corner.

Water Balloons

This photograph entitled "Water Balloons," was taken by Ted Casey in Barnes Hill, Antigua in 1986. The curious awareness exhibited by the children gives the photograph a comical aspect. The prepared look on their faces with water balloons in their hands also account for the humor the photo gives off. At first the water balloons are not too recognizable but after looking for longer time, they are definitely clearer. The fact that the balloons aren't easily visible also contributes to the comical aspect. The childrens' stance shows that they are ready and waiting for something. Although the image shows children that are probably in poverty, it does not elicit sad emotion. I like the frame the photographer chose because of the white background which contrasts really well with the dark complexion of the children, and highlight the subject, the children with the water balloons. 

Road Dog

This photograph, "Road Dog," was taken by Maude Schuyler Clay. I really love the subtle but effective contrast. Everything seems gray and white, except for the black spots on the dog's coat. The gray that contrasts with the dog's coat really emphasizes the barrenness and loneliness of the already barren landscape. In essence, the landscape is not a tool for insights about the dog, but vice versa. Something I found interesting is that originally, Clay shot pictures solely of the Mississippi Delta, called "Delta Land," but then incorporated dogs into a later exhibit of more pictures; the set of photographs is called "Delta Dogs." The focus is also effective in adding to the description of the landscape. The dog is crisp in focus, and the background is all blurred together, creating a larger insight into the feeling of the area, like nothing is really there (one car on the road) or that it is all the same. If the background had been clear, the photograph would not have elicited the same emotions, such as emptiness, in the viewer. 

Central Park, New York City, 1986

This photograph was made by Lois Conner in 1986 and is titled Central Park, New York City.  I love how the photograph is taken in a natural setting, yet the trees look very unnatural as they bend in all different directions.  The bright light shining from behind the trees creates great contrast and although parts of the photograph are dark, the detail in the leaves can be easily seen.  What drew me to this photograph the most is the irony in it--the subject of the photograph is trees and three of the trees in the frame seem to spell out the word "elm," a type of tree.  I don't know if the photographer saw the word in nature or not, but I think that aspect of the photograph definitely adds interest and question and it caught my eye immediately.

Times Square

                This image immediately stands out for its contrast. It was taking in Times Square by Weegee in 1945. The boy dressed in a sailor uniform and the magazine appears to pop out from the image. The background is slightly darker and less in focus making the boy seem 3 dimensional.

                This image stands out for one other reason. The photographer chose the perfect frame and perspective so the viewer can read the title of the newspaper. This gives the reader a better idea of the context and time period. Overall, I think that this image represents great contrast, frame, and perspective.

http://museum.icp.org/museum/collections/special/weegee/