Blog Assignments & Homework
Assignment 1, given on Jan 25 DUE Jan 27
Find a photo essay online and explain who the audience is, why the essay is interesting, what impact it has and which photo you think is the strongest image.
HOMEWORK: Take photos for your Photo Essay project
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2006/12/28/world/20061228_ETHIOPIA_SLIDESHOW_1.html
This photo essay was taken by Lynsey Addario a photo journalist for the New York Times. The photo essay is describing the problem with malnutrion in Ethiopia. I believe the audience is the American people, these pictures definitely shows how we need to help Ethiopia get food for their people. When I looked at this photo essay every picture caught my eye, every one shows how malnurished the children and people are. The most strongest image to me is the one of the 14 month old and her mother. Its a close up picture and to me it shows if we don’t do anything this child will grow up and look just like her mother very malnurished and weak.
Tiffany Goforth
http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,2105032,00.html
Deadly Attacks in Nigeria is a photo essay from Time Magazine. This photo essays betrays the graphic attack in Kano, Nigeria by the group Boko Haram. The attack happen on January 21, 2012. Over 143 people were found dead. This photo essay is meant to display the violence that has been suffered in Kano. The pictures are meant to show the world what kind of brutal destruction that these people have felt. Each picture in the essay shows the distress and despair in the faces of the people. The most powerful picture in the essay is the photo labeled “Aftermath.” This photo showers Red Cross workers loading dead bodies into the back of a pickup truck. This image shows how catastrophic the attack was on Kano that day.
http://www.thelunchbreakblog.com/sports/2011/11/9/joe-paterno-a-photo-essay.html
In this photo essay James Dugan attempts to show the progression of former Penn State University football head coach, Joe Paterno beginning in his early years at the school up until his remaining days with the PSU program. Dugan is not touching on Paterno’s character as a person or referencing the controversy the PSU program experienced this past fall, rather he aims to celebrate a man who has dedicated over four decades of his life to an athletic program. As the essay does not reference any of the recent controversy it is safe to say the audience of this essay is Penn State football fans and fans of Joe Paterno, specifically life long fans who can relate to the events surrounding the time of the pictures. That being said, those who simply see Paterno as a frivolous old man that “couldn’t have done anything wrong” now have the chance to see him in his prime of his couching career as a young man. The strongest photo in the essay is the one of his shoes on the grass with a whistle dangling in the middle of his legs, perhaps implying his head hung in shame, alone on the sideline, possibly implying the loneliness he felt after the allegations and his termination as coach.
Mike Talvacchia
http://www.viiphoto.com/showstory.php?nID=941
or see all the pics at:
http://viiphoto.wg.picturemaxx.com/series/1.1058
This is a photo essay done by Christopher Morris and it focuses on the American rock icon Iggy Pop. These are photo’s of Iggy relaxing at one of his Miami homes. This essay if for anyone who appreciates Rock music and the figures/characters who worked to make it what it is today.These candid photo’s show an older Iggy but serve to prove that he’s still ferocious even when he’s lounging at home. They give a personal look at an older Iggy Pop and his eclectic tastes and surroundings. An interesting element which struck me was the photographers technique of taking pictures of pictures of young Iggy Pop. The ones where he’s standing in the picture with the young pictures of himself are really striking. I think a lot of the close-ups do a good job of showing Iggy’s weathered face while at the same time capturing that youthful and angsty element that makes him who he is. The picture that stood out to me was not one of the many great close-ups or the dramatic photos of him standing in his front yard, but the picture where he is smiling and wearing a t-shirt. Since his signature is not having his shirt on, the photo really stands out to me. Especially because it looks like he barely wants to have it on.
http://photos.oregonlive.com/photo-essay/2011/08/pickathon_music_festival_2011.html
I came across a photo essay capturing Pickathon Music Festival of 2011. Taking place from August 3 – 5, this music festival is an indie-roots festival in which over 35 bands perform on 5 different stages over the course of 3 days. Taking place on Pendarvis farm, 20 miles from Portland, Oregon, thousands of people make the trip. I would assume that the audience this photo essay is aimed at is those who attended the festival and those who are interested in the type of music or artists that play at this festival. I find this photo essay interesting because it captures the vibe and energy music creates. Although I personally don’t listen to many (if any) of the bands featured in this festival, this essay makes me want to look into these artists and expand my music interests. The photos of live performances, fans dancing and enjoying themselves, and overall setting make me wish I went! I think the strongest image would be the first image. Here, you get a feel of the festival. You can see the set up of the stage along with the audience laying in the grass. You can also see that fans of all ages can attend and enjoy themselves. You get a very laid back and relaxed feeling.
Caitlin Cowan
Joanne Caruso
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2012/01/harbin_international_ice_and_s.html
This photo essay depicts the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival located in northeastern China. Because it ranks among one of the four largest ice and snow festivals in the world, I believe that the public, as well as citizens and tourists, would enjoy marveling at this particular photo essay. It is able to bring viewers into a foreign land, while attaching a sense of magnificence and wonder that may not be seen in this way in every day life. It also evokes a sense of amazement and disbelief, an attitude of, “How did they do that?!”, which makes the photo essay quite fun. I believe that this photo essay shows people that beautiful things can come out of unconventional and unexpected channels, while serving as a sense of entertainment for the viewing audience.
I think image 6 is the strongest image out of the entire photo essay. While the following photos display the ice castle brilliantly lit up in such an intense way, I feel that the colors take away from the intricacies found in the ice work, making the picture almost look computerized or fake. Image 6 is the only image, in my opinion, that portrays the castle in a different light (both figuratively and literally). The warm sun that peers through the castle shows how delicate it is, yet makes it look almost a little haunted or skeleton-esque. While other colorful photos show the castle as something completely transformed, I believe that the castle is the most beautiful in this form because it incorporates more natural elements, making it feel more realistic.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/012412_state_of_the_union.html?cmpid=100978044
The photo essay I chose was a compilation of pictures from President Obama’s State of the Union Address. Considering Obama’s position a president, the audience could be all of the American people, but more specifically those who actively keep up with politics. This essay is interesting not necessarily because of the photos taken but more so because of the significance of the event. Unfortunately, the impact of this particular gallery is diminished because a large part of the State of the Union is the speech. The photo I found particularly interesting was the last one, because the image of governor Mitch Daniels, who gave the republican response, contrasted the images of Obama and people cheering with some uncertainty towards his administration.