Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin by Neil Armstrong 1969

On July 20th, 1969 astronaut Buzz Aldrin poses for a picture on the lunar surface. In the picture the lunar module is on the left and the astronauts footprints are clearly visible on the surface and soil of the moon. Astronaut Neil Armstrong took this picture with a 70 mm Hasselblad lunar surface camera, which is fascinating because the picture turned out so well, even though they are in space. Also shown in the picture is the American flag which is attached to a pole that is stuck into the surface of the moon. Seen in the background is a shadow from Apollo 11 and the dark color of the galaxy behind them. This picture is important to represent the first moon landing and to bring great honor to the United States and the Apollo 11 team. Even though this picture was taken on the moon it stills shows great contrast between the dark and light colors and it also has great sharpness and quality. The white of Buzz Aldrin’s space suit is greatly contrasted to the black background of the galaxy and space behind him. The American Flag comes in to bring color to the picture and also stands out which such bright colors and visual placement. The American Flag is placed almost right in the middle of the picture which catches the viewer’s eyes right away and causes them to look their first.

In the picture Buzz Aldrin is saluting the American Flag, which can be seen by his fingertips that are at his face-plate. The footprints from his space suite are clearly visible and expressed easily in the soil. Also in the picture Buzz Aldrin is facing towards the sun which can be seen because you can see the suns reflection on his visor. The American flag, in the picture, is blowing which can be seen by the ripples of its figure and the shape it is taking. This picture, with great contrast and quality, is an important picture for American history, not only for its significance but also for its picture quality. 

Audrey Hepburn

Audrey Hepburn in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" by Bud Fraker

This photograph of Audrey Hepburn from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is probably one of the most iconic pictures of fashion photography. The photo portrays the fashion icon wearing a classy black dress which has added accessories to match the long gown in the form of a pearl choker, a foot long cigarette holder, black opera gloves and a small tiara.

The photo is taken in black and white and is contrasted with the black background, but the background has a certain light effect on it which looks like a light is being portrayed on to her. She is looking right at the viewer with the foot long cigarette holder in her mouth. Her one arm is down by her side while the other is crossed along her body to reach the other one. Her hips are swayed towards one side and it creates an intense shape of her body, making her look like an hour glass.

This one picture grasps the beauty of Audrey Hepburn, while also exploiting her for being a famous movie star. The little black dress attained such iconic fame that it became an essential piece of clothing for a woman's wardrobe. She made this dress into something that everyday women wanted and after this picture was released it became a popular dress which is still used today for parties and other events. This picture creates a sense of beauty, elegance and grace. She makes something so simple look so elegant and magnificent. This picture stands to show how one person can cause an effect on so many people and it also represents the elegance this one person can contain and show by the capture of one photograph. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” was filmed over 50 years ago but still Audrey Hepburn captures people’s attention with her little black dress. 

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe by Sam Shaw 1954

On September 15, 1954, Marilyn Monroe stood on a subway grate in New York City wearing a little white dress and fought an upward breeze. This photograph is a scene from the Seven Year Itch, which went on to become one of the most iconic moments in movie history.                            The dress she is wearing is a white cocktail dress which has a plunging neckline which leaves her arms, shoulders and back bare. In this iconic picture, Marilyn Monroe is standing over the subway crate while her dress is flowing in the air, and she keeps it from coming up by placing her hand over it to cover her body. Her one hand is covered by the dress as she tries to keep it from flying upwards, and her other hand is back behind her ear, causing a sexual pose. The flow of her dress, floating around her body, creates this perception of a seductive movie star. Marilyn is seducing the camera in this pose, and in the same moment, everyone watching is being seduced by her. This one picture may not seem scandalous now, but back then this what not something normal, which shows just how spectacular and unique Marilyn Monroe was.

The image was shot in black-and-white in which the white of her dress and shoes contrasts the darkness of the background. Monroe’s very blonde hair and earrings also contrasts with the dark image. The fact that the dress is white makes her look almost as if she is flying, and as if she is angelic. In the image, you can see other photographers and an audience in the background. There is also another man walking past in the background who is not even looking in the direction of the camera shooting the image. It is almost as if he does not even notice that her dress is flying up. Also there is another man on the left side of the photo, who is looking at Monroe with a sense of craving and fondness. The angle of her bottom half makes it looks like her legs are slightly crossed and she is bent down, which makes it seem like she is trying to be innocent and not reveal too much. This can also be seen by how she puts her hand on her dress to cover more. Although she is crouching down a little, her legs still appear to be long like a models. This photograph is quite unique and fits Marilyn Monroe’s personality. 

Major Terri Gurrola

Major Terri Gurrola and her daughter Gaby taken by Louie Favorite/ The Journal of Constitution/ AP


In this picture Terri Gurrola is reunited with her daughter after serving in Iraq for 7 months. The picture shows Terri on the ground wrapping her daughter in a tight hug. She is crying tears of joy after being able to see her daughter after such a long time. Her daughters face is not visible in the picture, but I would imagine that she has a ginormous smile on her face. This picture stands to represent the intense emotional pain soldiers endure when they have to leave their families behind. This is a timeless photograph which captures a perfect moment in time, forever.

I think what is great about this picture is that it focuses on this connection between Terri and her daughter. It catches a moment in time that they both will remember forever and it creates an emotional response by those who view it. It is a very personal picture, which can be seen through Terri's tears and her hand placement on the back of her daughter head while she embraces her in a tight hug. I can only imagine watching Terri see her daughter and run to her and fall to the ground to give her a hug and hold her tight.

The floor is bright white and glossy, which makes the picture seem focused and clear. There is the lower half of someone's body in the picture, but it is definitely not something people are focusing on while looking at this picture, however, it can help to show that the world is happening around them while they are frozen in time with this moment. I think what my eye gazes towards first is Terri’s hand on the back of her daughters head. It is a small gesture, but somehow it had a major effect on me, because something so little like that was something she couldn’t do for months. This is truly an emotional picture, which has now been frozen at that moment, and can be used in the future to represent the struggles of soldiers and their families. 

Wait for me, Daddy

"Wait for me, Daddy" by Clause P. Dettloff


"Wait for me, Daddy" is the touching photograph of a young boy chasing after his father who had just signed up to the war effort during WWII. In the picture the little white-haired boy is tugging away from his mother’s grasp and is rushing up to his father in the marching line. The mothers outstretched hand, the boy's reaching hand, the fathers turning smile, and the long line of marching men in the background, makes this an unforgettable image, and a heart-grabbing moment frozen for all time. In the picture the dad shifted his rifle to his other hand to hold his son's for a moment. This picture is also mesmerizing because it looks like a haunting snapshot of wars ability to tear families apart. Something that also adds an affect to this picture is the line of soldiers that looks to stretch on for miles and seems to be never-ending. You get the impression that these soldiers are going off to war as their wives and children walk alongside them, trying to hold onto those last precious moments with their loved ones.

Some may say this picture is sad or depressing because of its gray coloring and the fact that the line of soldiers stretches on to the horizon, which is full of many men who won’t return home to their families. But i don't think that's what this photo was trying to capture. I think it was trying to show the innocence of a child who doesn't understand or care about things like war, but just cares about love and family. I think this photo shows that love is the only thing that matters to a child. It's not war, or military tradition or anything else. This child's act doesn't just warm the father’s heart but it also warms the heart on the surrounding soldiers because you can see the smile on their faces.

Sometimes pictures are more affected by the colors and contrasts, but I believe this picture is mostly affected by its subject. The color and techniques could have an effect on the picture, but I don’t think they would have such an intense effect that it would change the importance of the picture. 

Gerald Cyrus

On Friday March 25, I attended an event which featured photographer Gerald Cyrus. He talked about his years of photography, what he loved to use as subjects and about his book. What I was most fascinated with is how the first ten years of his adult life he spent them as an accountant and was just doing photography as a hobby. It really helped me to understand that I can do anything I want and you don’t have to know what your passion is, or what you are going to do your whole life, when you are only 18 years old. What I liked most about his photography was that he mostly focused on his family and things he really loved like jazz.

The picture above was one of my favorite ones from his slideshow. What I find so interesting about this picture is that it stops time in a moment of happiness. Something that wasn’t planned or staged but just a moment in someone’s life. A moment that people look past and don’t really appreciate until the time has passed. I love that it captures the feeling of family but it also captures the feeling of happiness. When Gerald Cyrus was showing these pictures on the slideshow, this one especially caught my eye because it is such a sweet innocent moment in time.

I also really loved all of his pictures from the jazz clubs. They had such intense focus and precision and they showed the movement of the artists in such a different way. What I really love about his pictures is that you can tell he is focusing on things that he is very deeply interested in. I think it is important for photographers to capture something they love, rather than just something they think will sell. All of his pictures contain heart and soul. Every singly picture he showed were all unique and special in their own way, and I was really fascinated by his story and his career. 

Cigarette-Candy

Cigarette-Candy, Sally Mann, 1989

Cigarette-Candy is a photograph created by Sally Man in 1989. The main focus of the photograph displays a young girl holding a cigarette (candy). The image contains three figures; the iconic blonde holding a cigarette, another young girl in the right foreground and a young boys lower body can be seen in the left background where he is climbing a ladder. The main girl in the photograph is slouched away from the path behind her, unlike the other children in the picture who face the path ahead of them. Her stubborn pose, and cigarette in hand could symbolism the rebellion phase of a teenage girls life. Due to this cigarette in hand it may cause her to go down a different path in life than that of the other children in the photograph

I think one big thing that Mann was trying to do with this photograph is to illustrate the problem of children trying to mature too fast. A girl that age shouldn't be smoking a cigarette and I believe that is what she is trying to address. That children now think adulthood is so glorious and amazing that they try to speed up their childhood to get to it. What they don't realize though is that childhood is one of the greatest times of someones life and there is no point in trying to speed up that process.

It seems like Mann almost purposely added light on the young girl, because it seems as if she is so clear and in focus that she is glowing, as to signify her importance. As the viewer I felt very drawn in by the apathetic expression on the girls face. I feel like the further we try to look into this picture the more we will see. There is more than meets the eye. This is something that I think is very crucial. You never know what someone is going through and why they make the choices they make, but like this little girl, guidance is the best thing for them.

The Violin of Ingres

The Violin of Ingres by Man Ray, 1924

This photograph taken by Man Ray in 1924, transformed the female body into a musical instrument by having sound-holes painted on her back. This photograph is used to display the idea of objectification of a female body. However, this picture also creates a tension between objectification and appreciation of the female body. Man Ray's intentions are not completely clear in the photograph and it is so interesting how it operates on so many levels. It’s still confusing as to why he doesn't show the woman's arms, and it makes it harder to contemplate. He points out the irony of the shape of the women's body in comparison to a violin. He depicts this portrait of the woman with such delicate care given to her back and profile. The colors of this photograph seem so smooth and light, and create a sense of delicacy. The light grey and whites of the picture creates a warm touch to her body and the photograph. 

As he represents the woman as an instrument, it seems as though he is trying to assert things about women. I believe that he created this photograph to show that women are predictable and can be manipulated just like a violin. Man Ray models this women with the care like one would use upon an instrument of high craft. Her head and back make up the frame, modeled in precision like a violin. I love how he can use her body to make it look more than just a body, but something more interesting. Also what makes this photograph so interesting is that her head is wrapped, so that her hair doesn't fall down her back, which makes the subject slightly more ambiguous. This photograph depicts a time past, however, it’s meaning and representation is still true and relevant today.

Sailor kissing girl in Times Square

Sailor kissing girl in Times Square by Alfred Eisenstaedt, V-J Day 1945 

Yet again here is another iconic photograph of the United States history. This photograph shows a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square when our triumph of World War II was announced. This photograph seems to represent to people what it felt like when World War II ended. I can only imagine how palpable the energy and excitement was at that moment. Imagine standing there in the middle of Times Square hearing the thousands of peoples cheers and screams and having that one moment stopped in time with this photograph.

The photograph is structured to have the kissing couple as the focal point and the one part of the photograph that is supposed to catch the viewers gaze. The contrast of the colors is just one of the ways in which the photographer creates a space around the couple. Another way the photographer creates space is by the focus of the camera lens. The camera focuses on the main figures, allowing things in the background to become blurry and out of focus, making the main figures even more prominent. The photograph features blacks and whites of different contrasts, and it creates an emphasis on the main figures because they are the most sharply defined colors.

70 years after this photograph was taken and every single piece, shade and line of the picture has been viewed, analyzed, and studied by millions of people, which it makes it hard to believe that the picture was, at one time, a reality. This photo is, and will remain to be, an iconic part of the United States history. That is what is so amazing about this photograph, even years after it was taken it can still represent the emotions of that day, so that we can all hold on to such a great feeling like that.

The Migrant Mother

The migrant mother, taken by Dorothea Lange in 1936

This iconic photograph was taken during the Great Depression in 1936. The picture shows a mother with her two children leaning on her, and an infant in her lap. This picture became so popular because it showed the world what was happening to people at that time. I think the most emphasized part of this photograph are the worry lines on the mothers face, frown of her mouth and hand placement on her chin. These three qualities add together to create an intense sense of worry, sadness, and lack of hope. This a photograph about class, which evokes not just sympathy but compassion, an impulse to help this struggling woman and her children. It seems to be a simple photograph of a woman and her children, but actually it tells the struggle of a time of our history.

One reason I really love this picture is because it portrays the emotion of a struggling mother, trying to figure out what she must do next to help her children stay alive. What I have always wondered was if the children were clinging to their mother and hiding their face because of shyness, or because they were trying to cling to any hope left to keep alive and looking for their mother for support. That is what is so interesting about this photograph, that there are so many things left unanswered and open to the interpretation of the viewer. Also there are so may qualities of this photograph that make it interesting, such as being used as a symbol of beauty, motherhood, Depression, loss of hope, or simply just a photograph. It is so interesting how one picture can exemplify so many different things and express so many different emotions. What I love the most is how this photograph can still be relevant even 80 years after it was taken.

Contemporary Indian Photography

Contemporary Indian Photography

The exhibit for Contemporary Indian Photography is one that shouldn’t be missed. The photographs express different scenes, themes, but somehow each one still catches your eye. What is really interesting is how the artist/artists in this exhibition make use of the camera’s power to document reality. To catch a moment in time that most people pass over and don’t ever think about. A lot of the photographs are so interesting because the pictures seem so spontaneous and not very planned or posed. Their pictures pose questions about identity, self-representation and truth. Also the photographs create visions and experiences such as desire, love, and self-empowerment.

Some of these photographs, or the ones I have posted here, include an emphasis on the lives of women and girls. I love how the pictures of the girls express themselves and female power. Their poses express empowerment and encouragement, with a strong visual appearance. These were my favorite pictures from the exhibit and that is why I decided to add them here. One reason why I was so interested by these pictures is that it seems like the girl are in control, that no matter what they have the power to overcome anything. Somehow I get a feeling of strength and encouragement just from their positions and facial expressions.

This exhibit was very interesting. There were some photographs that I was not a fan of, but even so I could still  find something interesting in them. The subject matters of the pictures were vastly different, but that’s why I think I liked most of them, especially since I was walking around an exhibit with different photographs with different meanings, instead of pictures that looked exactly the same. I enjoyed the vastly different emotions and objects of these photographs and I really enjoyed being able to visit the exhibit. 

Dave Heath Exhibition

Dave Heath Exhibition

The Dave Heath Exhibition was probably one of my favorite photograph exhibitions I have seen. While walking through the exhibition I realized that there wasn’t just one or to pictures that really caught my attention, but almost all of them. Dave Heath’s Exhibition expresses a bittersweet vision of modern life in his powerful photographs of loss and hope. These elements of his photographs are jaw dropping and some cause you to not want to move your gaze from staring at them. His photos go further than just registering time and space, but rather they suggests a story. A story that takes place behind the surface of the photograph and in the mind of the viewer. The stories I took from the photographs are probably different what others experience, just because we all have different imaginations. A dialogue is thus created between the image and the viewer which stimulates their imagination.

It seems like most of his pictures weren’t taken on purpose but rather were a result of Dave Heath going where life led him. It seems like some of the photographs are a reflection of private experiences of his, and that others are inspired by him being carried away in the lives of other people or cultures. The way he focuses his images and shows his subjects, it is like he presents them through the lens without prejudice, and that is one reason I was so interested by his photographs.

The photos that I have attached here were some of my favorite ones from the exhibition. I liked these photographs so much because they are so raw and express such an emotional feeling. There was something about them that just really caught my eye and made me not want to look way. Their deep sorrow and obvious pain make them so intense and made me so curious as to wonder what happened when the photo was being taken. 

Beautifully Unified by Design

Frank Lloyd Wright "Falling Water" 1936-1939

With his creation, Frank Lloyd Wright orchestrated perfect harmony between man and nature in his house built for the Kaufman family, Falling Water. Frank Lloyd Wright displayed Organic architecture in Falling Water masterfully. He clearly demonstrated the requirements of Organic architecture in the interior and the exterior of Falling Water. These requirements being an inclusion of nature in architectural plans, and the design of buildings based on surrounding nature. The characteristics of Organic architecture were satisfied so gracefully Wright managed to create a synchronized relationship between his house and the surrounding environment. Perhaps, the relationship between man and nature framed in his creation of Falling Water is the ideal relationship of all interactions between man and nature.          

Some people may not believe that this house is a piece of art, but I would argue otherwise. Once you see the house and truly experience its unique beauty, you realize how truly magnificent it is, and you know that it is a true piece of art. What is really fascinating is that what was not naturally part of the environment in some way or form still influenced the completion of the house. Wright designed materials in the house to assume the characteristics of the surrounding environment, as exemplary seen in his use of color. Wright consistently utilizes color that resembles the outside atmosphere on the exterior and the interior of the house, to make it blend into the environment and nature around it.

 I have loved this house for years and I love the feeling it gives me when I see its pure beauty. This house creates a beautiful symbiotic relationship between nature and man, which is one reason why I am so interested in it. If you just look at the picture of it you can tell how truly amazing it is. Just picture walking through the house and seeing all the magnificent pieces that make it whole, and how peaceful the waterfall, and pools make it feel. This house is one reason I became so interested in art and I will remember its effect on me for many years to come. 

Birmingham Race Riot

Andy Warhol "Birmingham Race Riot" 1964

I was most fascinated by this picture due to the fact that the artist must have been purposefully trying to blur what was happening at that moment and everyone who was involved. The picture depicts the riots at Birmingham, Alabama, which was one of the climaxes of the Civil Rights Movement. The image is showing supporters of Martin Luther King, who were protesting segregation and were attacked by the police with dogs. In particular this image shows one man being attacked by two police dogs on leashes while many on lookers are hurried along. What really caught my attention was how the picture has a high contrast, which blurs the details, and makes the picture seem much more interesting due to the fact that it’s a little dark and mysterious. Also what is interesting is how this enhanced contrast heightens the distinction between black and white, and present a news item as a moment in history that is worth preserving. The picture is stopped at the perfect moment so that you can see all the action that would have been happening at that very time.

The one thing about this picture that made me stop and stare at it, is how it shows the police dog, mouth open and teeth showing, jumping towards the man, while the other dog has his teeth clenched on the man’s pants and are pulling on them. In this picture time is stopped at the moment when the dog is in mid leap and you can see the fierceness in his eyes. What this made me think of was how awful it must have been to be this man at that riot and how terrifying it must have been for him to see a dog like that coming towards you to attack.  Also what was so interesting to me was how the picture was arranged, such that I was more focused on the action that is being portrayed, than the environment around it.

I believe that this picture allows the viewer to reflect on our past as a country, and see  how far we have come, while also allowing the viewer to form their own interpretation of what this piece means. This piece was so interesting to me because it depicts something that is part of our history, but it also forced me to think about if I was in the shoes of the man being attacked.