Galleries--

http://www.danzigergallery.com/projects/tereza-vlckov

I chose Tereza Vlckovà’s photograph A Perfect Day, Elise...  I find this photograph quite vivid.  To me it resembles something like Peter Pan.  It reminds me of a child's childhood.  What is unique though, Vlckovà’s subject does not seem to be a child, yet an adult/young adult.  The background is a beautiful green landscape.  I find it interesting that the photographer made the girl in the photograph fly into the photograph (where we see her feet in the front and we do not see her face).  Also she, Elise (maybe) is exalted with happiness and is finally on the right track in life.  I noticed also that she is flying into the green vivid land and “flying” away from the old burnt grass.  Also since her shadow is on the old burnt dried up grass, it can represent her leaving the old her and starting something new.  The picture overall also seems somewhat angelic, the way she is “flying away”, her dress and hair do not seem to be in movement and the overall movement of the picture seems flawless.   

http://www.danzigergallery.com/exhibition/summer-selection_1

I also wanted to chose a different photograph because I liked this one a lot.  It is a photograph from Hendrik Kerstens called  Sunburnt. It is of a girl standing in the center of the photograph with a blue background.  This picture reminds me of the pains of summer, the sunburnt that keeps you awake at night, and not even ice helps.  Kerstens captures the facial expression of the girl in a way that she seem in pain yet also angry (like she hates summer). Her arms are crossed signifying annoyance and anger (either from summer or from the sunburnt, or maybe she’s angry from a vacation she had to go on with her family). Kerstens also plays with contrasts, the red burnt skin, with the healthy white skin, contrasting the blue background.

Six Favorite Photographs.

It’s true how they say a picture can speak a thousand words. We all interpret pictures and images differently, one person would see something totally different than someone else in a photograph. What intrigues me the most in photographs is the history behind them. Also I love photographs that are from historical events. Looking at pictures is also a way of reliving that event (or at least that’s what I do!). Also what I love about photography is that their is no sugar coating it (well not in 1920 when there wasn’t Photoshop), you get the real deal !

All six photographs come from different times and also different photographers, yet they all connect in some aspects, they are all events. They all capture instants that will never happen again. The first photograph is of a Monk burning himself alive protesting at the Vietnamese President's anti-Buddhist laws back in 1963. This was photographed by Malcolm Browne in 1968. Not only is the moment capturing in this photograph, but you have the center of the photograph a car, then the monk (who is the main subject) more towards the right. You then have the flames that escalate from the gas tank to him. But more interestingly all the flames seem they are surrounding him, and his facial expression is so peaceful (crazy).

The following two pictures are both from Auschwitz. The first image to me is interesting because you have children who should be happy and cheerful, yet through the image you feel their pain. And also in front of them is not just any wire, but barbed wire indicating no escape. As for the second picture, it just expresses the horror and cruelty of what happened in the camps, with an image of a few of the many deaths that occurred during that time.

For something more cheerful, that would be the next picture, a world wide famous picture of a Sailor and a nurse kissing in times square. This photograph just sums up all the happiness after the war had ended. They are the center of the photograph and they both have body movements toward one another, which makes the moment more intimate. Behind the photograph you have more sailors and all happy people, summing up the day the war had ended.

The second to last picture I find interesting not because of the boy, but the depth of the photograph. I love how the soldiers form lines that go all the way up the street (almost looking like a street itself). Also while every soldier has a serious face, the soldier who is reaching out to the boy has a smile. So you wonder, are they leaving or coming home ?

Finally the last picture is a picture I found while browsing.  It's an interesting photograph.  This little boy is sitting in rubble with his stuffed toy, yet we wonder where his family is? Behind him are people looking at him, yet not helping.  I don't know what to think of the boys facial expression (it's kind of like the Mona Lisa's smile).

 

 

 

heyheyhey!

Hey class !

My name is Maria-Francesca Gaccione, but I only use Francesca. I am a Senior here at MSU and my major is Italian.  My mom and dad are both italian which is the reason I decided to major in Italian, but also because I love the art and culture in Italy.  Each time I visit family in Italy it leaves me in awe.  I love everything about Italy, the food (obviously), the culture, the history, and the art.  I also love to travel and last year I studied abroad.  I was able to take so many pictures there, but none were 'WOW'.  Also I was able to meet a female italian photographer from Florence. She is now in her 70's, but her photography made me want to learn more.  She said that you don't need a fancy camera to take a good picture, but how you take the picture.  She said she likes to only take one picture, rather than 2,000, like many of us do.  That is my goal and it is one of the main reasons I am taking this course.  I want to learn how to be able to snap one picture and have it speak 1,000 words.  The camera I will be using is a Nikon D5100.  

My favorite book: Looking for Alaska by John Green
Favorite music: 60's music and rock (AC/DC, Guns n' Roses, Queen, The Beatles, The XX, Coldplay, Eyes Set to Kill,… )

I don't really have a favorite photographer.  I think there are many photographers who are unique and have great skill.  Each photograph is beautiful in its own way.  Recently I found a photographer named, Carra Sykes.  She has a photograph series called: Mother + Daughter. This is my favorite right now:

I encourage you to check out the rest! It's AWESOME.  Mother +Daughter