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).