EVENTS AT GWU THIS WEEK + TRIP TO NYC

Check some of this out!!!

Thursday: Artist Phoebe Greenberg will be at the Hirshhorn for a "Meet the Artist" talk at 7pm. Ms. Greenberg's film Next Floor was awarded Best Short Film, International Critic’s Week at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.

Friday: The New York City bus trip is this Friday, February 26. This trip is free for FAAH students and there are many spots still available so please email art@gwu.edu or stop by the main office to sign up.

Sunday: Prof. Patrick McDonough has an exhibition at The 29th Street Gallery and Project Space at Gateway Arts Center in Brentwood, MD. The artist’s talk and reception is Sunday from 3-5pm.


More information about all of these events can be found at http://www.gwu.edu/~art/events.html.

This picture was taken during the height of the civil rights movement, at the Olympics in Mexico City in 1968. To me, it evokes a wide range of, sometimes contradictory, emotions: unity, loneliness, strength, perseverance, defiance, solidarity. There’s the “leader” Tommie Smith, gold medalist, holding his fist up high, seeming to tell the world, “I can do this, we can do this, and we will not be defeated.” Yet I can’t stop wondering what he is actually thinking, as he looks very pensive and cerebral in his stature. There’s his “sidekick,” bronze medalist John Carlos, the loyal follower - happy to be assisting his teammate, and with a slight hint of a satisfaction on his face, perhaps happy to have won a medal as well. And then there’s the Australian, who seems either oblivious or purposefully ignorant to what’s going on behind him, or is it next to him – it’s hard to tell.

The photograph is simple enough – three men in clear focus, standing on a podium for all the world to see. Yet no one is looking at the camera. The two Americans seem to be perhaps closing their eyes, or looking at the ground. The Australian seems to be staring into space, missing the incredibly rebellious moment of the two men next to him. We can’t recognize any other people in the photograph. It makes me wonder – who is their audience? Who was watching this incredible moment? Did Mexicans, Australians, and other people in other countries understand the magnitude and importance of the civil rights movement in the U.S.? Were there Americans who were burying their heads in the sand or staring into nothingness as well? Perhaps these two bold athletes left it up to whoever was watching to join in the cause and make the next move in the fight for equal rights.

Ironically, or perhaps not so ironically in view of other individuals’ actions during the civil rights movement (Rosa Parks spending time in jail, for example), these two men were suspended from the U.S. team as a result of their actions. The powers that be would not tolerate political statements made during the Olympics, which should be about sport and competition.

Yet the picture remains a classic image in Olympic history and in the civil rights movement. These men took a bold risk for their noble cause, and ultimately for their country.

Australia

This image of Australia evokes many emotions for me. I was originally supposed to go abroad to Australia in the second semester of my Junior year, but it did not for a variety of reasons. I had had this image stored as my desktop image for a very long time because it manifested an extraordinary possible and opportunity to me. Having read about Australia’s offerings from its rich animal life to beautiful scenery including its beaches I associate all of these qualities with this image.

The water in this picture is set with a beautiful light that makes it look most serene and soothing. Water has presented a sense of calm and relaxation to me since I was young as I have always treasured beaches more than any other place. Seeing the water in this picture, even with the bridges in the background and the well-known sculpture I still associate the water with beaches since I have done so much research including reading and looking over many pictures of the beaches of Australia.

Having not been to Australia and appreciating its allure so much from every picture I see of it, especially this one, my inspiration is to one day make it there, whether it be for a vacation or to live there for a certain amount of time. Therefore, this picture is especially important to me because it embodies the hope and possibility that Australia is there and will hopefully still be there in the same beauty it is in today when I eventually make my way there.

Photos That Inspire

This image of me and my little brother fills me with nostalgia every time I look at it. The warmth of those hot, sudsy baths I took as a child is instantly palpable to me, especially in the frigid February weather of the present. I took so many baths as a young kid that I think I permanently associate them with childhood and can very easily shut off my mind and melt away the rest of the world. While it’s only on rare occasions that I get to enjoy one nowadays, I still relish slipping into a nearly scalding hot bath and just soaking for a while. The repetition of a simple action from my childhood has a meditative quality for me.

Of course its not as though any old image of a bathtub would stir up the emotional response that this one does. This particular image has a number of things going for it. As far as color is concerned, my family never did like this “Twinkie yellow” shade in the bathroom, and it wasn’t long after this picture was taken that we redid the tiles. Yet in this instance I think the yellow only accentuates the warmth of the image and helps bring out the ruddy, healthy complexion of our skin. Our young vitality pops out at me.

The moment that is captured here is really something special. Faint traces of bubbles in me and my brother’s hair and on our faces remind me of the “bubblebeards” and “bubblehats” we always gave ourselves, and I have no doubt we were either sporting them moments before or are just about to build some. It’s also evident that this is a genuine instance of laughter. My brother and I look like mischievous co-conspirators, exceedingly pleased with ourselves, and conspicuously secure in our nakedness. To us, at this moment, the world is a place to play and we feel at home in it.

I can’t make up my mind which I enjoy more in this image: my brother’s wholly satisfied downward gaze or my own subtly indirect eye contact. They complement each other so well. If both of us had been looking at the camera or both of us looking away, I feel the picture would lose its natural quality. The mixture makes it clear we know we’re being photographed, but suggests we find other sources of amusement more compelling.

Nostalgia is a mixed emotion, so the reaction I have to this image is not entirely positive. Looking into the eyes of my eight or nine year old self I’m struck by his readiness to laugh, and I find myself worrying whether I’m relatively neurotic and humorless today by comparison. I feel the weight of time firmly dividing me from the kid that I was, yet I long to access him, to ask him questions, and to truly know what it feels like to be him.

Ultimately, despite the longing this image incites, I feel that to remember is good. I’m inspired by a sense of possibility from this picture. I am reminded of the impermanence of life, and therefore spurred to live. I recall the countless times I sat in that tub and investigated my rapidly changing body, felt in awe of my simple ability to move my hands and feet, and noted with a mixture of approval and alarm that it was getting harder and harder for me to fit. Remembering all of this reminds me that I once was, I now am, and I will be; and somehow I’m always all those things at once.

Photo's that inspire

The picture was taken when I was about three years old. At the time, I was still living in the village and enjoying my simple and happy life as a child. Back in the days, cameras were evey expensive, and I was delighted that my father was able to purchase one. I loved to pose for pictures. I would look straight into the camera, put on a big smile, and make all kids of poses.

The picture reminds me of all the good memory that I had with my family, relatives, and friends back in the village. As farmers, life was definitely hard, yet simple. I was too young to help out wit field works at the time, but I enjoyed bringing my mother and others water and food while they were working on the fields. I liked to follow her around, observed and tried to learn the ways she plants, waters, and takes care of the vegetables and rice. Other times, I would just run around the village, fields, and small mountains with my friends. We did not care about getting dirty or hurt, we just followed what our hearts were telling us to do and be happy about it. I loved the fresh air, the cool rivers, the lovely frog babies, the strong buffalos, the noisy chickens, the green trees and beautiful flowers. Those are the days that I always remember and miss.

I think that is one of the reasons that I love kids. Their innocent faces and silly behaviors always remind me of my own childhood. I like how kids are so easy-going with their mistakes and anger. They would not calculate the consequent benefits before meeting a new friend or doing something for others; they are simple and straight forward. This picture and the childhood memories that it brings inspire me to be a simple, honest, and forgiving person.

Photos That Inspire

On June 5, 1989, one day after the Chinese government used violence to end the Tiananmen protests, a lone man put his life on the line and became an anonymous hero to oppressed people everywhere. In the now famous image, a man in a white shirt and black pants, still grasping shopping bags, can be seen holding up a column of Chinese military tanks. The tanks, definitive icons of power, are powerless against the man’s dedication to stop their advance. Taking place in downtown Beijing, the nation’s capital, the man’s ability to bring the nation’s military to a halt is an even more defiant image.

The photograph is especially striking to me because it seems like the man made an impromptu decision to take the enormous step of stopping a column of armored vehicles. The fact that the man is still holding shopping bags, and wearing the attire of a normal businessman, gives the impression that it was not a premeditated act. If true, it would mean that even ordinary citizens, not radicals or rebels, were not supportive of what the Chinese government was doing.

Before analyzing the “tank man” photograph for this class, I had never considered the artistic value of the photograph itself. Previously I considered the photograph just as a medium to show this powerful image of defiance. However, now that I look more into it, I believe the stylistic grittiness of the photograph adds to the image’s significance. Just like the man made an impromptu decision to defy authority, it seems like the photographer made a quick, impromptu attempt to capture the image. The slightly blurred features of the man, the streetlight protruding into the image, and the rough texture of the photograph all add to the startling reality of what the man is attempting to do.

Unfortunately no one knows who this man was, or what happened to him, for sure. However, this photograph inspires me because it shows how one person can be a symbol against something greater. Even though his whereabouts are unknown, his defiance lives on thanks to this image.

David Creamer

Photos That Inspire

When asked to think of a photograph that inspires me, two very indelible images come to mind, and for two very different reasons. I could not decide which one means more to me, so I'll discuss both of them here.


The first photo is one of the most memorable images in photojournalism. It is by Eddie Adams, taken while he was on the ground in South Vietnam. It went on to win a Pulitzer Prize. He captioned it: "General Nguyễn Ngọc Loan executing a Viet Cong officer." It was one of many remarkable images coming out of Vietnam, and it reinvigorated the power of photojournalism. It inspires me because it espouses all the values that a good photojournalist should have, values I try to keep in mind whenever I am on the field or working for the Hatchet. You need to have your eyes open to everything around you, constantly aware of your surroundings, and constantly analyzing the situation trying to predict when an amazing image will happen. Because when that moment occurs, you will have less than a second to capture it. You never know when that moment will happen, so you need to always be ready. Adams saw that the soldier was about to be executed, and he successfully captured that split second moment right before the shot is fired. In the chaos of this war zone, Adams makes this scene seem tranquil, almost peaceful, when it so obviously is not. He froze the scene at the exact right time to convey the message he wanted to get across. The image also inspires me because it conveys the depth of human emotion that is so rarely seen in everyday life, and so hard to capture in photography. War can push men to their limits. The image shows us this: the hardened attitude of the executioner, the frantic and panicked emotions of the victim, and the complete disregard everyone else around them is showing towards the situation. This image demonstrates the instinct that every photojournalist needs to have, one that I aspire to attain.


The second image is one I found while wandering through Flickr, looking for inspiration. The image at first is so jarringly simple, and then suddenly so amazingly complex. And that is why it inspires. While the first image appealed to the photojournalist in me, this image reminds me of the creativity and, for lack of a better word, magic that photography can create. At first glance, it is a starkly minimalist photo. A bright blue background. A black tee shirt. And a white liquid that appears to be milk. And then the photo's creativity shines through. The shape created by throwing the milk is so organic and so fluid. It appears completely natural, but still leaves you wondering how such a shape can be created spontaneously. The image makes me feel like a child again, when my mom first took me to New York for Take Your Child to Work Day, and how the grandeur of the city literally left me awe-struck. Another aspect of the image that inspires me the timing and the luck. As with all photography, any great image always involves a little bit of luck: taking your photo at just the right time when life around you is moving faster than you can keep up. Not only is the shape so magical, but the liquid also manages to cover the subject's face, so that the portrait becomes one solely focused on the liquid and its shape. The image stimulates my creative senses and leaves me wondering how else I can use my camera to create such amazing images.

Photos That Inspire

This picture is one of me and my two younger sisters when we were much younger. The three of us are curled up on a red couch in the first house of which I have clear memories. We are all three wearing white, in contrast to the red of the couch and the reddish brown of the tile on the floor behind it. The blankets we are sharing are also white, with some pink mixed in, which matches the color of our skin.

The reason that this photo is meaningful and inspirational to me is that it seems to be representative of childhood and family. I am not, now, as close to my sisters as I was at the time that the photo was taken. We have grown older, moved apart, and developed our own personalities and interests. The physical resemblance between us has also decreased; though we all still look alike, a friend would never look at a picture of the three of us now and be unable to tell which sister is me. Though we still spend time together and still love each other, it seems unlikely that we will ever again curl up on a couch with as little physical or emotional space between us as in that picture. In this sense, I am envious of children; when we are young, we lack the anxieties and inhibitions that develop as we get older; the simplicity and the warmth of the colors in the picture is, to me, representative of the simplicity and the warmth of the affection that children, whether sisters or friends, have for one another and for the adults in their life.

This photo is a reminder to me that I, and other adults, should perhaps feel less self-conscious about familial or other love. It makes me want to do whatever I can to regain some of the simple and pure moments of physical and emotional affection that characterize childhood. It inspires me to attempt to regain some of the closeness my sisters and I had in that picture, and makes me want to regain some of the wisdom I had and lost at five years old.

Photos that Inspire

This photograph was taken in 2000 by Jonas Bendiksen and was accessed through the Aperture Foundation website. This image is inspiring to me both emotionally and educationally. To begin, I find many of the techniques inspiring because of the educational value. The way the photograph is composed the children are frames along the bottom of the photograph with the expansive landscape dominating the background. The lighting in exceptional and evokes a warm, inquisitive emotion. When taking photographs, I always find lighting and composition to be the toughest elements to perfect. This photograph inspires me in an educational way because it reminds me that when done properly, lighting and composition truly make a good photograph great.

From an emotion standpoint, I am inspired by the feeling this photograph evokes. Youth, intrigue and excitement are ever-present in this composition from the young boy with the binoculars to the rolling landscape in the background. Even the adults in the photograph are captivated by the same event in the sky. These feelings are of particular inspiration to me because they remind me that many things in life aren't meant to be taken too seriously, especially when it comes to art. Just by following subjects and events that are of personal intrigue to you, you might find an amazing image. Many times, I believe the best photographs come when you least expect it.

Operation Castle, Event Romeo

This image is a photograph taken of an American thermonuclear bomb test in 1954. Ironically, the name of the test is Castle Romeo; a very romantic sounding name for an extremely violent image. I came across this picture in several classes dealing with the Cold War. To me, the image has always stuck out to me as the ultimate symbol of nuclear violence. Popular media has had the same view of this image, seeing that it appears on the cover of books, magazines, even album covers.

I do have to admit that there is something aesthetically beautiful about this picture. In terms of color and composition, it is very awe-inspiring. There are few other photos that I feel could match the intensity of this one. With the explosion and the clouds being the only elements of the photo, there is also a kind of tranquility that I see in this picture. Despite the intensity and pandemonium of the event itself, the photograph is symmetrical and balanced.

After seeing this powerful image many times, I know that I could never spend my life contributing to something so awful. I stand against everything that this picture represents. The picture is fundamentally chaos and destruction, something I never want to be a part of. Other people I have showed this picture to have said that this picture creates fear as its primary purpose. Because the image depicts an occurrence so horrible, I believe it inherently inspires people to work against the possibility of it happening again.

I was in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2007 visiting my dear friend Claire during the Fringe Festival, debatably the world’s largest arts festival. We were walking back after a long day of taking in the sights, enjoying the festival’s splendors, hiking up the Crags, filling our bellies with fish and chips, when I turned around and took this picture of Claire – freezing a truly wonderful moment forever in time.

The look on Claire’s face says it all - pure euphoria. Happiness. Freedom. Bliss. I love this picture for that look on Claire’s face.

The photo is an inspiration to me for what it captures, implies, and evokes. It captures a sense of pure freedom, an exact moment without worry or care. It represents the reunion of two great friends during one of those epic summers that you are afforded in your more vagabond, youthful days. Those types of days that give you the opportunity to be carefree and to truly enjoy yourself in the present. This photo allows me to return to that time. It allows me to remember the festival in detail. It gives me the possibility to recollect all of those sights, smells, thought, memories, funny instances and jokes from that time in my life. Soaking in the festival’s wonderful art displays and being surrounded by such creativity- comedy acts, plays, music, visual art, dance and physical performances, dancing in to the early hours of morning, pint after pint, walking through the “meadows” late at night, the city thick with the smell of barley and hops - the photo facilitates the memory of those two grand weeks.


From a technical standpoint, the light dresses Claire’s face and body ever so nicely. Her body position, with her arms wide open embracing the moment, is natural and unforced. The colors are so perfect together – the blue of her sweater, the green of the grass, and the orange of her scarf. The photo in totality is quite successful. Everything seems to be in harmony. It evokes a sense of serenity, peace, and happiness which amounts to a stunning visual impact.

I love this picture. It is a wonderful picture of Claire and what it captures truly resonates with me.

Photos That Inspire...

I've been traveling to the island of St. Barths since before I can remember. My parents and I go at least two to three times a year and I can confidently say that it's my favorite place on earth. An island covered in natural beauty with the friendliest people and most incredible sights on earth. Being on the island of St. Barths so often was an integral part of my growing up and I consider it home.

This image was taken two Decembers ago one afternoon when the waves we're particularly good and all the surfers were out. This is at a surf spot known as washing machine. It's called that because of the way the reef shapes the waves here and also how easily you can get washed up on shore after having fallen. I was walking along the shore at washing machine which is covered in large coral rocks which provide a fantastic texture for a photograph when i saw this man walking down the beach with his board. I decided I would capture only his arm and board in the foreground and have the remainder of the beach and a black lab off in the distance. I did so intentionally because I felt that this was the epitome of a surf/beach photo. I spent most of my summers surfing for the entire day and into the night even and this photo brought back so much of that classic surf feel for me. The idea of walking down the beach in excitement for your paddle out and first wave, someones dog on the beach undoubtedly watching his owner out in the swell, and of course a tan arm because you've obviously been living on the beach for much of your time.

This photo combines all the things in my life that make me feel relaxed, warm, and just genuinely happy. It's a combination of my best emotions and memories thrown into one composition that I feel exhibits them spectacularly. Whether it's surfing, just hanging on the beach, the love that a dog can show for its owner, or the island of St. Barths, the components of this photo truly inspire me.

I took this photograph last spring during my semester abroad. While Rome was my home for the five months, other cities became my next door neighbors and I was afforded the opportunity to travel across Europe nearly every weekend. This specific photo was from a weekend trip to Amsterdam where I met up with twelve of my friends, also GW students, who were all spending their semesters in various European locations as well. As hectic as thirteen friends sharing a room with one bathroom was, the combination of friendship, adventurous personalities, and the passion for traveling in all of us truly united the group and made for an unforgettable and cherished experience.
This photograph inspires me because it reminds me of a carefree time where the only worry in the world for five entire months was where we were headed the following weekend. The serenity portrayed in the photograph also reflects my attitude and vibrant appreciation of life that I experienced during the semester. Currently the background of my computer screen and also framed on my wall in my apartment, I am reminded each day to appreciate life as much as I did during my time studying abroad. I'm inspired to find a career path where I can replicate the happiness and love for life that I was so fortunate to already have experienced before. This photograph, as silly as it may seem, keeps me on track and reminds me that no matter how large a problem or worry is at a specific time, it's not the end of the world, there are greater problems out there, and at the end of the day we should be grateful for what we have, who we are, who we are with, and strive towards being carefree and happy.

Photos that inspire...

This image was taken about two years ago when I went to the British Virgin Islands with my friends. It documents one of my sweetest memories, of one of the most inspiring vacations I’ve had and during which I’ve had the biggest connection with nature.

Coming from a metropolitan area, where everybody has at least two cars and most probably lives in a cement house or an apartment, buildings and smoke surround us and we forget how exceptional nature is. During this trip, we were living in a boat during a week and a half, navigating from island to island. At sunset, we would always sit at the edge of my friend’s boat and watch the sun go down. It was our favorite time of day, chatting about different things as we witnessed time going by right in front of us. It was also the summer before all of us going to college, so we were all pretty antsy about separating and beginning our new lives.

This photograph, taken by my friend, captures us viewing one of those sunsets. I find it inspiring because of what it represents but also because of the colors it captures. It was taken during one of the prettiest sunsets we watched in Bitter End, Virgin Gorda. I like how it encapsulates the entire surroundings in one shot: the boat, the edge of the island, the water, and the orange and blue sunset. I also like how above our heads you can see the edge of the sun as it hides behind a cloud. The colors were always breathtaking and ranged from orange, purple, pink, and blue. Most islands were full of green and often had short hills such as this one, contrasting with the ever-changing sky.

When we witness moments like this, while everything is peaceful and all you hear is the water hitting the sides of the boat, you never want the sun to go down. These were the times when I never wanted to leave the breezy islands. This image reminds me of that feeling and those passing moments.

Photos that Inspire

A photograph that has inspired me is Ansel Adams’s Rose and Driftwood. I used to think that photography is just being in the right place at the right time and capturing a moment. This was the first time that I looked at photography as an art and a science. Ever since high school photography class I have been a big fan of his work and it was amazing to see his work in person when I came to DC. There was always something magical in his photographs for me.

I saw this photograph at the Corcoran in my sophomore year and it stood out to me above all of the other great works by Adams. I remember standing there for a long time, looking at every detail. As part of the f/64 club, Adams believed that a photograph should have a great depth of field, moving away from painting-like photography. Everything is so sharply in focus that it no longer seems real.

I love the texture in this photograph. You could trace every line in the petals and every ridge of the wood. The contrast of the rose petals on hard wood in particular is what drew me to it. Just by looking at it, you can get a sense of how soft the petals are.

There is a great range of color, from pure white to black with the full spectrum of grays creating an incredible 3 dimension image. I like that the outer petals are a darker color than they would be expected to be. Looking at Adams’s work I have often wanted darker colors in my black and white photographs as well to try to bring out as much texture as possible. The shadows also work to create a depth to the rose. After taking Black & White photography I can fully appreciate the process it took to have perfect exposure.

My mother took this photo of my father and my cousin. This was a few days before my father passed away from cancer. His skin and eyes were yellow because of jaundice. My entire family wanted to take photos with him one by one as a memory but he told them he did not want to be photographed in this state. They told him that it would mean so much to them and then my mom started shooting as each family member stepped in, one by one. My dad did not try to fake a smile, as there was nothing to smile about in this moment.

This photo reflects the relationship between my family and my father in the month leading to his death; the focus was very much on what my family wanted instead of my father. Although many decisions were not in my father's hands, he never pretended to be okay with things that were forced upon him for the sake of a cohesive family situation. He was not afraid to let his opinion be heard and if he had the physical strength to walk away from my mother shooting pictures, he would have. Since getting up and leaving would have taken an extraordinary amount of effort, the next best thing is giving the camera this specific expression. This photo shows me that even with a disability, people can protest in other ways – in this case with the expression on his face. This photo inspires me because it is a moment in my family's history and it gives me real emotion because I find humor in my father's "ruining" of the picture. Witnessing someone becoming weaker every day makes you appreciate the power that you have in your life with every decision you make because one day, you will likely miss that freedom when others become your guardian again.

Candy Darling on Her Deathbed , a black and white silver gelatin print by Peter Hujar, is a photo of performer and actress Candy Darling, one of Andy Warhol’s famed “superstars.” The image is an intimate portrayal of the performer in the weeks before her death, reclining in a hospital bed surrounded by flowers from friends and admirers. Candy Darling was a transgendered woman (male to female) who acted in several of Andy Warhol’s avant-garde films and was a member of his inner posse of transsexuals, homosexuals, artists, and musicians. Just weeks after this portrait was taken Darling died of leukemia, a condition she developed after taking experimental female hormones for years.

This photo has become synonymous in my mind with the summer of 2008, the summer between my graduation from high school and the start of college. Summer 2008 was a kind of turning point in my life, a time when I had no responsibilities and there were seemingly no consequences to any action. I was in love with my carefree life, my rebellious gang of friends, and doing what I wanted when I wanted.

It was during this summer I got really into Warhol and his world; watching his films, listening to the Velvet Underground and Bob Dylan, and reading biographies about Warhol and his Superstars. When I came across this photograph of Candy Darling I was struck not only by the beauty of its composition but also by the symbolism it held. To me, Candy Darling represented a reckless youth, taken by her love of life, glamour, and the pursuit of happiness. Candy Darling and this photo became iconic to me. She was the tragic heroine, dying for her cause, never apologizing for anything. The photo is still one of my favorites and I’ve come to appreciate it even more after taking photography classes.

Photos that Inspire

Several weeks ago in class, we looked at several photographers’ portfolio websites. While perusing through Tim Davis’s webpage and photo portfolio, I came across a section entitled “The New Antiquity,” which consisted of traditional images that were revamped with the photographer’s style in mind. As a concept that intrigues me in photography, I clicked the section and was startled to see an incredible series of photographs. I found one, entitled “Gold Flecked Web” to be particularly captivating and even inspiring. Several things both struck and inspired me when I came across Davis’ photograph, including the natural feel of the shot, the organic nature of the subject matter, the moods and memories that they evoked, and the transcendence of the image.

In my opinion, photographs that transcend an image and evoke thoughts are the ones that are powerful, inspirational and stand out in my mind. Davis’ photograph was inspiring in the sense that a simple photograph can evoke a powerful mood. The lighting and setting in this photograph give it a mysterious feel and makes me feel almost nostalgic about finding old spiderwebs in corners at my grandmother’s house. ture. What initially took me aback me about the photograph was the visual impact, but more specifically, the beauty in its simultaneous simplicity and complexity. The photograph simply depicts a spiderweb perched on a wall, creeping up onto a bicycle’s handlebars, yet upon a closer look, it becomes much more than that. At first, it seems as though Davis has captured a common and ordinary spiderweb, yet the angle and the detail that the shot encompasses causes one to think beyond the photograph, about the beauty and intricacies of spiderwebs. The fact that the photograph captures something so natural and organic further adds to the beauty and impact that it has. The fact that the photograph captures a common sight and turns it into something almost surreal is also incredibly inspirational for me and what I hope to achieve in my photography in the future.

Photo that inspires

A few hours before dark, a large group of us arrive at our hotel seated on the edge of the Sahara Desert in Morocco. We had spent six hours on a bus from Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane to the town of Merzouga. The bus’s air-condition worked intermittently in the 100+ temperature as we drove on the treacherous mountain roads. We stepped off the bus at 4pm, exhausted and ready to just relax. However, from the parking lot we could see the huge red dunes of the desert. So, many of us dropped our bags in our room and took off for the largest dune. The funny thing about the desert is that trying to determine height and distance becomes difficult because there is no point of reference. Thus the climb up the dune was a greater challenge than we thought it would because it was so steep and tall; climbing in sand is very difficult. So an hour and half later we reached the top.

The view from the top of 20 story sand dune was worth all the effort. We took a seat on the back side of the dune which dropped off dramatically. From our sandy perch we could see dune after dune and the desert spreading out from Morocco to Algeria.

This picture inspires me in different ways. First, the picture brings back the memory of my dune adventure in Morocco, being so physically tired at the top that all we wanted to do is sit down and rest, but spiritually rejuvenated from the view. Additionally, the picture inspires the feeling of friendship because of how the arms of my friends are touching. Also, their body posture reveals a sense of relaxation, as his shoulders are rolled forward and she is resting back on one arm. Also, their head coverings put the picture the context of a far off foreign land. Finally, the beauty of the endless desert inspires me as the desert stretches out as far as the eye can see.

Photos that Inspire

Montego Bay, Jamaica

This photo inspires me for a number of reasons. For me, this photograph not only brings back the time that my husband and I spent in Jamaica (getting married!), but it also makes me think about time and space and how infinite it can seem, and also the idea that humans try to conquer as much of that time and space that they possibly can.

This was one of the first photographs that my husband and I took when we arrived in Jamaica. Seeing this photograph brings back the memories of the fresh salty air, the vivid blue ocean, the warm sand and sun, and the feeling of adventure that you get from visiting foreign lands. I can hear the Jamaican dialect, hear “Ya Mon”, and feel alright, alright?

The water is impossibly blue, something that many people do not get to witness firsthand in their lifetimes. It is something out of the ordinary for someone that lives in a city or has never visited the ocean. Yet this ocean is completely different than the one that you encounter on either coast of the United States of America. Here our water is green or brown and murky – not the clearest crystal blue that Jamaica has to offer.

The perspective of the photo makes the world seem infinite. The clouds in the sky seem to trail on forever, as does the ocean. It inspires one to think of how small one human being’s existence is in comparison of the size of the ocean, sky, and world. The perspective of the photograph also makes the very large pier and the heavy equipment in the scene appear tiny. The pier and equipment are not tiny. They are used in the production, manufacture, and distribution of Limestone, of which many people of the island rely. The fact that something so important to the lives of so many people, that if you were standing next to it or on it would seem humougous, seems so tiny can be humbling. It can inspire one to think that humans can try to build something big, but will never achieve anything compared to the structures that are here on this earth.

I do not feel that this is the best photograph that there is; it does not need to be. This photograph brings back so many memories of a beautiful place in which a camera could not possibly imagine capturing. Because of that, this photograph is inspirational. Not only does the photograph do that for me, but it also offers a unique perspective on how we all view the world.

Photos That Inspire

Thinking back to all the pictures that I have seen over my lifetime there is one picture that stands out in my mind due to how it was able to make a strong and lasting impact on me. Most pictures come and go just as our memories do but in this particular case this inspiring photograph will never be able to escape my thoughts. The famous photograph that I am referring to it titled, “V–J day in Times Square” and was captured by Alfred Eisenstaedt. The photograph portrays an American sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square on August 14, 1945. It was originally published in Life magazine, along with others, to celebrate the end of the war. I told my sister how much I loved this picture and she eventually bought it for me and framed it so I am now able to look at it all the time. The first thing that drew me to this picture was the obvious romance and passion that the picture portrayed. I am also a huge fan of black and white photography so that captured my attention as well. The picture has great composition and the black and white contrast between the subjects is very visually interesting to me. I liked it even more once I learned the story behind this sudden and impulsive moment in time that happened to be captured by the photographer. This picture not only has a great subject but the background is also fascinating. I like the depth of field as your eye very easily leads you down the long street of New York City. I also love the faces of the people in the background of this photo who are watching the kissing couple and laughing and looking remarkably happy. I think this photo is a great reminder of this happy day and is a photo that will live on forever and will never be forgotten. This picture not only puts a smile on my face whenever I see it, but it also reminds me of our past and at the same time gives me hope and excitement when I look to the future. I do not see this picture as just a random sailor running down the street kissing every girl in site, but to me it represents true love and inspires me about the future.

Inspirational Photo Assignment

Controversial, loving, celebratory, and united are all words that could be used to describe this picture. To me it is a bittersweet photograph. The couple holding hands in the photograph are in a committed relationship but they are still legally unable to marry.

My friend Taylor took this picture while at the National Equality March in Washington D.C. The march was one of the most inspirational and emotional days I have had while at GW. Human rights, especially the right to equal treatment regardless of sexual orientation is a cause I am extremely invested in and supportive of. The march was incredibly inspirational for me. While there I heard stories from countless people who had traveled across the country to be at the march and talked about the discrimination they have faced due to their sexual orientation. Many couples made signs announcing how many years they had been together yet still could not legally marry. Other people had stories about their partner passing away before they could legally marry and made signs with a picture of them together. My favorite posters, like the ones seen in the picture, had one line quotes like “Do we get to vote on your marriage next?” or “Excuse me, you’re stepping on my civil rights.”

I think this picture sums up the feelings of unity and belief in a common cause that permeated the entire march. I was unable to even fathom the amount of people in attendance until seeing the media’s coverage of the march. Their aerial shots showing the hundreds of thousands of people converging on the steps of the capital barely began to demonstrate the massive size of the crowd. This shot encompasses many of the elements that I still remember from the march, the hand-decorated posters, a complete saturation of rainbow colors, a diverse mix of people, and love felt all around.

This photo would never make the cover of a magazine or even the Washington Post, but it is still inspirational to me every time I see it. It reminds me how we can all come together, regardless of anyone’s age, gender, race or nationality, because if we all share a common belief and hope for the future anything is possible. In this case it was the shared goal of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and reminding the world that gender shouldn’t restrict whom you’re legally allowed to marry.

GWU: Intro to Color Classes

Hello All,

I sent out an important email concerning class info.
If for some reason you didn't get it please send me an email.

Thanks!

Mary

Tips for shooting in the snow!

Here's a chance to practice...
Try it out!

The key is to increase your aperture maybe by 1/3 to 2 stops.
Also experiment with your color temperature.

http://www.thephotoargus.com/tips/helpful-tips-for-shooting-in-the-snow/