Critical Lenses -Looking Closely at Photographs

The Iran Elections

By Ben Curtis

1. This photograph gives me a feeling of hope because of what it represents.
2. It tell the story of the people in Iran who are finally being given a chance at democracy.  It would be difficult to get the same effect through words because this photograph gives a face to the people of Iran.
3. The woman's hand and the markings on it are the subject of the photograph.
4. The lighting is natural.  By the shadow on the woman's face, it looks like it is sometime towards the middle of the day.
5. The colors on the woman's hand and the green and red of her head scarf stand out. 
6. The woman's face is somewhat out of focus in order to make her hand the primary subject.
7. The camera is probably about two feet away from the woman but closer to her hand, taking out all of the unnecessary clutter of the area around her and focusing only on her.
8. The rule of thirds is followed.  Both the woman's eyes and her hand are off center.
9. The photo is slightly impersonal.  By not really showing the woman's face, it generalizes the experience and makes her one of the many Iranian people who voted instead of one particular person.  
10. The colors strike me most because they are so bright in contrast to the darkness surrounding the woman in the picture.  It is very symbolic of her actual surroundings.
11. Her face can be considered the background and, behind her, everything has been darkened out.
12. I think this photograph was taken to give meaning to the elections in Iran and bring the unsteady situation in that country to people's attention.
13. This does qualify as photojournalism because it tells this woman's story and her country's story.  I think this qualifies as art photography because of its simple beauty and abundance of detail.
14. This photo is relatively recent.  It probably will not be timeless because it focuses so much on a current issue.  It may become iconic for its political and democratic symbolism.
15. I also notice the woman's face.  While her stance is proud, her expression almost looks anxious.  It shows that, although she was able to vote, there is still an element of danger in her country.

Displaced people line up as they wait for their daily food ration during a sand storm at the Chota Lahore refugee camp, at Swabi, in northwest Pakistan, Wednesday, June 3, 2009.
By Emilio Morenatti

1. This picture evokes a feeling of sadness and hopelessness in its viewer.
2. This tells the story of an abundance of refugees in Pakistan and the circumstances that they are facing due to the war in their country.  I think it could be conveyed in words, but would not have as much of an impact.
3. The line as a whole is the subject of the photograph.
4. The lighting is natural.  It looks like dawn because of the light behind them, but it could be distorted because of the sand storm.
5. The beige of the people's clothing and the landscape is almost the only color in the picture, which makes it seem even more depressing and lonely.
6. The part of the line towards the right of the photo is out of focus, making it seem like the line goes on forever.
7. The camera looks like it is pretty close to the subjects, but far enough away to show more of the line instead of focusing on the individuals' faces.  
8. The picture shows repetition, but does not follow the rule of thirds.
9. This photo is personal in that it shows the struggle that these refugees are going through but impersonal in that the elements of the photo (the clothing and setting) are not familiar at all.
10. The lighting strikes me most because it seems so gloomy and isolated, which is mostly because of the effect of the sand storm.
11. Both the background and foreground are completely plain.  All that shows is the sand that is surrounding them.
12. I think this photograph was taken to bring awareness to the other side of the wars in the Middle East.  These people are being affected by it far more than we are.
13. This definitely qualifies as photojournalism because it is concerned with current events.
14. The photo is recent and doesn't really have a timeless quality because it only makes sense in the context of today's issues.  I also don't think it could become iconic because it isn't striking or personal enough.
15. I also notice that almost none of the people in the picture are even acknowledging the photographer, which adds to the sense of distance and isolation. 



By Michael Appleton

1. This photo sparks the viewer's interest more than anything else.
2. It tells the story of one side of life in New York and the atmosphere of the city.
3. The skateboarder is the subject of the photograph.
4. The lighting looks natural, but since there is no sun or sky in the picture, it is hard to tell what time of day it is.
5. The photo is very colorful, with all the colors of the artwork on the wall drawing the most attention.
6. Everything in the picture is in focus, which might imply that the wall behind the skateboarder is just as much a part of the story as the skateboarder himself.
7. The camera is pretty far away from the subject, which allows room for a better picture of the background.
8. Although the subject isn't exactly centered, the photo does not show the rule of thirds.  It is taken at eye level and without any real composition techniques except possibly for leading lines.
9. The photo is impersonal because it doesn't show the skateboarder's face or expression.  He is just another person in another street in New York.
10. The position of the skateboarder strikes me most because he looks like he could almost be a part of the scene behind him.
11. The background of the picture is the wall behind the subject.
12. I think this photo was taken because it was a good action shot with an interesting background.
13. This could qualify as photojournalism although it is difficult to determine the actual story behind the photo.  I also think it could qualify as a commercial photo because of the action.
14. This photo is recent and probably could not be considered timeless because the landscape of the U.S. is always changing and, for that same reason, I don't think it could become iconic.
15. What I mostly notice about this photograph is the artwork behind the subject.  Adding him into the picture just made the background more interesting instead of vice versa.

Top Ten Businesses the Smartphone Has Destroyed

1. With the exception of PCs, watches and remote controls, I think most of these products are already on the verge of being completely replaced.  Many of the people I know have reduced the number of devices they need by getting a smartphone.  
2. I think it is an advantage.  It reduces the amount of money you would normally spend on devices.  It also makes it more convenient because it is much smaller than many of the devices it is replacing and easier because many people use its functions in conjunction with each other.
3. Smart phones have made it easier to get things done.  With email, internet access, word processing capabilities, etc., people are able to get their work done much more efficiently while they are away from their offices .  
4. I think the most important invention of my lifetime was MP3 players and iPods.  Without the technology used in the digital media market, many of the other devices that have been made using that technology would not exist.  I think the difference between the most important invention in my lifetime and in past generation's lifetimes is that, nowadays, the focus of technology is in the entertainment industry whereas, previously, new inventions were focused more on basics such as cooking (the microwave) and cleaning (washing machines).  
5. At this point, I don't think smart phones are good enough to replace PCs.  I personally get frustrated by the smaller screen and keyboard and the fact that they have much less memory than an actual computer.  While they have some of the same capabilities as PCs, they are completely different types of devices. 
6. I still use TVs, radios, and other devices because, no matter how amazing the smart phone becomes, watching a TV show on a 3" screen will never be the same as watching it on a big screen, HD TV and listening to music using phone speakers will never be the same as listening to it with a stereo system.  While being able to watch shows and movies and listen to music on your phone is more convenient on occasion, the quality of entertainment is just not the same. 

Looking Closely at Photographs

1. This photo makes me feel like laughing because of the way one of the soldiers is dressed.
2. I think it tells another side of the story of the war, making it somewhat humorous while still conveying the serious side.  I think it would be hard to get the same effect from words.
3. The three soldiers, but particularly the soldier on the left, are the subjects of the photo.
4. The lighting is natural.  It looks like early morning because the sunlight isn't very bright.
5. The pink and red of the soldier's outfit stand out because everything else blends in.
6. The landscape in front of the soldiers is kind of out of focus in order to focus more on the soldiers.
7. It looks like he's pretty close behind them and somewhat above them.  
8. They are following rule of thirds and also include repetition.
9. The fact that the soldier is in his boxers makes this photo very personal.
10. What strikes me most about this photo is that the soldiers are performing their duty despite the fact that they apparently had almost no time to prepare.
11. The background of the image is the landscape below them and whatever target they are aiming at.
12. I think the photograph was taken because it was an unexpectedly funny found situation in very serious surroundings.
13. I think this does qualify as photojournalism because there is obviously a story behind it.  I would consider it art photography because of the stark contrast between the different elements of the photograph.
14. It looks recent but could be considered timeless.  It could become an icon of the dedication of the soldiers. 
15. I think it was pretty dangerous to be fighting in a red shirt.  The purpose of the uniforms is to blend in and a red shirt definitely does not accomplish that.

Only Vertical Photo Essay

Senior Celina Garcia works during Mr. Garza's Animation class.

Mr. Wedde asks BPA members to pick cards with items to donate for medieval fair.  

Senior Amber Rosas looks straight ahead at her computer during Ms. Roge's class.



BPA members Kari Kimball and Ronita K. look through index cards with items needed for medieval fair.

Senior Elizabeth Wills talks to her classmates during Ms. Pratt's Accounting II class.

Junior Jose Martinez looks bored during Mr. Garza's animation class while borrowing his teacher's glasses.

Photo Composition

Curves:  "Picking Tea Leaves" 
By George Mobley
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com  

Framing:  "Tarpon and Silversides, Grand Cayman"
By Mike Sutton Brown
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com

Leading Lines:  "Peacock, Sarasota"
By Phil Pummell
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com  

Repetition:  "Black-Browed Albatross"
By Frans Lanting
http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Birds Eye View:  "White Pelicans"
By Annie Griffiths
http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Rule of Thirds:  "Boy from Mayanmar"
By Damir Sagolj
http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Selective Focus:  "Foil Quarterfinal"
By Christophe Ena
http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Worm's Eye View:  "Zebras in the Kalahari Desert"
By Anup & Manoj Shah
http://boston.com/bigpicture/

Life in the Valley Photo Essay Ideas

For this photo essay, I have to look for things that are unique only to the Valley.  That mostly means the Mexican culture, including food, parties, music, death, church, etc, and the ranch life that, for me, would be most easily accessible north of Edinburg.  I have to go to places that will show these elements of Valley life, such as cemeteries, parties and ranches.  Early in the morning or at sunset would be the best times to take these pictures.

Veteran's Day

Although Veteran's Day is considered a holiday, it isn't like most other holidays.  People still go to work, kids still go to school and the world keeps going at its usual pace.  It isn't necessarily a day to spend with your family or to eat a huge meal, but it is just as important.  It is a day set aside on the calendar to make everyone who has ever been affected by war remember what they went through and be proud and to make those who have not been affected appreciate, at least for one day, what thousands of individuals have done for them.  This cartoon in particular shows a family taking time out of their schedule "to say 'thanks.'" In my opinion, letting veterans know that their efforts did not go unnoticed is the most important thing that anyone can do for the men and women of the armed forces.

Editorial Cartoon: Election Day

In the context of yesterday's election results, with an overwhelming amount of Republican candidates gaining office, I would say that this cartoon is indicative of the American public's goal of expressing their disapproval of President Obama, Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic party in general through their ability to vote.  Because many people think that Obama and Pelosi have done nothing to improve the economy and may, in fact, be hurting it, they decided to vote for Republicans across the board.  This is the same thing that happened two years ago in the race between Obama and McCain.  Besides their political platforms and strategies to win the public's vote, one of the main reasons that Obama was voted in was because the public was extremely anti-Republican after the eight year rule of President Bush.  I personally think that this tactic of choosing political figures gets our country in more trouble than we realize.  Blindly voting for one political party regardless of what each individual politician stands for is extremely irresponsible.  Maybe if we paid attention to the details instead of letting our anger decide for us, we might finally end up with a president that we like.