Saturday, June 1, 2013

Jong Beom Cho_Reaction Essay_Tue 9AM

 Photography is like cutting out a piece of the world. Depending on how you cut the world, the piece will look radically different. It is why photography is such a powerful method to show emotion and the beauty of the world. It picks out the endless flow of emotion and beauty of the world and condenses it into a visible format. 'Village School' and 'Children's Puppet Theater' are doing the same job. It both uses children as a subject but they contain very different emotions and feelings.

 

 Both pictures are similar in that it uses children as their subject. Children tend to show their emotions and feelings more directly than grown-ups. Therefore, photos are often more emotional and powerful when children are the main subject. In this sense, both pictures are showing powerful emotion. 'Village school' contains somewhat eerie mood that children are sitting in a very machinelike position as if they were all preplanned. It is very strange because it is natural for children to be somewhat random and freely running around. The kind of behavior in the picture reminds of cadets in the military institution. In contrast to the 'Village School', 'Children's Puppet Theater' is more lively and natural. Smiles of children are always comforting and peaceful. It makes everyone who sees them happy. The picture depicts children showing their joyful and colorful emotions to the puppet show which is very natural and children-like.

 

 'Village School' is unique that there is no main theme. When someone encounters this picture they are not able to clarify the main theme. In other words, the picture is offering diverse emotions at one time. The children's eyes which are staring at the camera shows their curiosity as if they had never seen a camera before and they are filled with somewhat fear at the same time. The atmosphere is mainly dark and strict but at the same time the children bring some kind of young energy into the picture, thereby giving people a feeling that the strictness is being rebelled. In addition, all the children are seemed to be thinking about different things. Since what is being taught in the class is unanswered, it gives a mysterious feeling to the picture. All these emotions are making 'Village School' give people a wave of emotion that they cannot understand at a glance and make them wonder about what is going on inside the picture.

 

 'Children's Puppet Show' can be said as a typical children subjected photograph. Children are one of the beloved subjects of photography because the emotion they provide is so powerful. For instance, a single picture of children killed from a hunger or war actually have sparked a worldwide humanitarian movements. Since children are powerful subject it could create a masterpiece but at the same time many photographer will attempt to this subject to make a powerful picture but mediocre picture in sense of uniqueness. 'Children's Puppet Show' is a good example of this mediocre but powerful picture. The composition of picture is so typical. A group of children having a good time is almost as common cliché as wedding pictures of a couple. It gives joyful and colorful feelings but since it does not expand outside the typical children subjected photograph, it can be said this picture is well taken but mediocre picture at the same time.

 

 'Village School' and 'Children's Puppet Show' are excellent examples of how photography can produce different photographs with the same subject Their use of a children as subject is leaving people with different feelings and became determining factor for the photo's quality. The fact that these two photos have many issues to be discussed leaves a lot of room for creative thinking in terms of approaching photography and is valuable lessons for every photographer.

2 comments:

  1. 1.Your essay has a very interesting hook. : Photography is like cutting out a piece of the world. After I read the hook, I really wanted to your essay.
    2.It also includes the names of the photographers. 'Village School' and 'Children's Puppet Theater'
    But I think it is better to include the names of the photographers.
    3.Your essay especially focuses on moods.( emotions and feelings.)
    4.Yes. The writer analyzes the message of each photograph very well.
    5.I think it is better to reconstruct your paragraphs. In paragraph 4, you should explain the similarities and differences to make clear your essay.

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  2. To Jong Beom Cho from Ju Hye Choi

    1. Yes, it includes an interesting hook.“Photography is like cutting out a piece of the world. Depending on how you cut the world, the piece will look radically different.”
    2. Does the introduction include the titles of the photographs: Yes. Names of the photographers: No.
    3. Does the writer use any photographic terms: Yes, mood.
    4. Did the writer analyze the message of each photograph? Yes.
    5. Does paragraph 4 explain the similarities and differences between the two photographs: no.
    6. Similes: “Photography is like cutting out a piece of the world.” This line grabs the reader’s attention.
    7. Does the conclusion evaluate the effects of the photographs: Yes. “leaving people with different feelings and became determining factor for the photo's quality. The fact that these two photos have many issues to be discussed leaves a lot of room for creative thinking in terms of approaching photography and is valuable lessons for every photographer.”

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