The following photos were taken during and following the violence of people, Taliban and soldiers. In order to capture these images Kate placed her self in the direct path of violence.
Photo by: Kate Brooks
I chose to use this photo because I wanted to give examples of the work of a women. Kate placed herself within feet of this smoking car in order to capture this image.
Principle 1: Obvious main subject- This photo shows a blown up car which I believe to be the main subject. The man is in front of the care but the care takes up about 2/3 of the image area. If the car were not in the photo, only the man, the photo would not have the same impact. The impact this photo made on me was that this was a violent, unsafe situation where car bombs and rioting is occurring.
Principle 2: What in the image helped to create that feeling- This image captured my attention because of the car in the background that is still smoking. I had feelings of fear for the photographer, Kate who took this image.
Principle 3: Is the image black and white or color- This image was taken in color and I think the photographer chose to do so because it helped to make the photo more dramatic. If you look closely all the men are clothed in white, the car and buildings appear tan and the black smoke rises to the bright blue skies. I think the use of color helped the impact of what is going on in the photo to come through.
Photo by: Kate Brooks
Image Source
Image Source
I chose my second image by Kate as well because I was overcome by feelings of sorrow and empathy for this person kneeling down and praying. I almost felt the sadness he was feeling at that moment, having lost loved ones of my own I can relate.
Principle 1: Background compliments the composition- The two giant tankers in the background of this photo helps to complete the picture. The background is slightly out of focus but it still allows the viewer to visualize the tankers that just drove over the area where the boy is kneeling down. Without the tankers in the background I would be confused as to the events that took place prior to this photograph.
Principle 2: In or Out of focus- The two tanker trucks in the background of this photo are out of focus, while the boy praying is in focus. I believe this helped the feeling of sadness and loss to surface when viewing this image.
Principle 3: Subject's Expression- The subject in this photograph seems to be overcome with sorrow and grief. He is kneeling down and praying for what seems to be the loss of a loved one. His body language fits his facial expression during his spiritual moment.
At 20 years of age, Kate Brooks began work in Russia as a freelance photographer. Following the attacks on the United States after September 11th, 2001 she moved to Pakistan to document the people and the impact of American foreign policy in the region. Kate stated, "women have an advantage over men because they might be less confrontational or aggressive when pursuing stories." For once women photographers had the upper hand over men in Muslim countries where men are not allowed to be with the women there. Kate also said that "she has never had trouble in combat with troops of either side. That they respect her and allow her to do her job."(Reference) Kate has continued her work in the Middle East and South Asia where many women do not have a voice to share with the world what their life is like on a daily basis. (Reference)
Kate Brooks
I chose to use this image of the photojournalist Kate Brooks because it captures her in the moment of where she takes her famous photos. You can still see the ruble and debris in the background on the floor, reminding you of the danger she faces in order to take certain photographs.
Principle 1: Keep it Simple- The composition of this photo is simple and uncluttered. Kate Brooks is the focus of this photo. Even though there are rocks and debris visible on the floor it does not take away from her portrait.
Principle 2: Use of shadows- I think the photographer used the shadows from the building in the background to help Kate Brooks to stand out from the background. Most of the background is dark besides the Pillar to the right of Kate which helps to guide the setting for the photograph.
Principle 3: Abstraction- I think this photo is representational of what Kate Brooks is doing for work on a daily basis. The photo of Kate shows her with a serious expression while scanning the scene with her camera in hand. The true meaning of this photo to me is, what lies behind the camera which is a women photographer.
In 1968 Katherine Leroy was recognized as one of the first female combat photographers (Reference). Both Katherine and Kate placed themselves in the middle of violent conflicts in order to capture and share the reality of war. Not to many females intentionally place themselves in dangerous situations. When Kate Brooks was asked the one thing she wish she knew when she started her career she answered by saying "That it never gets easier. I was warned that it would be difficult to sustain a career as a freelance photographer before I pursued it. Had I listened, I wouldn’t have become a photographer. I guess if it were easy, more people would be doing it (Kate Brooks, Reference)." In general both men and women face hardships while just trying to survive in life. Women continue to fight for their right of equality in society, some more so than others. No matter what the obstacle we face, we just need to keep moving forward and not let anyone or anything stop us from pursuing our dreams.
No comments:
Post a Comment