Dajoeng Choi / reaction essay 2 / thur 34

Review of Two Owe-inspiring Photographs                I like photograph because it tells a story with one shot of picture – simple and implicative. So it is very fun to watch how people response to one same photo. In some photographs, the meaning is so clear that can exactly deliver what the photographer purposed, while others can be interpreted into lots of different versions. We have two photos here.              The first photo is seen as a romantic photograph of a couple standing hillside. They are admiring the suspension bridge seemed endless. Because of the dense fog, the bottom of bridge cannot be seen, but this fog creates very dreamy atmosphere in the picture. The couple in the foreground of the photograph keeps attracting my eyes. The man is hugging his lover behind her back and the woman is also grapping his hand. Maybe that bridge is a famous construction that they traveled to here to capture this stunning scenery. If not, a story spontaneously came into my head, which is they were first met here while climbing the mountain, and they visited here again to celebrate their anniversary on the same spot. Isn't it such a romantic and sweet story? Whatever the reason is, at this moment, they may feel as they are the only couple in the whole world.              The other photo shows a beautiful waterfall. You can see a cruise ship is sailing into the waterfall. I've been heard about this tourism product that a cruise sailing across between the waterfall and cliff so that tourists can feel as the huge amount of water straightly coming down above their head. Maybe this is that one. The cruise is carrying as people as possible at once and slowly heading to the grand waterfall. The spray from the waterfall indicates how massive the waterfall is and how fast the falling speed. If I'm one of the people in the cruise, my heart would throb with fright and fear while my head continuously thinking about what' going to happen after a while. But still I think that's something I've got to try.              Both photograph has famous landscape in it and also has people who are admiring it. So I assume that these two photos are attached from a travel brochure. The target of each attraction is different. The first one target couples who want to have their private time away from the crowding city, while young people who crave adventures are the key marketing target of the other one. Also, the grand bridge in the first photo shows the greatness of human, while the other photo let us see the amazing view of what the nature has made.              In conclusion, we have seen the two owe-inspiring photographs. I thought of very different stories while looking these two photos. Overall, the one with the bridge gave me romantic and impressive and the one with the waterfall attracted me with the nature-made stunning view. If those places are actually famous tourist attractions, I really want to visit. The first one with my future lover, and the other one with my fearless friends.

Siho Yang/ reaction essay2/ Thu 11~1

Have you ever been to places where we can feel a magnitude of nature? There are many amazing places showing grand nature such as the Grand canyon and Niagara Falls. When we stand there, fronting the nature, we feel that human beings are so weak and small compared to nature. Here these two photographs show this well. Although they are different in many factors, they both present the clear comparison between nature and human and also they both have a mysterious atmosphere.

 

 The first photograph with a big bridge doesn't seem like a picture. It is more like a painting in imagination. Almost half of the photograph is filled with the sky. Since there is a small amount of cloud, the sky looks simple. At the middle is a big bridge with two high towers connected with a kind of ropes. We can guess how far the distance between two towers is and how huge the bridge is by looking at the size difference between two towers. Under the bridge is full of fogs that almost make it impossible to see the floor of the bridge. Besides the bridge, there are silhouettes of two people – a man and a woman. They are standing there with their backs to fogs behind. This helps us see their shape clearly because of light comparison.

 

 Now let's look at the second photograph. It is divided into two – upper part and down part. The upper part is all about a big fall. We can see that water is falling down with tremendous speed and this makes some fogs around there. At the down part, there is a cruise full of people in it. They seem like being amazed by a huge waterfall. The cruise looks so small compared to the waterfall. This comparison makes us think about what human beings can do in front of the nature. The power of nature is so big that it seems there is nothing we can do. This kind of thought provides an opportunity to learn about being modest.

 

 Two photographs are focusing on different subjects – a bridge and a waterfall – but they are similar in that they tell us about the relationship between human and nature. The first one shows what human can do by posing the big bridge at the very middle of the photograph. The bridge here is sort of a symbol of human civilization. However, in the second photograph, humans look so helpless facing a massive waterfall which symbolizes the nature. The fogs in both photographs are playing a role that make these comparisons stand out as much as possible.

 

 There are various opinions about human and nature. Some think humans can do almost everything and even control the nature. Meanwhile, others think humans are just small creatures that are easily destroyed by even a tiny movement of nature. Each is depicted in two photographs using many effects such as light, size, and position. In spite of the differences, both pictures bring us to think about what human beings are in the enormous nature.

Nam Alexander/the last assignment/Two Pictures/thursday

Photo Instead of Imagination

Many decades ago human beings had to have a good imagination and beautiful words in their notes in order to feel surrounding people and environment. But today just having a look at the photo can make you feel that things. There are two good photos can play a role of the perfect examples of that fact.

The first picture which I would like to call "calmness" shows two people who are in love. I think this picture expresses their sincere feelings toward each other through the calm and quiet atmosphere which shows that they are confident in each other's truly love where there is no place for the doubts and restless emotions in comparison with a lumpy sea. The foggy bridge creates an atmosphere of the lovely relaxation. The two persons are not clearly shown to make feeling that anyone who watch it could imagine that he or she may stand there and feel the gooseflesh and warm of love.

Another picture, which I would like to call "restless" is a totally different situation. The guide ship which is full of the people who are like the fish in the tin looks very tiny in front of the powerful and fearless waterfall. The people like an ancient Greek slaves who came to get forgiveness from the god of the water. But the boiling up and fuming water which drops like the mass of the stones shows god's dissatisfaction.

The both pictures show the wonderful scenes. The "calmness" shows the quiet and warm atmosphere which makes feel relaxed and calm about the surroundings. It also shows the harmony and true love between the couple where the nature is also harmonized with them. But the opposite feelings are experienced by having a look at the "restless" picture. This picture creates a boiling up and the feelings of indignation. It shows not the harmony but the recognition by the human beings, that despite the fact of the high technological achievements we are still the slaves of the nature.

So many decades ago we had to have a perfect imagination of the places which are difficult to get, but today the photos give us a chance to experience the atmosphere of any place even if we cannot get there. By looking at the photo we are able not just imagine but we can to feel what it expresses.   

Dasom Yoo/reaction essay2/Thur34

Atmospheres Created in Two Photographs   Every photograph has its own atmosphere. They are very various, some photographs contain mood of peace, while others have vigorous mood. Here are two photographs with different atmosphere. One is about a couple looking at the bridge. The other one is photograph of a foggy waterfall and a boat approaching it.   In the first photograph, you see a Golden Gate bridge at the background. And there is a couple looking at the bridge in the foreground. The gap between these two is filled up with fog between. It looks like they are blocked by the fog. But they are not trying to cross the bridge but just standing still by the river. Also there is no light, so it is difficult to see the faces of couple clearly. It makes us hard to read their feelings. And it creates atmosphere of stillness and silence.   You can see a boat carrying hundreds of people heading toward the waterfall. People on the boat are so small that it looks like they are ants. They look like that since the photograph was taken above the boat. The current of water under the boat seems active and dynamic because the waves are breaking and forming white foam. Also the waterfall plays an important role of creating magnificent atmosphere. And the boat toward the waterfall creates scene like as if it is confronting the nature.   When you look at both photographs you can find something in common. It is the fog and people. But this fog creates different mood in two photographs. The fog in the first photographs adds sense of darkness to the scene. It is so dense that it covers most of the road of bridge.  You cannot tell how many cars are there or what is happening there. But the fog in other photograph creates mysteriousness and lighter mood. You can see through the fog in some degree. And you know what is behind the fog. But it is still covering some part of waterfall and makes people have expectation.   Two photographs have similar background because they both have fog. But the moods you can sense in these photographs are totally distinct to each other. In one we feel stillness and silence. Also you sense solitude by watching how the couple is standing. The other one is more active, dynamic and also looks risky. They show different moods, but they both have atmospheres that draw people's attention.

Lee, Shin Hye/ Reaction Essay 2/ Thurs 3-4

Most people love to take photographs, and they do not think that taking photographs is not that difficult. Then, what about appreciating photograph? Because a lot of people consider photograph as a kind of art, they think of it as a hard and difficult to understand in detail. However, it is not true. Although we are not experts on photographs, we are able to understand and appreciate photos in our own ways. There are three things to consider when we would like to analyze a photograph: foreground, background and an overall atmosphere.

 Here are two pictures. One photograph is about Golden Bridge, and the other one is about a huge waterfall. First of all, if we have a look at foreground of those two pictures, we can easily find similar and different elements that two photographs contain. On the first picture, there are two people and they look like a couple. There are no other people or elements. And the foreground of the first picture is illustrated as black, so we cannot find more details. On the other hand, we can find a huge cruse with a lot of tourists inside in the foreground of the second picture. Even both of two pictures were taken at riverside or seaside, because of different foreground element, the different atmosphere comes out.

 Next, we need to look up the background of two pictures. One picture has a huge Golden Bridge on its background part, and the other one has a huge waterfall on the background. Even the topics of two pictures are different, they contain a similarity. For example, the background elements-Golden Bridge and waterfall-are fading away. On the right side of both photos, we cannot see the object clearly, which techniques create more dreamlike and mysterious atmosphere. Of course, both pictures have difference in their background; briefly speaking, the trait of Golden Bridge picture can be illustrated as "emptiness", rather that of the picture of waterfall can be said as "solidity." There is no special thing except for sky in the Golden Bridge picture, but in the waterfall picture, we can find no empty room inside of the photograph.

 Lastly, when we want to appreciate or compare two photographs, we need to focus on their overall atmospheres. Because there are few elements including the main object, the Golden Bridge, that photograph creates really calm and silent atmosphere. And a rain-fog around the bridge enhances that peaceful atmosphere. However, in the waterfall photograph, the atmosphere is not calm or peaceful; rather it is really active, powerful and strong. Although the second photograph also contains a water-fog which comes from a huge waterfall, the feeling it gives is totally different from that of the picture of the Golden Bridge. The reason seems to be both two pictures have different foreground and background elements, which finally create the overall atmosphere of each photograph.

 

 To sum up, three parts that we need to consider when we appreciate or compare pictures are mentioned: foreground, background and overall atmosphere. Because we are not experts who professionally criticize or compare photographs, we do not have to afraid from worries from misunderstanding. There is no exact answer in photograph. The photograph, like the photographs we have taken so far, is just a halted moment which captured certain scenery or someone's memory.     

Lee Jae Ryoung / Reaction Essay 2 / Thursday 3,4

Wonderful Scenery in Two Photographs

 

There is a saying that a photograph is an art that makes one moment lasts forever. As a member of the photography club of our school, I'm definitely sure that there is something attractive about photographs. Not only they remain forever so we can recall our memories, but also they contain messages from photographers. The fact that they are taken for some reason is intriguing enough to draw our attention. There are two interesting photographs here; one picture of a bridge and the other one showing a ship and waterfall. In both pictures, the subjects and the landscapes display particular moods and convey certain emotions.

 

In the first picture, there are two people in the front. One is tall and the other one is relatively short. The tall person seems to be a man wearing suit. On the other hand, shorter person seems to be a woman with curly hair and wearing long dress. They look like lovers or married couple since they are so close to each other. In fact, it seems like the man is embracing his lover from the back. Also, it looks like they are looking at the scenery of bridge and sky. In the background, we can see the cloudy sky and the mountain. The mountain is so much in the distance that we can barely recognize it. In the center, there is a bridge which seems to get smaller as it goes on. Below it, there is a river full of fogs which look like white clouds. The fogs rolling in the river is covering some parts of the bridge. The cloudy sky and the fogs make the mood of this photograph mysterious and somewhat romantic.

 

The second picture depicts a wild river with a strong current. In the background, there is a magnificent waterfall which extend to a wide river. It's scary to see a tremendous amount of water falling from the top of a cliff. It is truly overwhelming and let us feel the greatness of nature. Also, the fog is formed in front of the waterfall and it definitely makes us feel cool as if we are actually sensing it. On the left of this picture there are some huge rocks which look very dangerous. In the upper left corner, there are roads, hills, and some trees. Beneath the waterfall, a cruise ship is floating on the river. It is full of people looking like tourists who came to see the waterfall. There seem to be so many people that it's hard to count all of them. We cannot see their faces but we can guess that they are excited and amazed.

 

Both photographs depict people and landscapes. The first one shows exactly two people while there are countless number of people in the other one. Also, the moods that each landscape gives is different. In the first photograph, thick fog, deep sky, and clouds create soft, mysterious, and calm atmosphere. The foggy river and cloudy sky are in a good harmony together and the couple standing close together makes the mood more romantic. On the other hand, the second picture shows more active and dramatic mood. The water falling from the cliff and the river waving harshly are full of activeness and thrill. Also, this picture gives exciting but dangerous atmosphere because the people in a ship may be excited to see the great waterfall but there's danger that they may be swept away in the rapids.

 

In conclusion, the first picture of a bridge and the second picture of a waterfall display different moods by capturing particular landscapes and individuals. In the first photograph, the mood is calm and mysterious with misty background. The grandeur of nature gives cool and dynamic atmosphere in the second photograph. The nature and human in these pictures are represented in a certain way to create special moods and give the viewer great impressions.

Seung Ah Lee/ Reaction Essay 2/ Thur 34

Lives Seen through the Lenses of Camera

      Photography is a wonderful form of art. I am often amazed by what camera lenses can do thinking about the pictures they produce. Especially in pictures of nature, I cannot help but wonder how difficult it must have been to capture the very moment. It is not an easy job for a photographer to express feelings with the subjects that are not human. The two pictures here draw the viewers' attention, both delivering different moods in a vivid manner. One is "An Old Couple Looking toward the Bridge" and the other one is "A Ship toward the Waterfall."

      First aspect of I would like to discuss is the fog. When you give a quick look at the pictures, you can probably see foggy background fairly easily. It takes up a great part of the whole picture. In both photographs, a wet fog seems to be distracting because it is covering the main subjects. It creates an atmosphere of obscure and blurry scene. If you take a close to into the photographs, you can tell the difference in fog. In "An Old Couple Looking toward the Bridge," the fog over the wise river is thick and spread widely all over the surface of the river. On the other hand, in "A Ship toward the Waterfall," spray rose up from the water fall. While the fog on the left photograph is calm and still, that on the right photograph seem tough and scattered sporadically. The water spray created by the fierce waterfall in the right picture creates overwhelming and threatening mood. Unlike the furious one there, a wet fog in the left photograph creates tranquil and settled setting for a couple to enjoy the beautiful view. Although the two photographs both have a fog, its effects in them are contrasting.

      Another feature I compare between the two is the main subject. In "An Old Couple Looking toward the Bridge," the huge bridge over the river and a couple seem to the main focus. Considering the pose, body shape, and clothing, the couple looks like they are over 40 or 50. The man is giving a back hug to the woman. It looks like the woman is gently covering the man's hands around her waist. Their bodies that are facing to the same direction lead our eyes toward the big bridge that are crossing horizontally through the photograph. Cloudy sky and a long path through the bridge imply the difficulties in life. Yet, when together like the couple in the photograph, everything will be alright and difficulties can be overcome. In "A Ship toward the Waterfall," in contrast, a huge ship filled with thousands of people is heading toward the waterfall. By the size, the ship is incomparable to the waterfall. Here, we can feel the overwhelming natural scenery. Even if there are a huge number of people boarded together, there is no way they can fight against the nature. In a ferocious water wave, however, the ship is still sailing rigorously as opposed to the possible threat. The picture represents a tough life in that people have to go through a lot of unexpected obstacles in life as if the journey of sailing here.

      Two photographs- "An Old Couple Looking toward the Bridge" and "A Ship toward the Waterfall" where a wet fog is commonly captured display different moods in their own styles. The former one gives an impression of calm and settled life of a couple with no worries whereas the latter depicts how people, in front of the nature is weak creatures. The nature and human beings are harmonized in distinctive ways to create certain moods and impress the viewers through the lenses of camera. 

Jimin Baik/ 11th Assignment/ Comparing two pictures on page 173/ Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jimin Baik/ 11th Assignment/ Comparing two pictures on page 173/ Thursday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.   Two contrastive photos on river        There are many pictures about the river, but there would be few of them that show definite contrast in atmosphere like these two pictures on page one hundred and seventy-three. Two pictures in the book both depict a river, but in a very different way. There are three major differences between two photos: the backgrounds, the grounds, and the people.        First of all, although the backgrounds of both pictures are foggy, the first one is calmer, while the second one is more active. In the background of the first picture, there is a bridge. Above the bridge, there is a foggy sky with some white clouds. Below the bridge, there is a misty river which looks very soft like cloud candy. The fog from the river, like a misty effect on a stage, is making some parts of the bridge invisible, creating a romantic atmosphere. Overall, the foggy sky with clouds and foggy river are making a harmony together to create a soft, romantic, calm, and peaceful feeling. On the other hand, in the background of the second photo, there is a marvelous river fall. The fog is being formed because of the waterfall, but it is wilder type of fog than the previous one. A quite amount of water is falling from the top to the bottom of the cliff, giving the picture more active and spectacular atmosphere.   Also, while the ground of the first photo seems safer, that of the second one looks more dynamic. In the first photo, on the periphery, there is a plain ground with some grass, but no trees or rocks. Also, over the bridge, there is a plain ground. The fact that the ground of the picture is a plain without big obstacles such as rocks and trees creates a safe and tranquil mood. However, in the second picture, the ground is a violent river. On the left of the photo, there are also some big rocks. Behind the rocks, there is a giant cliff, and over that, there is a mountain with trees. In other words, the ground of the picture is in a mountain, and it is fast-moving water with some seemingly dangerous rocks, rather than a solid plain field. This makes the photo look more exciting and a bit more dangerous but thrilling.   Last but not least, compared to the number of the people in the first photo, there are a way more people in the second picture. In the first picture, there are only two people. Considering their height and contour, the taller shadow is man, while the shorter one is woman. The man is wearing his suit, while the woman with short curly hair is wearing long skirt. They look like that they are lovers, from the fact that they are standing so close to each other. With the romantic background, they seem like they are enjoying their date. On the contrary, in the second photo, there is a cruise, and it is full of people. They look like they are tourists who came to see the great waterfall. There are so many people that even the exact number of people is unclear. They create excited atmosphere.   To sum up, although both pictures are about river, the atmosphere is totally different because of the three factors. First, while the background of the first picture is more romantic and calm, that of the second picture is more rough and active. Next, compared to the safe plain field of the first photo, there is a violent river at the bottom of the second photo. Lastly, there is a pair of lovers in the first photo, while there are so many tourists in the second photo. Although both of these two photos are about river, two pictures give the viewers completely different feelings.

Seung Ah Lee/ Reaction Essay/ Thur 34

Children in Two Different Photographs

     Photography has its own specialty as it is a way of expressing the world in tremendous number of different styles. Depending on the photographer, light, angle and place where it the picture was taken, the picture can be interpreted in a variety of ways. On top of all, what accounts most for the intent of the message would be the subject of the picture. Among many subjects, children can be the most preferred subject with their honesty and diversity in facial expressions and body movements. Here are two examples of photographs to the point: "Village School" by Margaret Bourke-White and "Children's Puppet Theatre" by Alfred Eisenstadt. Children in these two are depicted in disparate ways. 

     In "Village School", about a dozen of male students are seated in rows in long wooden benches that do not look comfortable. They are in a confined room without any furniture or decorations on the wall. The faces of children are highlighted with lights on them. As most boys have standardized, short hair with lighted pale faces, they are like light bulbs. Their faces are still with no expressions. They look rather rigid and determined while some are even frowning. They look as if they were bothered by something, looking comfortable. Except one boy on a second row and another on the left column, everyone else is looking at the same directly, which is to the direction of the photographer. The majority of the children are wearing dark and thick clothes which seem quite formal for young school kids. Although there are inside, they have their outer jackets on. Also, they are quite distance from each other. Even though it is a still shot, they show no movements.

     In contrast to Bourke-White's photograph, a photography taken by Alfred Eisenstadt depict children in both genders. Boys and girls are in an open place during a daytime. Puppet Theater must be located outdoors. Two-third of the photograph is filled with children with five prominent faces in the foreground. Almost all of the children look extremely surprised but they facial expressions and movements all differ. One girl on the right bottom corner is leaning against the girl next to her horrified. The girl on the left put her left arm around the horrified girl's neck. The girl with long hair in the middle in the front row has her mouth widely opened unconsciously making her fingers awkwardly. The boy on the left corner at the front is wearing a gentleman like suit with a hat. He is trying to close his ears with his two hands as tightly as possible. The other boy at the centered stands out because is on top of other children. He must have stepped on something to get closer to the stage. He is screaming and has his right hand holding straight toward the front. Children at the back look equally surprised, thrilled, or scared. They all seem focused with what is going on in front of their sight. Back of the photograph is de-focused but seem to be packed with a lot of people. 

     In "Village School," children are not quite children. It gives the viewers a change to glimpse at the history or culture of Russia back in early 1900s. The photographer included the picture in her book "Eyes on Russia." It shows that Bourke-White wanted to express the rigid, strict and inflexible Russian society through children. Children are supposed to by childlike, displaying their feelings however and whenever they want. Children in "Village School," however, can be seen somewhat too controlled under certain regulations or ruler either by the person in the classroom or by the society. On the other hand, children in "Children's Puppet Theatre" are just like typical kids with free, apparent emotions on their faces. Children are fully engrossed in the puppet performance and they, under nobody's control, are releasing their feelings in a free manner. They are astonished or horrified and they feelings are directly reflected in their faces and postures. Unlike school boys, children are compacted, leaning and touching each other. It implies that children are just the way they are supposed to be. It creates, therefore, the image of freedom and energy in their lives. 

     Despite the differenced in both photographs are dealing with children as subject. Yet, they are very different in the mood. In the former one, we can feel the rigidity, tranquility and formality. They way children are seated or arranged gives a sense of separation. Also, sheer contrast between the background and the children's faces that are lighted. In the latter photograph, we feel vivacity, dramatic and extreme expressions. Such distinguished ways children are captured determine the different moods in these two photographs.

Seongyool Myung / Thu 34 / reaction essay

Our lives in photos

 

Writers send their message through their writings to their readers. Directors display what they want to say by showing their movies. Photographers deliver their message with photos. So each photo has a meaning. Not a single photo was taken with no reason, even though people who see the photo will get to have different opinion. My opinion about these two pictures, one with a bridge and the other with a ship is that they make me think about what life is. And by comparing these two, we can find out how life goes on.

 

First, let's see what's in these two pictures. I want to describe the right one with a ship first. This photo shows a ship sailing by a waterfall which puts out strong waves. It seems a bit risky to go near the waterfall even though it's a big ship with many people on it. The overall atmosphere of the picture is quite dynamic, and part of it is even mysterious because of the fog made by the water. In contrast, people will feel calm when seeing the photo on the left. The bridge crosses the whole view. The fog under the bridge also creates a mysterious atmosphere and it seems like a couple of people are looking at the bridge. The sky is also quite and tranquil.

 

So I thought that the photo on the right describes how our lives are when we are at young age. When we're young, we tend to take more risks when it seems quite unreasonable. The people near us sometimes make us do something since they are with us. So for the risks we take, our lives at young age are more like an adventure. And the dynamic adventure makes us challenge to do things even if they're unclear and mysterious.

 

Different from that, the photo on the left gives me the idea of our lives when we get old enough to look back what we've gone through. The bridge is the path we took so far, with which we have clear memories. But under it there is a fog, so we just can recall vague memories. But not with many people but with just one life partner we can talk about it without anger, rage or sadness, because it's all behind the past.

 

I don't know what kind of opinions would other people have comparing these two pictures. And for me, this brings me the meaning of life. Although life is said with various other words, we often forget the words and the wisdom from them. Today I once again thought about what life is, thanks to the two photos.