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.
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