Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Blog Post #8


When looking through pictures, I found a lot of pictures but I couldn't really connect with any of them. As soon as I saw this picture though, I connected because I have been in this situation and I felt like I could relate to it. This picture was taken at Green River, Kentucky in 1940. My first reaction to this photograph was the two boys in it. I would assume they are brothers or friends. I also think the one with the fishing pole is older, because he got the fishing pole and the best spot; where as the other boy has to hold some kind of cup and sit farther away. For this reason of dominance, I think these two are brothers. In consideration with the young boys, I noticed their attire and what that said about the kind of lifestyle they had. I think they were probably between the lower- and middle-class, and their dad was probably a farmer. I think this because of the overalls and straw hat the boy on the left is wearing. Also, keep in mind that this was taken in 1940, which was when WWII was going on. By the looks of it, this may be the last thing on these boys' mind, but that's not to say they weren't affected by it, unless a parent was called to duty. But since the war did not take place in the United States, especially not in Kentucky, they're lives were like any normal boy. Instead of having video games to play, like boys do now, they did other things for fun like fishing. I really like this pictures because I think it captures the leisure of fishing, especially for two young boys, waiting for a nibble or bite. You can see the boy with the fishing pole already has his pant legs rolled up, ready to jump into the sand to better reel in a fish. This picture feels like it could have been pulled from a scene in a movie, or it feels like I could be right there with them.

I think scenes like this are popular and abundant in Nebraska. Rivers like this are used for fishing, swimming, relaxing, etc. all of the time. I think the reason a lot of people go to rivers, and places related to this one, often go there to relax. It is almost always peaceful, and nature surrounds you. Notice in the picture, the water looks like glass. A reflection is very clear, not rippled by waves, so I would guess it was a beautiful day that day, probably in the summer sometime. Also, from the tree they are sitting on, it looks like a very green place. It seems like the boys could have walked there, being there are no parents there, so they probably live close to the river and this could be a typical activity for them.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Blog Post #7

I have always been interested in photography, and I love to look at professionally taken photographs. For my major, I have to take a photography class, which I am very excited for. I don't know how good I will be at it, but I am excited to find out. I don't know very much about taking pictures, like the lighting, angles, different lenses, and whatever else photographers use. I have, however, taken a photography class in 4-h when I was probably around nine years old. Of course, we just used our parents' camera's that are nothing compared to what we have today. I remember spending a day taking pictures and how much fun it was. The class taught me beginner things, but I specifically remember my favorite was the trick where someone stand far away and another person is closer to the camera and the closer person sticks up their palm and it looks like a tiny person in a giant's hand. Sadly, my film got lost somewhere so I never got to see the pictures I took.

Like I said, I really don't know too much about taking pictures, but I do love to look at them and evaluate pictures. I particularly like black-and-white photographs or antique looking photographs. I love photos where I feel like I am in the scene, or pictures that evoke an emotion. I am not too fond over abstract photographs. I usually just don't/can't understand them and I tend to get really frustrated, and never really know what to say about them. With abstract, it usually has to be explain to me, but with photographs that I can make out everything I usually would rather not know the story behind them, and just let me think of my own.