Some Indian cultures believe that if their picture was taken their soul would become trapped in that photograph. Others believe that a camera captures the true essence of a person. That when you look into the photograph you can see who that person truly was. When you click on that button on a camera you are capturing that moment in time. Later when you examine the product of that moment you can see what that person was feeling at that very moment. Pictures can be moving, they can tell a story, and they can preserve a memory.
They can also be a bit unnerving. Having the feeling of someone watching you, eyes following your every move, and of witnessing every intimate moment creates the feeling of spiders crawling up and down your back. Every hair stands on end and this feeling of not being alone can be overwhelming for some. Everyone at some point have had this feeling come over them at some point, though they chalk it up to an active imagination. I am included in that group. I never realized how wrong I could be.
“You are becoming obsessed.” My best friend Emily stated from her place at the bar.
“I am not. I am just curious.” I was beginning to think she was right though. She would be too though if she was having the dreams I was having. If it were just the dreams I would pass it off as stress, but there was also the feeling of always having someone around me, even I was alone. It all started with a picture I bought at a yard sale a year ago.
“It is just a picture of some guy. Some guy that you do not even know. Makes no sense for you have to bought it, let alone hang it up in your house.” She has given some form of this line over the past year. I just could not bring myself to take it town. Just like I felt compelled to buy it...
... middle of paper ...
...lly curious about who the mysterious man in the picture was. I started doing research and so far nothing. The only thing I had to go on was the house where the picture was found, the family who owned the picture and the military uniform the guy was wearing. There however was no identifying numbers or name tag on the uniform so that did not leave me much to go on. It did not look like a traditional military uniform, but from what I could gather soldiers fighting for America in the revolutionary war did not really have uniforms. They either wore their best clothes or their work clothes. In the picture he was wearing a Jacket that maybe someone high in rank would wear and he was holding a Kentucky long rifle. Very common in that time period. So that would put the time period anywhere from 1773 to 1785. That is the extent of the knowledge I have of the mysterious man.
On April 19th, 1775 British troops were marching to Lexington where many militia were already awaiting their arrival. The British were after the ammunition of the militia. Paul Revere had warned the militia ahead of time so that they could be prepared. They removed their stockpiles of ammunition from their hiding places and moved them to a new shelter. When the British arrived at Lexington, the militia were lined up, ready to defend themselves. The British stopped, prepared to face the militia. They remained silent yet stood their ground until a shot was fired.
On April 19th, 1775 British troops marched to Lexington and Concord, where many militia men already awaited their arrival. The British were after the ammunition of the militia. Paul Revere previously warned the militia so that they could be prepared. Many people are unaware of the fact that Paul Revere was accompanied by William Dawes on his midnight ride.
“I had never seen anyone use a lanyard/ or wear one, if that’s what you did with them/” (Collins 13-14). However, the uselessness of his gift did not deter him from making it; “strand over strand again and again/until I had made a boxy/ red and white lanyard for my mother” (Collins 16-18). Once recollecting the lanyard, the speaker addresses the crowd in the present explaining all his cherished mother had done for him. He spoke of his infant years, his sick days as a young boy, his mile stones, and his daily neediness stating his mother was there at his every life’s breath. “Here are thousands of meals, she said, /and here is clothing and a good education/ And here is your lanyard, I replied” (Collins 27-29). The speaker states, in the third person, that at the moment his mother received his gift with gracious humility, and kindness he knew she was acknowledging his simple gesture of love; his humble gesture was enough repayment for her years of unconditional love. “But the rueful admission that when she took the two-toned lanyard from my hand, I was as sure as a boy could be that this useless, worthless thing I wove/ out of boredom would be enough to make us even” (Collins
Mrs Johnstone replies: “I’d spend it; I’d buy more trash that’s all. I don’t want your money. I’ve made a life here. It’s not much of one maybe but I made it”.
With red and grey monochrome mug shots overlayed by what appear to be soldiers in battle with explosions going off behind them. With a raised fist tattooed with an iconic Gadsden flag otherwise known as American revolutionary “Don’t tread on me” flag, as well as a semi-translucent variation of a historical American flag.
The people represented in the picture, are pulling off King George III symbolizes how Americans felt right before the start of the revolutionary war. I believe this picture is in the beginning or middle part of 1775. The people of America were mad, were so, fed up with the British government that they will start a war in order to break away from them. These feelings didn’t just come about all of a sudden though, England set themselves up for this the moment they set up colonies that were three thousand miles away.
A young man peers into a screen attached to a box that projects its image through a small lens. It is the 17th century and the artist Johannes Vermeer is preparing to paint another image based on a reflection of reality though a box. Today billions of people around the world peer into boxes with projected light and receive a different reality with images created through photography that has affected the world in many ways. Photography has become more and more accessible to the general population. For much of its technological existence, photographing was only a luxury for the wealthy. Eventually the common man could afford cameras and take pictures although these usually remained confined to a small family or friend group. It was not until the last decade or so that everyone could attain cameras, with most having them on their phones, and shared them among a vast social network creating a profile based on the everyday image. As photography has improved during the last two centuries, it has affected the way we perceive reality.
The camera is simply a portable extension of our eyes that captures images we may otherwise never see, and freezes them into eternity for our scrutiny. If photographs provide any true knowledge, it is that of a visual stimulus, a superficial comprehension that barely scratches the surfaces. What would photographs be without captions? Merely anonymous pictures of anonymous things, anonymous places, and anonymous people. Photography all...
Since its inception, photography has been used to capture moments in time all around the world. This wonderful technology has existed since ancient times, and has only improved in recent history, changing society in the process.
Photography allows us to maintain memories and relish them whenever we desire. Although some advocates might argue that people are no longer enjoying experiences instead taking more pictures, in the essay, “Why We Take Pictures”, by Susan Sontag, she conflates that photography can be used as a defense against anxiety and a tool of empowerment. I agree with Sontag on the significance of photographs and how it allows us to store a part of our extended relatives so we are able to hold on the memories of family. Therefore, we must appreciate how photography allows us to manage anxiety, express feelings and remember our loved ones.
There is an old saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” which is very true. In the article, "Against Neutrality", by Teju Cole mainly focuses on how a photograph can change a person perspective in an entire different way. Coles states, “The camera is an instrument of transformation”. A photographer has the power to create multiple different perspectives, which can be good and bad. It depends on the person who takes the picture and with the intent of the photo. A photographer is like a writer because they want to send some time of message to their audience.
Photography is traced back to France in the 1800’s where the camera obscura was invented and in the late 1820’s to the 1830’s where a French inventor by the name of Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, invented the first camera and printed the first photograph on paper he is also credited with taking the first photograph1, but he wasn’t the only one working on this new invention, there were many others during this time period inventing different parts and making the camera better with each invention. It took time and many different inventors over years to create a process where they could turn a negative into a photo. By the late 1800’s photography was rising in popularity due to more families wanting portraits done and not being able to afford an artist for a sitting or being able to sit for such long periods though this wasn’t very favourable because it was so fragile and expensive to use and carry around.
Photography was first utilized over 100 years ago in an attempt to preserve life as it existed before the industrial revolution. Over time photography has gradually corrupted memory in a variety of ways, despite its original intention to preserve it. From there, photography has evolved to become a pressing threat not only to memory, but also to consciousness.
Photography is a form of visual representation of events to the public. It is traditionally defined as writing with light'. Photography was more than factual recording of truthful observation. It could be an expression of emotional reaction to life. Although photography has always been thought of as the capturing and the reflection of truth, the discussion of manipulated photography' is often brought up. However, before any debate of manipulated photography, one must begin with the "recognition that photography itself is an inherent manipulation." (Wheeler T, 2002) Ever since its beginnings, photography is subjective, it is not absolute reality and...
“Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph.” as said by Matt Hardy. Throughout history, photography has continued to piece together the elements of art through the lens a camera. Photography has given everyone the chance to become an artist by capturing light. The 21st century would not be the same without the ability to capture memories that can be held for a lifetime. Today, anyone is able to see the rest of the world that they have never traveled to, never seen, or never even heard of due to the photography that has established and shaped our culture. Major achievements in the history of photography are the first camera obscura, the realization that silver turns black in light, the invention of the pentaprism, and the development of colored film. As more advancements are constructed, many more achievements will be made. Photography will been known as one of the greatest technological advances of all time.