Sheryr Sonia
Dr. DeSpain
CODES 121
25 August 2024
Reflection 2 Photo Essay
The photo essays have many things in common. They all start with a main picture and an introduction, followed by images relating to the topic’s environment. The phrase “Where We Are” is listed at the top for each photo essay, followed by its title and location. These photo essays contain zoomed-out photos to give the reader an overall perspective of the idea, and there are also photos that zoom in on critical aspects to emphasize certain elements.
In real-world places, people can give each other handshakes and hugs and communicate with eye contact. These factors are absent online, and you can make a stronger connection in the real world. One photo essay that prominently displays an example of making real-world connections is The Family Restaurant. The images displayed entail the aspects of making real-world connections and how these connections can bring everyone closer together and make strong relationships. These photos feature friends eating, singing, and laughing together.
The photo essay I chose is The Magic of Your First Car, set in Los Angeles, California. The introduction talks about new drivers finding freedom and being able to drive around whenever and wherever they want. It gives them space to escape reality and experience new beginnings. The top image gives off a theme of remoteness and escaping reality on a tranquil drive, with the hair blowing in the wind and the sun beaming on the skin, enjoying the smell of the fresh air. The two girls are relaxing in the back seats as if detoxing from the city life before the Monday morning routine.
The first zoomed-out picture of the essay displays people in an old Mercedes Benz now running on vegetable oil, which is environmentally friendlier because they used to emit a lot of carbon dioxide. The rearview mirror captures someone taking a picture with the flash of a digital camera. The car is parked and off, and they are admiring the sun. The zoomed-in picture shows the point of view of someone sitting in the back seat, with the sun rays beaming on the palm and hair blowing in the wind.
Another picture that stands out to me is where three friends are sitting and lying on the side of a road on the edge of a cliff, admiring the scenery. The vibe is enjoyable, with the sun beaming on them and the smiles on their faces. This picture also gives a sense of remoteness and relaxation. Each image throughout this photo essay tells a story; the captions provide the reader with context and describe the mood. The interweaving of writing and images provides a glimpse into the reality of the subject’s mindset.
Some images entail the camera’s flash, which gives a subliminal effect that draws the reader’s attention to the details emerging from the flash. Other images have defined a small detail, and the rest of the background is blurred; this gives a different perspective to view the image. Another thing that stood out to me is that in some pictures, the people aren’t posing for the camera; it’s just a candid snapshot of them living in the moment, not necessarily looking at the camera. These are some tactics I want to incorporate into my photo essay. Overall, I enjoyed this assignment; I just learned what photo essays were today. This heavily inspires me, and I cannot wait to make my own.