James Nachtwey
James mainly focuses his photography on issues going on in the world like war, famine and social problems that happens mostly overseas. His photos are mostly in black and white which I think makes the photos have a more depressingly real feeling, that this is what actual people are going through in their lives. These photos are intense reality for people who dont live in these kinds of situations.
Describe the lighting in the photo: This photo has strong lighting coming from in back of the people that are doing the drugs.
Where is the light coming from, and how does it fall on the subject of the photo?
The lighting is coming from the back of the people in the photo,
Contrast – Does the photo have both highlights (white whites) and shadows (black blacks)?
Yes.
Has the photographer employed the shutter speed or depth of field to create special effects in the photo? Describe.
The photographer has used a fast shutter speed to get a still of the people injecting themselves.
Composition
What camera angle was used? (point of view)
The point of view is pointing downward to the ground focusing on the shadows.
Is the photograph (symmetrical, asymmetrical or radial) balanced?
Asymmetrical
Does this photo meet the guidelines of the Rule of Thirds? Yes.
Is there a clear focal point or center of interest? (no distracting backgrounds, the subject of the photo is evident)
The subject of the photo is made very clear.
Has the photographer visually framed the photo or created a sense of depth with foreground, middleground and background?
Sense of depth with foreground, middle ground and background.
Interpretation:
How do you feel when you look at the photo?
Saddness.
What is the mood of the work?
The mood of the work is the reality of some peoples lives.
Does the photo tell a story?
Yes.
What sort of response does the piece evoke?
The response of this photo to me is harsh reality, causes me sadness.
What was the artist's purpose for creating the piece?
His purpose of creating this piece is to show lives of heroine addicts, they are on the street with no shoes but have money to get the cheap drug, heroine.
Where is the light coming from, and how does it fall on the subject of the photo?
The lighting is coming from the back of the people in the photo,
Contrast – Does the photo have both highlights (white whites) and shadows (black blacks)?
Yes.
Has the photographer employed the shutter speed or depth of field to create special effects in the photo? Describe.
The photographer has used a fast shutter speed to get a still of the people injecting themselves.
Composition
What camera angle was used? (point of view)
The point of view is pointing downward to the ground focusing on the shadows.
Is the photograph (symmetrical, asymmetrical or radial) balanced?
Asymmetrical
Does this photo meet the guidelines of the Rule of Thirds? Yes.
Is there a clear focal point or center of interest? (no distracting backgrounds, the subject of the photo is evident)
The subject of the photo is made very clear.
Has the photographer visually framed the photo or created a sense of depth with foreground, middleground and background?
Sense of depth with foreground, middle ground and background.
Interpretation:
How do you feel when you look at the photo?
Saddness.
What is the mood of the work?
The mood of the work is the reality of some peoples lives.
Does the photo tell a story?
Yes.
What sort of response does the piece evoke?
The response of this photo to me is harsh reality, causes me sadness.
What was the artist's purpose for creating the piece?
His purpose of creating this piece is to show lives of heroine addicts, they are on the street with no shoes but have money to get the cheap drug, heroine.
Photo One
Sudan, 1993 Famine victim in a feeding facility.
Photo Two
Pakistan, 2001. Heroine addicts.
Photo Three
Somalia, 1992. Famine victim sewn into burial shroud.
Photo Four
1994 Rwanda. Survivor of Hutu death camp.