Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Pivotal Moment in Time
The moments described in the following three photos correspond to a huge part of my life filled with trials and uncertainties. These moments have affected me still two years later, and will forever remind me what my family has been through. Although the people in the photographs are smiling, it is not because of the present circumstance. It is simply because there are no more tears. It is a smile out of hopelessness because there is nothing you can do to change what has happened. You have no control over it. Or maybe just because smiling is "what you are supposed to do in a photograph." Or maybe out of hopes to forget or conceal the pain.
The first photograph is of my two oldest nephews Isaiah, 10 and Eli, 8. Taken two years ago the day after Christmas, we had been in Tennessee with my family. My sister and her sick husband Jon had stayed back in MN because he was in the hospital. She called to inform us that he might not make it, something beyond unexpected. All 15 of us got on the next flight out to be with her and wait.
The second photograph was taken at the hospital waiting...because that's what we did. For three months, we waited. Exhausted. Day. Night. The baby on my lap is my nephew Cash, Jon's youngest. At the time he was just eight months old. It breaks my heart to think that he will never know what a great man his dad was.
The final photo is of me and my nephew Walker, then three. He was Jon's oldest son. We were on the way to bury Jon near my home in rural Minnesota. As heartbreaking as this moment was, I knew that Walker didn't completely understand what was happening, he just knew that everyone was sad. I tried to adopt his innocence. It was short-lived.
The first photograph is of my two oldest nephews Isaiah, 10 and Eli, 8. Taken two years ago the day after Christmas, we had been in Tennessee with my family. My sister and her sick husband Jon had stayed back in MN because he was in the hospital. She called to inform us that he might not make it, something beyond unexpected. All 15 of us got on the next flight out to be with her and wait.
The second photograph was taken at the hospital waiting...because that's what we did. For three months, we waited. Exhausted. Day. Night. The baby on my lap is my nephew Cash, Jon's youngest. At the time he was just eight months old. It breaks my heart to think that he will never know what a great man his dad was.
The final photo is of me and my nephew Walker, then three. He was Jon's oldest son. We were on the way to bury Jon near my home in rural Minnesota. As heartbreaking as this moment was, I knew that Walker didn't completely understand what was happening, he just knew that everyone was sad. I tried to adopt his innocence. It was short-lived.
In-Class Video 4/07/11
I thought the video of the Iraqi women was extremely moving. Some of the stories of their oppression were nearly unbelievable. It was inspirational to see them sharing their own personal narratives through photography. It made me realize how much I take my freedom for granted. The fact that often these women were pulled out of schools and told it was worthless to educate them was extremely sad. And Never before have I ever wondered what it would be like to not have photography in my life or not be able to capture important moments/memories or not have an image to remember the features of my friends and family by. It was so sad to hear that three of the women so far have been killed for taking photographs. Thank the Lord I have never had to fear for my life because of wanting to capture an image that touches me or a beautiful moment in time.
It was especially interesting to hear their opinions of Americans and how we cause them problems. Often it seems we think we are solving everyone else's issues and making their lives better when in reality we are just creating greater hardships for them, killing their families, and oppressing them.
It was especially interesting to hear their opinions of Americans and how we cause them problems. Often it seems we think we are solving everyone else's issues and making their lives better when in reality we are just creating greater hardships for them, killing their families, and oppressing them.
Early History of Photography Survey
1) The camera obscure: One of the first inventions leading up to photography, this device projects images onto screens. Functioning similarly to a film camera with shutter and aperture, the pinhole in this device projects a sharper image as the hole becomes smaller, however the image resulted becomes darker as a result because of smaller amounts of available light.
2) Johann Heinrich Schultz: His discovery using silver salts in 1724 revealed that unless protected from light, the silver salts continued to darken with time. Eventually this provided further discoveries regarding fix in the evolution of photography.
3) Thomas Wedgewood: Credited with creating one of the first visible images through heat and light, Wedgewood successfully and notably used white leather to copy some of the first shapes onto paper, further encouraging other chemists to experiment with solutions to achieve this result.
4) Nicephore Niepce: Through the process of heliography, or sun writing, Niepce created the first known photograph in 1825. Pioneering the way, he used bitumen and lavender oil to capture a nature image through a camera obscura.
5) Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre: Already famous for the Diorama, Daguerre partnered with Niepce for a short time until Niepce's death. Daguerre then combined his original invention with his partner's speedier process to create the Daguerreotype in 1839, a machine that usually produced portraits. Images were protected from fingerprints and air in a glass-front box.
6) William Henry Fox Talbot: Talbot first patented his calotype (talbotype) process, and was also remembered for the production of negatives from which positive images can be produced. He also openly revealed the details of his photogenic drawing process, unlike the more secretive Daguerre.
7) Hill and Adamson: As a pair for four years creating 3,000 photographs, the two men became famous for the calotype portraits they created.
8) Julia Margaret Cameron: Her short-lived photographic career of eleven years began at the age of 48 when she received a camera for a gift. She aimed for soft and beautiful photographs, and captured many celebrities of her time. She was also a wonderfully organized businesswoman who kept great record of her images.
9) Felix Nadar: He built a huge balloon which allowed him to become the first ever human to take aerial photographs. He was also the innovator of using artificial lighting in photography during his work in the catacombs in Paris.
10) Frederick Scott Archer: Archer invented the wet photographic collodion process. He successfully combined being able to capture the fine detail of the daguerreotype with the ability to produce multiple copies of the calotype in order to make photography much more accessible to the public.
11) Dr. Richard Maddox: In 1871, Maddox created the first ever gelatin negative dry plates. These lightweight plates with gelatin coating allowed much more freedom in the lives of photographers because the negatives did not have to be developed immediately where as the wet collodions did.
12) George Eastman: Eastman's invention of roll film allowed even greater access to the public for photography. He was also the founder of Kodak Company.
2) Johann Heinrich Schultz: His discovery using silver salts in 1724 revealed that unless protected from light, the silver salts continued to darken with time. Eventually this provided further discoveries regarding fix in the evolution of photography.
3) Thomas Wedgewood: Credited with creating one of the first visible images through heat and light, Wedgewood successfully and notably used white leather to copy some of the first shapes onto paper, further encouraging other chemists to experiment with solutions to achieve this result.
4) Nicephore Niepce: Through the process of heliography, or sun writing, Niepce created the first known photograph in 1825. Pioneering the way, he used bitumen and lavender oil to capture a nature image through a camera obscura.
5) Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre: Already famous for the Diorama, Daguerre partnered with Niepce for a short time until Niepce's death. Daguerre then combined his original invention with his partner's speedier process to create the Daguerreotype in 1839, a machine that usually produced portraits. Images were protected from fingerprints and air in a glass-front box.
6) William Henry Fox Talbot: Talbot first patented his calotype (talbotype) process, and was also remembered for the production of negatives from which positive images can be produced. He also openly revealed the details of his photogenic drawing process, unlike the more secretive Daguerre.
7) Hill and Adamson: As a pair for four years creating 3,000 photographs, the two men became famous for the calotype portraits they created.
8) Julia Margaret Cameron: Her short-lived photographic career of eleven years began at the age of 48 when she received a camera for a gift. She aimed for soft and beautiful photographs, and captured many celebrities of her time. She was also a wonderfully organized businesswoman who kept great record of her images.
9) Felix Nadar: He built a huge balloon which allowed him to become the first ever human to take aerial photographs. He was also the innovator of using artificial lighting in photography during his work in the catacombs in Paris.
10) Frederick Scott Archer: Archer invented the wet photographic collodion process. He successfully combined being able to capture the fine detail of the daguerreotype with the ability to produce multiple copies of the calotype in order to make photography much more accessible to the public.
11) Dr. Richard Maddox: In 1871, Maddox created the first ever gelatin negative dry plates. These lightweight plates with gelatin coating allowed much more freedom in the lives of photographers because the negatives did not have to be developed immediately where as the wet collodions did.
12) George Eastman: Eastman's invention of roll film allowed even greater access to the public for photography. He was also the founder of Kodak Company.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Letter to a Photograph
I still want nothing more than to take you home with me. I know you need love too. So do I. We could make a great pair right about now. You and me. Keep each other company.
It breaks my heart to think that you could still be there. That I left you. But I promise it wasn't by choice. If I could have supported you, you'd be here with me now. Everyone said it was for the best. I'm not so sure...but I hope so, because I really just wanted what was best for you. I guess we'll never know. I'm sorry that I haven't been back to visit you since that day. You really are perfect for me. Exactly what I have always wanted. I just hope there's still one out there for me, just like you. I hope you found a good home, a family to love you and treat you right. You are by far the cutest thing I have ever seen. I find myself wondering how big you've grown; what kind of trouble you've gotten yourself into. Just wanted to write and say I'm sorry one more time. I know my apology can never make up for not giving you the home and the love you deserve. Hope you are well and happier than ever. All my love.
It breaks my heart to think that you could still be there. That I left you. But I promise it wasn't by choice. If I could have supported you, you'd be here with me now. Everyone said it was for the best. I'm not so sure...but I hope so, because I really just wanted what was best for you. I guess we'll never know. I'm sorry that I haven't been back to visit you since that day. You really are perfect for me. Exactly what I have always wanted. I just hope there's still one out there for me, just like you. I hope you found a good home, a family to love you and treat you right. You are by far the cutest thing I have ever seen. I find myself wondering how big you've grown; what kind of trouble you've gotten yourself into. Just wanted to write and say I'm sorry one more time. I know my apology can never make up for not giving you the home and the love you deserve. Hope you are well and happier than ever. All my love.
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