Midterm Piece

Jerusha, 15, and Fabi, 14, at the American Ballet Theater summer program, New York, New York , 2001
Lauren Greenfield

This piece represents not only a sense of documentary photography, but it also carries itself as a very strong artistic piece as well. A piece that not only contains an overt social commentary, but one that also focuses on line and the human form.
There are two central figures, but the ballerina in the pale blue leotard diagonally cuts the piece leading the viewer strait to her. She is the subject and therefore one who was deliberately chosen to be so by the artist. Her fellow ballerina is seated to her right and it is apparent that they are engaged in some kind of conversation, resulting in laughter.
At first glance one could assume that this is simply a pretty portrait of a ballerina and all of her graces, but when the title is read, the photographer, Lauren Greenfield, is clearly emphasizing the ages of the two young ladies. They are both in their early teens, which then becomes evident when you notice the laughing ballerina, Fabi's, composure. It becomes very girlish and young when looked at from that vantage point. And then the image becomes all the more disturbing when taking note of how thin the central ballerina's body is. It's a known fact to most that in the ballet world there is a certain standard that needs to be met along the lines of body image, and that standard is driven into young ladies' brains when they begin ballet at severely young ages.
The central figure's body, one would assume, would appear to be the ideal body type for a ballerina, and she is probably praised for having such a figure. Which then makes the image disturbing, because she is only fifteen and her her life is most likely based around her craft and her body is her tool for her craft.
The photograph is balanced in a very beautiful way, in that her body is so trained and so perfectly nimble that she is able to make a completely straight line through the photo, which juxtaposed to the ballet bar makes a lovely composition. The loveliness of the photograph matched with the social issues it deals with makes this piece incredibly strong. This is no large feat for Greenfield in that no matter what she's shooting, whether it be fashion or documentary, there is usually a huge strain of the culture of mature women and the culture of girls, usually adolescents. She achieves much with this piece in making a happy marriage between art and social issues.

Re Touch: Before and After

Makeup Assignment

Yancy Richardson Gallery: Esko Mannikko 'Harmony Sisters'

I chose the 'Untitled' triptych on the north wall.
Each image by Mannikko is a zoomed focus of a certain part of a horse's face. The focus, like much of the show, was on the eyes or eye of an animal. In this case, a horse. In all of the images flash is used which would indicate a very fast shutter speed.

1.) the photos make me think that there is possibly some kind of curiosity about the soul of an animal, being that each shot is focusing on the eyes. There's a certain sense of sadness and longing through the horse's eyes. The image also seems to be about detail, seeing every fiber and every hint of gloss in the creature's eye, as well as any sign of dirt or residue.

2.) The photograph, as afore mentioned, makes me feel like there is a strong sense of longing and a longing from the viewer as well to want to understand the animal, because the eye in each image makes it look like the animal is begging to be understood.

3.) Before the photo was taken I can imagine that there was a lot of order that needed to occur, because when shooting a subject like a horse, and dealing with a flash, a horse could easily get spooked, sothe right precautions were taken, hopefully.

4.) After the shot was taken I can imagine that there was someone there holding the horse in case it was scared.

5.) The images on the website look more digital than in person. Meaning that online they look like 'nature' digital images that are very crispy, but in person they are lush and rich prints that look so well printed that they a=seem so impossible to translate online.

6.) Mannikko, I believe, is really trying to show a different side to the 'animal portrait'. Every image is a different angle and different emotion. Some are very much about design, but others, like these three are about the emotion and soul of the animal.

7.) I think the photo's I chose get his idea of the animal and his/her personality and soul, which is why I chose them. It was a really great exhibition.

Response.

Amy Stein
Jen Davis

Amy Stein's photo seems to show a child's fear and/or fantasy about animals. A bear in one's yard or outside of a yard, blocked by a flimsy fence is not a common circumstance. Amy Stein seems to be curious about the interaction between the two specie's. The child, vulnerable in her swimsuit seems surprised and stands, what looks like, very still. The bear, seems to be mimicking her.
Jen Davis' piece says a lot about self-consciousness. Being a self-portrait, it shows that she is unafraid to show the viewer her vulnerability, because she is clothed in a flimsy night gown, as she sits hunched staring at the viewer. One of her legs also appears to be injured which could be another reason she appears forlorn.