F06 :: Feminist Film Studies

This image is very obviously from the cover of the magazine Cosmopolitan. The shot is a mid shot, as are every photograph that they place on the cover of their magazine. These photographs upset me so much because it is always an image of some actress or singer in a very provocative way with the come hither look on their face. This upsets me because they promote it as a “helping” magazine for women, but all they do is make you feel bad about yourself. As I said earlier it is a mid shot, because one is able to see the placement of her hands. The lighting in the photograph is high-key lighting, allowing for the women to appear very beautiful, with a certain glow to her skin. The overall purpose of the photograph is to supply women with an image of what they should desire to look like.

Posted by Amanda Amundson at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

this image was chosen for it’s powerful composition. visually, the lingering smoke draws the wandering eye into the image. once there, the woman’s gaze communicates intensity, while the lighting accentuates the contemplative intrigue of her lips. black and white is quite a way to make a statement, no?? the close up takes all context away, here it is of no importance. this chica demands all the attention::: and she gets it.
i read this as a message of control, of contemplative conquering soon to come…

Posted by Fletcher Barnhill at 02:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is a mid, two shot. It is a low angle shot, so the camera is angled up towards the women, causing them to look more powerful. When I thought about this assignment, I wanted to find an image that conveyed women in a way that exposed their courage and dignity. I think that the image of these two women with cancer covers that. These women are motivated and out doing something for their cause and are helping not only themselves, but women (people) for the future. I think that is a big part of feminism. It is not always about you or us right now, but about the effort to make changes for the years to come.

Posted by Bridget Brewer at 08:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This photo is from the Neiman Marcus website. It's a model wearing clothes by Jean Paul Gaultier for this fall. I chose this photo for a variety of reasons. First, I like to view feminism as a positive movement. I don't believe it always has to be in response to something negative or juxtaposition to something degrading. Women can be strong, beautiful, and independent all by themselves.

This photo of the model is a long shot. Her entire body from head to toe is in view. This photo is all about the model. She’s slightly off center to keep the photo interesting. The camera has slightly been crabbed left. The background appears to be a corner of a mono-chromatic room, which grounds the model preventing her from appearing as a floating object. The angle of the shot is at a slight low angle. It’s not low enough to be a worm’s eye shot. The model appears confident and in charge of the situation as a result of the camera angle chosen. The lighting in this shot is coming from right side and is slightly raised creating a shadow that’s positioned lower than the model on her right. The light bounces off of the left side of her face, left hand, and left knee. Her white skin has a perfect glow. This totally contrasts with the dark outfit composed mainly of black and shades of dark brown, and the background which is cement gray.

I chose this photo because this is a high fashion add from an exclusive department store. The model appears to be in great health, and she’s in a seriously empowered pose. I love that fashion and women can have a healthy relationship.

Posted by Matthew Shapiro at 05:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Continue reading "Amanda Lepore: Melon - David LaChapelle" »

Posted by Beth Chekola at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I chose this image because its an image that used to be quite shocking for me. This is an Afghani woman wearing a burkah. A little background, the burkah is the suffocating dress women were forced to wear during the rule of the Taliban. When I first saw a woman in a burkah, it was about six years ago, I was haunted by the picture. Now I have seen so many I now mostly feel anger at the site. The image represents oppression and pain. the burkah strips women of all feminine qualities, making them ghosts. I wanted to use this image to counter the standard American images that stereotype and eventuate the feminine form. I want people to think about a more intense oppression. Objectifying women through photos like the one we saw in class is something we need to be aware of. But denying womanhood is terrible. This image breaks my heart.

The medium close up makes us uncomfortably aware of the fact that this woman is separated from the world. no matter how close anyone gets, they can never no this woman, and they are not allowed to. The worst part is, her isolation is not her choice. you can see this through her submissive form. the lighting makes her stand out against a blurred background. there is nothing else to focus on, but once again there is no way to know who she is.

Posted by Allison Rogne at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This is another image of one of most famous sex symbols, Marilyn Monroe. This is a long shot with her in the center of the photograph, sitting down on a playground surrounded by trees, in Long Island. She is outside, with after noon sunlight pouring onto the landscape. The lighting creates a natural feel for the photo, instead of the glamourous photos she is usually seen in.

What I found intriguing about this photo is that instead of posing in sexual manner, putting focus on her body, she is shot casually reading Ulysses. In most of the images I have seen her in, she seems to have a naive and flirtatious look on her face, while usually exposing her legs and cleavage, leaving people with the thought that she is nothing more than a flawless body. This image shows an intellectual side to Ms. Monroe, proving that she is much more than just a sex symbol.

Posted by Nicole Zroka at 03:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

http://www.pacificvillage.org/villagevoices/lakeside05/archives/Lashihai%20woman%20200.JPG

I chose this photo of a Lashihai woman in China because it isn't typical for women to be portrayed doing physical labor in America. This woman's face glows with delight even though she is working. The shot is a medium long shot focusing on her confident gaze at the camera. She's not wearing any fancy clothing nor is her body contorted in any sexual way. She's leaning slighly forward to balance the basket on her back; its very practical and ordinary, yet we don't see photos like this often. I think it was my choice because the joy and amusement on her face is uncommon in such a setting and circumstance. This is not our culture, however, so I am applying the norms that we are bombarded with daily. I wish this sort of image, the reality of other cultures, were more prevalent in our culture, rather than the airbrushed, sexy models and prescription pill fantasy world of the American media.

Posted by Stephanie Hagen at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This image is an eye level long shot of Jennifer Aniston. She appears to be walking down the street with an angry look on her face in dark langerie, which isn't typical of her "girl next door" character. There doesn't appear to be much lighting, which I think helps set the mood of the photograph. I think that doing the picture in black and white and the fact that it is a little grain-y gives the image a bit of an edge. If it had been in color, I don't think that even with the same facial expression, it would give off the same vibe.

I chose this particular image because it is such a simple shot, yet still says a lot. It shows an emotion (in this case anger) and it shows sex.... two things that women are typically associated with in society. I think a lot of women get anry at the stereotypes we're given or that we are only portrayed as sex symbols and whatnot... I say embrace it.

Posted by Nicky Cebertowicz at 01:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This image is of Faith Hill performing at the 2003 Grammy Awards Show. In the image Faith is centered directly in the middle of the shot. Her body takes up the full top to bottom view of the image. She is gazing directly out at the viewer and seems to be singing to them. The lighting of the image is coming from all over, however her body is in gold and cream and contrasts nicely against the dark blue/black background. The lighting also makes her skin and her hair glow and the light from above reflecting off of her hair makes her look angelic. The mood of the piece is very calming. She is singing very confidently but with style and grace that is not intimidating.
The reason I chose this image is because I really like Faith Hill. I think she is a great representation of the modern woman, who is able to have everything she wants: a family, a career, and unimaginable beauty. I also think that this picture shows her as an entertainer. While her beauty and feminine sexuality is usually capitalized on, this shows her in action and what she is really like while performing. She does not have to act like a sex-kitten to be charming to her audience.

Posted by Maggie Sullivan at 01:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I didn't really know what I was going to do when I got this assignment, but somehow this image popped up into my head and I had to find it. This is a picture of Tori Amos nursing a pig. When I first saw this image I thought it was really strange, but there was something that I liked about it too. At first it seems creepy that she is suckling a pig, but the look on her face (and the pig's) is very serene and peaceful. Both she and the pig seem very content. I'm not really sure what the intent of this image is, I assume that the photographer or Tori had something in mind, but I just like it because it is different. I think it is a positive, maternal image. The light in the image is all focused on her, the background is dark. It is a very warm light, like sunshine that especially highlights her face. Although her shirt is unbuttoned, it is not in a sexual way, it is in a natural way that is normal when breastfeeding. Also the look on her face is not sexual in any way. She is looking to the side like she is gazing out a window or something. The colors in the picture are all subdued and natural with the exception of her bright red hair, which even in this photo doesn't seem so bright.

Posted by Nora Goustin at 01:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

This reaction shot is an extreme close up of one woman screaming at another woman who is inches from her face. The shot is slightly low angle creating the effect that the viewer is slightly below the screaming woman. The camera is even with the woman’s mouth. High-key lighting is used so that the viewer can see every detail of the woman’s face. You can see all her teeth, the spots on her tongue, the highlights in her hair, and you can even see tiny freckles on her cheek. The mood of this image intense. We don't know why she is screaming because it’s so close up. All we do know is that she is screaming with her tongue out at another woman, whose reaction is blocked from view.

I chose this image because it stood out to me. I think it’s unusual, and I wanted our bog to have something a little different than previous entries. I also chose this image because I like the reaction it gives me. The woman screaming looks sort of happy and excited. It looks like her energy is just spilling out. It’s hard to say what this image means, I’m sure that is up to the individual. To me it represents uncontrollable joyful energy being shared between to young women, a stage in life where you no longer look like a girl but still may feel that way at times.

Posted by Emily Burt at 01:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Continue reading "Ashley's image" »

Posted by Ashley Schmitz at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This photo is a high angle shot looking slightly up at the woman, maybe as if you were sitting at on a bench. It is a view of half her body. While the focus could be thought of as chest level, it is not prominent; a buttoned up black dress shirt covers her chest showing off nothing, while the rest of her body is clad in a nicely tailored business suit. Her focus is off camera; while she is the subject of the photograph she is not concerned with the camera. My first impression of the image was of a busy woman. She wears a suit that makes her appear to be a classy business woman. The focus is entirely on her with a blur of a building and some fencing behind her. While she still looks beautiful the image does not show off her body which seemed to be the focus in many of the photos I searched through. The feeling I get from this image is empowering, she looks like a strong powerful woman in the middle of her busy day. Working and succeeding without using her beauty or body to sell herself (when in retrospect she is probably a model who does use her body to provide for her).

Posted by Sarah Clapp at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004TJOE.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

In the last two movies I watched starring Katharine Hepburn, she played a surprisingly strong female character. Surprising, because at the time these black and white flicks were filmed, women were more often shown in docile, stereotypical roles. So it’s with mixed feelings that I view this advertisement for "Woman of the Year."

Hepburn, chin in hand, cheeks flushed with blush, stares happily into the eyes of a suited man, who returns his gaze (although you can’t see his eyes). Hepburn’s eyes seem to twinkle playfully, as though she’s in control of the relationship with the man (who appears to be a love interest) or she knows something that he doesn’t. This attitude points toward Hepburn’s character possibly being the strong female character I expect to see.

But then there’s the film’s title, written in angled cursive below. Although it states "Woman of the Year," the focus of the poster is not on the woman shown. While my eyes are drawn to her more, being on the right side of the page, which is where are eyes ultimately rest when viewing images (usually), the angles in her posture and her gaze persuade you to look at the man she’s sitting with. This creates a power struggle that takes away from the title of "Woman of the Year," and also implies that to earn this moniker, a woman must still cater to, or be involved with, a man.

Posted by Kristen Mueller at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This image of Marilyn Monroe was taken using a long shot frame. You can see her from head to toe even though she is sitting down. The focus is on Marilyn. She is directly in the center of the picture. In a way, her cleavage is also the main focus, yet she is shielding it slightly with her hand. The lighting is very soft. It really emphasizes her classic beauty. She looks perfect, there is not a flaw to be seen. The picture is in black and white. This is also very classic. Black and white also represents contrast. Marilyn is wearing a white, ruffle ballet dress. Ballet is a very beautiful, elegant, and graceful art. It brings innocence and beauty out in the picture. The background is black, with only a white ballet bar interrupting its flow. This, along with her pose, which is leaning forward giving a nice shot of her cleavage, is also very sexual. Marilyn is a timeless sexual icon. The black is very sensual and mysterious. It brings about curiosity to what was in the past. The dress is also sheer, which also is very sexy. It’s like lingerie; it covers yet gives a glimpse of her body. Marilyn’s expression seems deep in thought, like she’s contemplating something. She’s torn between two ideas that are pulling her in opposite directions. Yet, this image is very hopeful and youthful. She is not wearing shoes, something that little children like to do, she’s playing dress up. Overall, this image is timeless.

I absolutely love this picture. It’s very enduring. Knowing Marilyn’s past and details of her life, this picture gives a hint to what she has been through. It’s absolutely beautiful. She is one of my favorite actresses, that is why I chose this picture. Her pose protects while putting herself out there. It really shows the contemplation of choices. Yet, when I look at this picture, I feel optimistic and content. I think that it’s the simplistic splendor that makes it impossible for this image to be dark or negative. A classic favorite.

Posted by Stephanie Boekhoff at 10:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This picture that I have chosen shows a little girl swimming nude in shallow water. The lighting of the picture makes it evident that the girl is outdoors and it appears to be late afternoon because of the way it shadows and illuminates the surroundings. The tones and colors used throughout this picture create a very sandy and warm feeling. The girl is positioned on an angle and is twisting to look towards the left corner of the scene. Because she is on her stomach facing away from the camera, her face is not seen but her blonde pigtails display her youth and innocence. Although we cannot see anyone else in the picture, it is assumed that someone is nearby watching over her because her body language shows ease and leisure rather than any sort of panic or stress.
I chose this picture because after seeing photo after photo of swimsuit models posed in similar situations, nearly or completely nude and laying in shallow water, it almost bothered me to see this. This image, which on a child should be seen as natural and innocent resembles the pictures of pinup models because of the way that the central focus of the picture is her bare bottom with the aid of lighting. Rather than appearing to be playful, the similarity in her pose to other pictures I’ve seen of older models seems sensual and too mature for her youth. The absence but assumed presence of a guardian creates a sense of independence as well on a girl who can’t be more than five years old. This is an extreme example because obviously this girl is very young, but it seems that so often that girl’s become sexualized in media and advertising at extremely young ages even if it’s subtle.

Posted by Lisa Peplinski at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

Okay, I know that I might get booed for choosing a Christina Aguilera image, but I am going to put myself out there for ridicule and say it: I LOVE HER. I don't know that she is a brilliant social leader or future President, but she does have something worth listening to that many others are not willing to say.
I chose this image because, to me, it shows the difference between sexy and sleazy. The black and white is a personal favorite, but I also enjoy the wardrobe choice and the wide shot. I believe Michael Thompson was the photographer, but don't quote me on that. I like that the lighting seems to focus on her face more than her chest or body.
There are a lot of women that are very afraid of their sexuality and its powers, and it is a struggle I experience all the time. Don't be mistaken, nothing gets under my skin like a female that talks with her breasts and her backside more than her brain. But it is a fine line to walk and I feel that many of us are so concerned about our words and our opinions being discredited that we ignore our sexuality. It's like we have to scream something that only requires a whisper just to fight to be heard and taken seriously.

Posted by Megan Nordwald at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sorry I couldn't make it smaller!

Continue reading "What a Pretty Face" »

Posted by Erica Koby at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sorry I couldn't make it smaller!

Continue reading "What a Pretty Face" »

Posted by Erica Koby at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00004TJOE.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

In the last two movies I watched starring Katharine Hepburn, she played a surprisingly strong female character. Surprising, because at the time these black and white flicks were filmed, women were more often shown in docile, stereotypical roles. So it’s with mixed feelings that I view this advertisement for "Woman of the Year."

Hepburn, chin in hand, cheeks flushed with blush, stares happily into the eyes of a suited man, who returns his gaze (although you can’t see his eyes). Hepburn’s eyes seem to twinkle playfully, as though she’s in control of the relationship with the man (who appears to be a love interest) or she knows something that he doesn’t. This attitude points toward Hepburn’s character possibly being the strong female character I expect to see.

But then there’s the film’s title, written in angled cursive below. Although it states "Woman of the Year," the focus of the poster is not on the woman shown. While my eyes are drawn to her more, being on the right side of the page, which is where are eyes ultimately rest when viewing images (usually), the angles in her posture and her gaze persuade you to look at the man she’s sitting with. This creates a power struggle that takes away from the title of "Woman of the Year," and also implies that to earn this moniker, a woman must still cater to, or be involved with, a man.

Posted by Kristen Mueller at 10:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here we have an eye-level medium close up shot of a pregnant woman with a glass of unknown liquid. The the lighting and angle of the woman's body accentuates the curves of her body. Even the glass, being curvy on the bottom reflects the woman's pregnant body.

I chose this picture because while I was attempting to find a photo, I kept seeing pictures of women without their face being in the shot. Women's pregnant bodies were frequently portrayed without the woman's face being in the shot, which lead me to query the ownership of women's pregnant bodies. This photo I've chosen highlights the woman's pregnant body not her identity as gleaned from her face or other aspects of her body that reveal more who this woman is. Pregnant women are often portrayed only in terms of their pregnancy--a completly different, temporary, identity-- and not in the fixed aspects of their identity.

Posted by Chelsea Burris at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Here we have an eye-level medium close up shot of a pregnant woman with a glass of unknown liquid. The the lighting and angle of the woman's body accentuates the curves of her body. Even the glass, being curvy on the bottom reflects the woman's pregnant body.

I chose this picture because while I was attempting to find a photo, I kept seeing pictures of women without their face being in the shot. Women's pregnant bodies were frequently portrayed without the woman's face being in the shot, which lead me to query the ownership of women's pregnant bodies. This photo I've chosen highlights the woman's pregnant body not her identity as gleaned from her face or other aspects of her body that reveal more who this woman is. Pregnant women are often portrayed only in terms of their pregnancy--a completly different, temporary, identity-- and not in the fixed aspects of their identity.

Posted by Chelsea Burris at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

This is a painting in my mother's living room. So I took a picture of it using my cell phone!! In the actual painting , the painter uses a mid shot, which is approximately from the waist up. In the background the artist uses dark colors such as deep browns. His characters, a black mother and her newborn child, are draped in white, so as to make them stand out and be very noticeable amongst the dark. The flowers next to her are white and purple signifying innocence and royalty. The mood is very calm, loving, and motherly. You can almost feel her passion of being a mother. I chose this image because naturally when one thinks of a black woman, they picture the half naked braud in some rap artist's music video, shaking her butt, and being addressed as a b**** or a h**. This portrait presents an image that is not often portrayed in the media. This painting portrays the black woman as a mother, a nurturer, a provider, a caregiver, and a protector. Her body fully covered in white, represents her femininity and purity. Her body, a sacred temple, her breast, the life sustainer for her newborn child, not something to be shown off to the rest of the world. Historically, the black woman has been associated with being a mother. This goes back to slavery when she was torn away from her own baby, in order to nurture and breast feed the slavemaster's baby. Over the centuries, the black woman's motherly associations and qualities has been lost.

Posted by Alexandria Grim at 09:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.whatawaytodie.com/sleaterkinney/sk-10-16-02/sk-14-235.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.whatawaytodie.com/sleaterkinney/sk-10-16-02/sk-10-16-02.html&h=454&w=605&sz=47&hl=en&start=79&tbnid=SzHrGej-8t25CM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsleaterkinney%26start%3D60%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

This is a long, low angle of Sleater Kinney playing a show. It has deep focus, but the lighting and photo composition draw the viewer's attention to the band immediately. I actually don't like the composition of this photograph, as the drummer's head is obscured by a cymbal. However, I really support the subject matter. An extremely talented band playing a crowded show is a fun story for a photograph to begin with. Add to that the fact that all of the members of Sleater Kinney are female, and none of them are made up or emaciated in appearance, and this photograph tells a pretty significant story. These women are active, creating a stark contrast with the passive and generally supine women that are often featured in mainstream American media. To me, feminism is largely about women as a sex learning to value ourselves based on what we can do, not what we look like. This picture of Sleater Kinney reminds me of that, which is most of the reason I chose it. Also, they are a totally awesome band.

Posted by Angeline Andersen at 06:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Baywatch was a show back in the 90s that every guy would often flip to while watching tv just for that slow motion run sequence that the show came to be infamous for. In this picture, we see Yasmine Bleeth not quite centered. By having the picture adjusted to the right side more than the left, we see some of the Miami skyline and also that the Yasmine is running on the waterline of the beach. By the angle of the sun hitting her body, it appears to be late in the afternoon. This lighting also provides a nice contrast on her body, with her left side casting shadows. Yasmine is the focal point of the entire scene, everything else behind her is out of focus and a blur. This picture would be quite bland if not for the bright red swimsuit and skin tone of the lifeguardHer facial expression shows effort and exhaustion, leading us to believe that this is a dramatic moment on the beach. With her Rescue Can in hand, Yasmine appears to be running to the rescue of some swimmer in trouble.

I chose this picture because I believe it represents the an age when the media first started portraying women as powerful figures on television. So what if the lifeguard happens to be dressed in a tight swimsuit that shows off every curve. Sex appeal is just one part of this lifeguard's many attributes. All of the women who stared on Baywatch were shown to be as courageous and strong as they were attractive. The Baywatch girls would save drowning victims stranded in rough waters, fight off sharks and win sandcastle building contests. High ratings were do in part to the shows writers catering to many a man's fantasy of nearly drowning and then being brought back to life by the lips of a female lifeguard.

This photo represents the stregnth and determination of women everywhere. The female characters of Baywatch could keep up (and even out do) their male counterparts. I think the biggest story trying to be told here is that Women are heroes too.

Posted by Stephen Kuzj at 01:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

This image shows what appears to be a young girl on the beach as waves crash in from the ocean. I like this image because of the way the girl is approaching the water. She seems curious about the feel of the water; especially how cold it is and how it rides up onto her feet. For me, I know the feeling of approaching such a large, never-ending mass of water and being overwhelmed by a feeling of possibility.
Basically, the image is probably what I'd consider a medium long shot. It characteristically places the girl at the right side of the frame, thus showing how massive the ocean is in contrast. The girl is tiny compared to what is embedded in the remainder of the photo. Since you don't get a facial shot of the girl, it is difficult to determine and draw conclusions based upon her expressions. You can guess that the girl is curious. She probably doesn't go onto the beach everyday so this could be a special moment for you. Being at the ocean forces people to dream and wonder about distinct possibilities they might not otherwise think about. I like to think that this girl is daydreaming in the photo. I think the thing that draws me in most of all is the fact that because the ocean is so massive, and she is so small, that you can determine how insignificant, yet precious this girl is. I think it can be important to think about that every once in a while.

Posted by Jacob Deibele at 12:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This picture shocked me because these women are supposed to represent beauty, but they look like they are near death. The first two women in the line especially seem emaciated. The framing of this photograph seems to be mid shot, the women's bodies are visible from their heads to their knees. This shot emphasizes the women's small waists and thighs more than another frame could. Although there is no obvious focal point to the picure; the women share almost equal space in the photograph, the woman in the red swimsuit stands out the most. This is because of her placement in the front of the line and because the bright red of her suit stands out against the light colors of the other women's suits. This woman is also the thinnest and most sickly looking of the four.

I think the photographer of this picture may have the same opinion of beauty pageants and "anorexia as beauty" as I do. The way the framing emphasizes the extremely thin figures of these women suggests that it is not attractive, but rather something that should worry intelligent women. There is something wrong with the image of beauty if these women are what is considered attractive; these women seem near death. Beauty pageants are ridiculous because of this extreme emphasis on being too thin and because of the attitude they perpetuate against women; that the most important aspect of women is their appearance.

Posted by Annette Bonner at 10:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I chose this picture because it reminded me of one that I had recently seen. I was going though some pictures with my grandmother and we came across one of my great grandmother. I come from a long line of farm families and this picture was taken right near the end of WWII. What struck me about the photo was how strong my great grandmother looked. Not just physically strong but her chiseled facial features showed a life of hardship and perseverance. Knowing that all four of her sons were sent to war and her having to handle the farm herself for four years, I could understand why. Even though I have never met her, I respect her greatly and what she had done to help my family pull through in hard times.

This is a photo taken of a pregnant farm woman in maybe a little different time period but with the same look of strength. She is the focus of the picture and placed right in the middle. She is in the middle of a field on a sunny afternoon. She knows that she is having her picture taken but still doesn’t smile for the camera. Although the picture is in black and white it is easy to figure out the somber mood. She is on an old dirt road in front of an open field with dead plants and old tree stumps. She almost looks like she is completely alone except for her unborn baby that she has her hands crossed around. You can tell by her old clothing and by the cut of her hair that she is not a woman of great importance. The look on her face seems to say that she is not happy to be where she is but she will do what she needs for her child to have the best it can.

Posted by Andrew Gilb at 09:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This image is framed directly around the head and upper chest area. It is focused completely on her. The lighting is very soft and accents only her, nothing in the background. The color scheme is more dull; dark hair, dark eyes, pale lipstick and blush, pale skin and a dark shirt - but her necklace stands out in the image because of the bright colors of the flowers. The mood seems very serious, like she is deep in thought. This image of a woman caught my eye for many reasons. The woman is looking up towards something and her face is very expressionless. Her bright and busy necklace contrasts with the rest of the photograph and you can see how the bottom of it ends just at the tip of her cleavage, but they do not show it in the picture. She has a tiny mole underneath her right eye and her makeup is very simple, except for her eyes which they have accented with darker makeup to draw attention to them. The light reflects in her eyes, a twinkle you could say as she stares into it. She is very beautiful and the photograph portrays her as flawless. Her hair is done in a very elegant way. The woman is relaxed but looks very serious. She is the center of attention and the focus is on her face and her expression. The necklace has a meaning in the picture since it is the most colorful part of the photo and is included in the framing of her head and neck. It seems like what is happening is that she is angered or irritated by something that is being said to her or something that is happening to her. She has her eyes looking away from anything in her direct line of sight and isn't looking at an object since the light is reflecting right back in her eyes. She has her head tilted and from the way her body is tilted, she seems to have her arms crossed, perhaps from annoyance. Her lips are closed which could mean that she doesn't want to speak or doesn't have anything to say. She is just keeping her thoughts to herself and thinking about what is going on.

(On a sidenote, I interpreted it the way I did because the look and her demeanor reminds me of the way I act when I give my boyfriend the cold shoulder.)

Posted by Amanda Mrotek at 08:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This image is a very long shot of a young Irish girl on a fall afternoon. She is in the lower right corner of the photo, and that is where the focus of the picture lies. I like this image because of the contrast of her bright red hair and pink jacket against the blues and greens of the land around her. I also like that she is unaware of the camera's presence, and is just in a natural state. I am reminded of childhood, when an afternoon can feel so long, and there are no worries occupying your mind. This little girl seems very content, and is interacting with nature through her gaze down at the duck. I also love the movement you can see in her hair and the waves of the sea, providing a feeling of being there on this chilly afternoon. Her tall water-proof boots and jacket with sleeves that are a little too long show a young girl who being just that. She is untouched by the pressures that many young girls face, and which will likely, saldy, befall her in a few years. This photo was taken by my boyfriend while he was in Killarney, Ireland. He just happened by this moment and captured it beautifully!!

Posted by Colleen Straiton at 07:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I picked this photograph after looking at all of the blog photographs. I wanted to the viewer to sympathize with the photograph. To some extent, I believe that much of the population has become numb to photographs that have content that deals with suffering. This is possible that some of us have become numb because we see so much violence, sex, suffering, etc. on TV, in the movies, and in other forms of media. I picked this photo in hopes that the blog viewers would stop and try to imagine and appreciate this woman's history.

This photograph is a wide shot of an elderly woman. Her body position suggests that she is suffering after being badly injured. The text below the photo tells is that she was "badly injured after being exposed to a poisonous gas" (http://www.greenpeace.org/international/photosvideos/photos/lone-survivor-this-elderly-wo). She is placed in the center of the photograph and is the focal point. Her right hand is holding her head up as she stares down at the ground stressing that she is reflecting on her thoughts. The photo is black and white, which is a good color choice because it gives off the impression of being a very depressing photo. The black and white colors of the photograph emphases the dirtiness in her everyday clothing. She is also holding a dirty white cloth that is absorbing the blood from her bleeding lip. Her head is covered with a cloth. Since is fully covered from head to, it is possible that she is trying to hide either her body and/or her emotions. It looks as though this photograph was not modeled, She was probably just sitting there and the photographer moved the camera to get the shot he wanted instead of moving the women.

I googled a ton of adjectives describing women so I could find a photo of a woman that spoke to me. I googled the words suffering woman and I found this photo. I wanted to know this woman's history and what she had just gone through. Some people ignore the suffering because they don't know how they can help, don't want to help, or are just consumed in their everyday life. This photograph is inspiring me to look deeper in to the history of individuals and hopefully give me a new outlook on people who are suffering.

Posted by Alysse Johnson-Strandjord at 07:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This picture was found off a very sexual website with pictures of mainly beautiful naked women. The photographer's company has the word "Diva" probabaly because he wasnts us to think that these are sexually powerful women. This particular picture stands out because of the fact that this woman's lips are bright red. The look on her face is somewhat confusing because it is hard to determine if she is uncomfortable, or making an effort to be sexy, but by the looks of her nipples, I think the photographer wanted her to appear sexy. The extremely red lips give this photo an edge that lips are probabaly the most sexy thing about a woman. However, he was not afraid to have her body be the highlight of this photo. This photo tells a story about a woman who is lusting for the viewer. She is almost fairy-tale like with her hair and loud lips. This photo completely exploits this woman to be valued as an object instead of person. We, as a viewer, are looking down upon her, and we have all of the control of her and her body. The lips in some way are a distraction to the fact that she is using her body to emphasize her sexuality.

Posted by Jillian Schwantz at 05:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is a Dolce & Gabbana ad. The reason I chose this image is because everytime I open up a magazine, their ads offend me the most. There are two girls in the picture and they are lying on hay and appear to be in a pen. They are skinny to the point of unhealthy and there is rope in the pen as if to tie them up if necessary. Their eyes are blackened and dark as if they were hit. There is the leg of another girl at the far left of the image which looks as if the girls are strewn about the pen in an uncivilized manner. The lighting is bright and is even throughout the whole image. The two girls are in the middle of the image. It is a tall shot and you can see their entire bodies. The color in the image is very dull; there are a lot of browns and neutral colors except for their stockings and shoes. I feel so upset everytime I look at this ad because it dehumanizes women to an extreme.

For a look at more of their ads, see their website: http://eng.dolcegabbana.it/main.asp

Posted by Jessica Englund at 05:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This photograph is of a little East Asian girl sitting on a mini chair, holding a newspaper. She is situated on the right side of the photo with her body pointing to the upper left corner, and her head looking away. The ground/background is of gray cobblestones and the girl is wearing a complete pink outfit. The colors of her clothing and that of her black hair make her stand out in the picture. I picked this picture because I liked the calmness and innocence of it. It seems to me that this little girl is just being a little girl. She is happy to be a little girl who likes wearing pink and goofing around. This reminds me of when I was little, when I liked wearing frilly dresses and bright colors, not because I was supposed to, but because I enjoyed it.

Posted by Alison Havey at 04:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I chose this particular image because the woman's face jumped out at me. This isn't necessarily a bold, elaborate, bright image, infact it's quite the opposite. That is what caught my eye. The woman, seems dark, mysterious, and beautiful all at the same time. Focusing on her face, the border is completely black, not allowing us to see anything except the focal point. The minimal light that is emphasized in the image, falls directly on her cheek, eye and nose. Even the side of her face begins to fade away into black shadows. Part of the woman's bottom lip seems to shimmer from her lip gloss. All while the rest of her face is pale but with perfect complexion. Nothing is out of place, or in disarray on this woman's face.
Even though the woman seems perfect and gorgeous, the mood of the image conveys an air of mystery. This woman does not appear happy. Or is she happy, and instead is just appearing coy and flirtacious? The way her eyebrow is slightly raised makes me feel the later. In other words, the woman wants you to think that she's dark and mysterious, yet the onlooker is just captivated and entranced by her beauty. Her eyes seem to let you in. She knows you are staring at her because even through her downward gaze, she is confidently yet playfully focusing on the onlooker.
I like and chose this image, because all you see is the woman's face. You don't see her body, her clothes, or even her hair. The focal point is on her face, her complexion, her eyes, and the light that radiates off of these features.

Posted by Mikaela Knox at 03:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

This is a mid body shot of an aging woman standing in what seems to be either a modest home or a cave. She is standing by an opening to the outdoors where the light is coming in (the right side of the photo). There is a latter to her right hand side (the left side of the photo). Below the latter there are rocks and to the right or those rocks there is something fuzzy like carpet or straw; which leads me to believe that this might some how be her place of residence. The lack of colors surrounding her automatically draws our attention to her. I chose this image because it shows a woman at her most modest state. Her clothes are very conservative and respectful of her age. Her clothes are worn out and ripped from her left shoulder. If you look closely at the woman’s face you could tell that in all actuality she is not that old, but her face has been lined by what seems like worry. The thing that attracted my attention to this photo was the look in the woman’s eyes; it’s kind of a tired, sad, and repressed look. It looks like she is trying to repress the tiredness and sadness with that smile.

Posted by Saly Abdalla at 02:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The figure is centered in the frame with a light source eminating from a source coming from the left. The shot is well lit with a little drop off over the shoulder of the figure. The image is desaturated. The darkest parts of her seem to match the blackness of the background.
Depending on what you see the woman is either A) young and looking back and to the left or B) elderly and looking directly left of frame.
Not being able to see the young woman's face makes her a little mysterious because you can't tell read her facial emotions. The fact that she is facing away from you could indicate that she doesn't want to look at you, perhaps disgusted. She could also be gazing or daydreaming and not paying attention.
The elderly woman seems to have a certain sadness about her. Her eyes give me that impression. However, her mouth seems to be smiling. Either she's hiding her sadness with a smile or she's so happy that she's moved to tears.
I chose this image because it first tests you on which age you see first, but also because it is a visual depiction of how we all will be both young and old in our lifetimes.

Posted by John Komarek at 01:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In this image, I see a woman with dark hair, blue eyes, and the sun shinning on her. I chose this image because it is of a woman that I admire and this picture shows not only how beautiful she is, but how engaging she can be. She is an actress in my favorite tv show "Gilmore Girls". Her name is Lauren Graham. She represents a very empowered woman who stands up for herself and does not let anyone walk all over her. She is a very strong woman and I look up to her for that. She knoes who she is and she stays that way and doens't change for anyone else. Looking at her picture makes me feel like I can be as succsessful as she is and do anything I set my mind to.

In this picture, I see a woman looking directly at the camera or at the person viewing the image like she is not afraid to look you right in the eye. The sun is shinning on her and catches her hair making it look like gold. She looks approachable and kind. She has very intense blue eyes. The story that this image is telling is that of a strong and sure woman who knows who she is. She is looking right at you as if you are talking to her and she is giving you her full attention and she is listening to every word you say so that she can give you advise if you need it. She wants to help you and make you feel that she is your friend and tat you are safe. You can trust her and she will help you. The sunlight hitting her face makes her look like she is an angel. That helps you see the kindness in her face. She looks perfect like angels should.

Posted by Nicole Rutt at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I chose this image because it is so typical of what we see in magazines. The women has fallen down the stairs and appears to be dead. However, she is still very beautiful and the colors in the image are bright and happy. Because of the way she looks, the image seems to say, "Death is sexy. She's dead but look at how great the dress looks on her." I feel mixed emotions when looking at this image. Am I supposed to feel sad because she has met her fate on a set of stairs, or should feel compelled to buy the product? So the question you have to ask yourself is, is death sexy?

Posted by Jessica Shoemaker at 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)