Photography Assignment II

Kyleigh Gaylord

Photography Project II: Written Statement

        The general idea I chose to explore through my photographs was controversy.  I examined topics that evoked controversial feelings and took pictures that would portray the different perspectives of those controversies.  More specifically, I chose to employ the use of brightly contrasting colors in the words displayed on the photographs to display the vast contrast of the controversial topics the pictures themselves disclosed. 

        I chose to explore the idea of controversial topics through Barbara-Kruger-inspired photographs because it interests me how taking the right photograph can broaden a perspective on a strong, meaningful topic.  I also chose to include words on my photographs to blatantly point out rarely-thought-of points of view.  The colors of the words against a harsh black and white picture also create a vast contrast, which I feel demonstrates the contrast of the ideas and thoughts that these pictures have the ability of provoking.

        I used the photographic style of Barbara Kruger.  Our images are the same in the concept of a black and white photo with words.  Our photographs differ, though, because I used different colored words, where Barbara Kruger only used red.  Also, Barbara Kruger used many play on words, where I did not.  I blatantly stated the point of which I was trying to get across.  Also, Barbara Kruger used standard black and white, where I opted for a darker contrast which I feel gave my images more of an eerie feel.

            Gay marriage, underage drinking, and littering were a few of the topics I chose to truly highlight the overall purpose of these pictures - to evoke deeper thoughts and viewpoints of the viewers where they might have otherwise been rather close-minded. 

My first picture was a picture of a run-down business with the word “RECESSION” printed on it.  I feel this illustrates the sadness of the destroyed hopes and accomplishments of the recession.

.  My second picture was one of litter.  I titled this “PLANET GREEN - protecting the environment”.  This shows the intent to protect the environment and how it can only be accomplished through the actions of people.

My third picture was one of money growing on trees, illustrating the anticipation of possibility and counteracting the saying “if money grew on trees” or “when pigs fly”.

.  My fourth picture was one of a woman about to undergo plastic surgery.  Titled “NOT YOUNG ENOUGH”, this picture portrays how us, as humans, are never satisfied with our exterior appearance.

My fifth picture was a picture of two sets of wedding rings, paired with the same sex.  This shows the controversy of same sex marriage.

My sixth picture was one of a kid holding an A+ paper in one hand, and alcohol behind his back.  With the words “dont judge a book by its cover...”, this shows that what could appear to be innocent on the outside could be opposite in reality - and vise versa.