After uncovering main details of my selected photo from a collection on Rwandan orphans, I realized there is even more to the picture that I missed during my first observation. I had looked quite a bit into the meaning of the photo, but had not looked into the technical aspects.

Devota, the photographer of this photo, was part of a project called “Through the Eyes of Children” that started in 2000. At first, the orphan children were simply given disposable cameras to take pictures of things close to them- themselves, their friends, and their country- to be displayed on their walls or in picture books. A year later, the U.S Embassy helped take this project to new heights: they offered the children a place to display their work and earn money to help their education. This is now what the project is all about: helping these orphans. I feel like knowing this background on why Devota was taking these pictures is helpful in developing a sense of technicality of the photo.

When looking at the untitled photo by Devota, I tried to do what the project intended: to put myself in her shoes. I imagined myself in Rwanda, looking through her eyes at this child. It wasn’t until I did this that I thought about where Devota was standing, and how she was standing, when she took this photograph. In this photo she had to have been squatting down: the angle is not looking down at the baby and is below the level of corn behind him. Also, on the left hand side of the photo there is what looks to be a pant leg. This helps contribute to the idea of being on the baby’s level. This gives the photograph a more personal, up-close feeling and not a “candid-camera” feel.

During my first observation I made note that “The baby is the focus of the picture” and that he is the vector of attention. Upon further thinking, however, I feel that he is a major part but not the only focus. He is a little off centered, giving space in the photograph for the background contribute to the meaning of the photograph. While I do look at the baby right away, I get distracted and look at the gas can and nest of blankets as well. All of these things help contribute to the emotion that the baby displays (logos contributing to ethos). The photograph does not just show a close-up of a crying baby. It shows a half-clothed baby sitting in dirt and old material, unsupervised, with trash lying around him. I would definitely say that with all of these details, levels of emotion are definitely raised.

When looking further into the picture to see if I could tell if much editing had occurred in this photograph, I could not find any other than possibly cropping. I think that the reason there is not any editing in this picture is because it is meant to be a “real life” still frame. It isn’t supposed to look manufactured or edited in special ways, it is meant to be a true life look into the lives of Rwanda orphans. I think this is more effective to me because it allows me to believe the picture. When things get too professional or technical it can lose its reliability. People believe straight-forward and honest ideas.

Overall, there were many technical aspects that went into my picture to help shape my ideas of what Devota wanted me to think about. I think that understanding and recognizing these aspects have helped me quite a bit and further understanding my photo.

Untitled Emotions

When asked to choose a picture from the many galleries on the website, I connected quickly with "Through the Eyes of Children- Rwanda Project". I have always been intrigued by the happenings of Rwanda and it was interesting to go through and see the ways these children expressed their lives through photography.

When going through the many pictures, this Untitled photograph of a crying baby really appealed to me. I am a very emotional, caring person which made a picture like this one, which heavily appeals to emotions, really stood out to me. The first thing that I was attracted to was the crying, half-clothed baby in the center of he picture. This infant is definitely meant to be the focus of this picture: his emotions and his lifestyle. Because the subject of these collections of pictures are on the orphans of Rwanda, I can assume that this little baby is an orphan as well. His emotions appear to be very strained and sad. I almost feel a bit of loneliness in his expressions, and can infer that he isn't being looked over the best since he is the only person in the picture.

This baby's environment is one that most would name unfit for a child: his "nest" of blankets serves as his place to rest, surrounded by corn husks and gasoline containers. I've never been to Rwanda, but I can assume that it is very hot. The baby in this picture is partly shaded but is still exposed to the sun. His clothing consist on a single vest, with what looks like no diaper or pants. The baby and his surroundings are not very clean for a young developing child. I feel really bad for this child. I feel that this child may live his life wondering who will care for him, without much security or closeness. I'm sure that he most likely gets passed from person to person to be cared for, receives the basic care he needs for survival, but most likely doesn't get the love and closeness that a baby needs.

After examining this picture I realized that this picture, while pertaining to the child in the picture, is about life in the eyes of Devota, a child of Rwanda. I started to think about why Devota would take a picture of this child. Maybe, this is how she felt when she was little- lost and scared. Lonely. This unnamed baby may be a snapshot of what she went through and experienced as a baby. Not only her, but I feel that this is an expression of how all of the orphan children of Rwanda feel secretly. The older children like Devota maybe feel that they shouldn't express these feelings of loneliness, and instead hold it all in. The snapshot of the baby crying may be what Devota wants to do herself. Just sit down and cry.

I am very excited to analyze this photograph further. I feel that I really connect to this picture.

Weekly Blog Post 7

I think that the visual arts can be one of the most appealing to the heart and mind. Within this category of visual arts, photography captures ideas, thoughts, and emotions in ways that other visual arts cannot. While paintings can express some of these emotions and ideas, they sometimes do not come off as "real" as photographs. Photographs captures the exact moment or feeling that the photographer experienced at the time. I find it interesting to look into what seems like a simple picture, like the one to the right, and try to figure out what the photographer was thinking or feeling at the time he/she took it. I have a much more personal connection with photography.

Photographs, because of how real they are, can also tell stories. From snapshots that you may take on your digital camera to a professional photographer's work, each brings to mind a story that may have taken place within the picture or that is related to the ideas of the photograph. I have a personal connection to photography in this way. All of my most precious memories are stored in still framed images, pictures. I love looking back on them and reminiscing about the fun times and not so fun times of my past. Some photographs make me cry, while some send me into laughing fits. This shows how emotions (or pathos ;)) can fit into photography. Everyone can connect in some way.

While some may think that photography is very simple in that you just push a button, they are very wrong! There are several different aspects that one can play around with when developing a piece of photography art. Becoming more popular in digital cameras, SLR cameras have many gadgets to change your photograph into the way you want it. Exposure and focus are two common ways of altering a photograph. Using tricks and techniques such as these can help make your photograph a piece of art. Colors can also be played with. Black and white versus color can definitely bring another idea to a photograph. One color singularly stinking out of a black and white photo can as well. With all of the many techniques to photography that are out there, each photo can definitely help define your idea or purpose.

I'm very excited to start this analysis of photography and think it will be a very interesting section of this English class.

Weekly Blog Post 6

"Concrete Angel" by Martina McBride is constructed into a context involving a three-part "musical PSA" on child abuse. The music video starts out with the introduction of a little girl, is briefly interrupted by some scenes of Martina McBride narrating the story, and ends with information for the National Child Abuse Hotline.

All of these three components are developments of logos and really help tie the video together. Martina McBride acts as the voice for the thousands of children that hide their pain from abuse. While acting as the voice, she also helps guide the story along by serving as a transition between scenes and narrating the story. The story of Angela serves as an example of one little girl and her battle with abuse. This helps pull the audience in and really make them feel the emotions that these abused child feel every day. Therefore, it deepens the understanding and emotions behind what Martina McBride sings about. After pulling on your heartstrings and making you think about this issue, there is a child abuse hotline displayed. This is the silent offer for you to speak up for a child as well.

While being very organized in how the video is presented, Martina McBride's "Concrete Angel" also comes off as very professional. The effects of the video, such as the little ghost boy at the funeral walking through the person, do not come off as "cheesy". While still being professional, the video designer of "Concrete Angel" also made the video personal. The clips of Martina McBride and her emotions involved with telling the story make the video more of a flashback than a computer-generated, staged video. This shows a good tie between logos and ethos and how they contribute to each other.

Pathos is not shown in this video in typography, but rather in the words themselves. Word choice is something that contributes greatly to the way we perceive things. Comparing Angela's abuse to a "secret storm" helps put an image to the "winds and rain" she endures: It's like a hurricane that tries to pull her in several ways violently and strong. But Angela is the "concrete angel" that endures this violence and appears, at first, unaffected by it. Looking deeper into the concrete, however, there are cracks and signs of the violence she has endured. Eventually, this storm breaks these cracks and she falls (dies). I think that this word choice really helps build understanding. You also need to look at auditory part of the video. Martina McBride never mentions a name in her lyrics. Everything is just referred to as “she”. This word choice helps the song pertain to any child, anywhere. It’s not just one child; it could be your child’s best friend. It could be anyone. This video's purpose is definitely meant to be a public service announcement in disguise. It is meant to make you think and maybe take a second look into the lives of the children around you.

Overall, these are just a few examples of logos in this music video and how they contribute to ethos and pathos. Using logos in these ways help build a better reaction from the audience- in thought and emotion.

Weekly Blog Post 5

The music video "Concrete Angel" By Martina McBride shows many examples of ethos, pathos, and logos throughout. The two most predominant of the three modes of communication are logos and pathos.

Logos is shown in the overall structure of the music video. The video starts out introducing a little girl named Angela and the life she lives. With this form of structure, the audience gets a chance to meet and know more about the little girl that may secretly live among them. It isn't a coincidence that most "life lessons" are built into stories: people can easily relate to them and begins to understand the deeper meaning behind them. This is why I believe the songwriter and video designer chose to use this as the form of logos. It allows the audience to put themselves in the story and maybe accuse themselves of being the teacher who didn't ask about the bruises or the neighbor who simply turned off the light. It makes the audience think about the world around them and how, in this case, child abuse that might be occurring just next door.

The title of this song/ music video also shows another form of logos. The title "Concrete Angel" isn't very straight forward and makes the audience wonder what the song/video is about. At first, you may simply think about an angel made from concrete, similar to what may be in a church. But listening to the story of Angela you come to learn how she is the concrete angel. "Through the wind and the rain, she stands hard as stone": Martina McBride uses these lyrics to describe Angela as the concrete angel enduring the "secret storm" of her abuse. Using word choice to describe Angela as the concrete angel helps put deeper meaning behind her lyrics and ties in pathos, another mode of communication into this video.

Emotion is often said to be one of the best ways to open an audience's heart to a message. Animal abuse commercials don't show cute, happy puppies. They show abused, sad animals to get your emotions running and make you want to help save that cute kitten on your television screen. I would say that pathos is the strongest form of communication in "Concrete Angel". While in some situations a lot of emotion can be more harm than good for communication, in this video it is necessary. It shows the story of Angela, shows how this epidemic of child abuse has touched Martina McBride, and how child abuse can affect the audience's life as well. It brings awareness and while you may not end the video without tears in your eyes, it gives you hope that you can help end child abuse.

Overall, I think that without these forms of pathos and logos, "Concrete Angel" would not be as touching as it is. Understanding logos, pathos, and ethos definitely helps form a better presentation: whether it is an essay, a painting, or in this case, a music video.