Mike, Juan ...
Well, they are, indeed, two different expressions of the same subject.
The first was not a statement of anything, rather, it was more of a
graphic, capturing a representation of a flag, showing, at the most,
perhaps, an exhibition of pride and support. I was not thinking of
making a statement, just of capturing and interpreting a nice, strong
image.
This photo is meant to be thought provoking and can be interpreted
several ways. When I saw the scene and snapped the shutter, I was
thinking that here was an image that showed America imprisoned by the
fear and power of terrorism. This was at the same time that we were
being told to continue our lives as they had been - spend money, buy
goods and services, travel - a message that could be interpreted if not
as one of corporate and political greed, then certainly of
self-interest. Let's keep the wheels of commerce flowing while we are
mourning our loss of loved ones and innocence. The building, one of the
largest in the area, symbolizes the corporate and political POV, the
barbed wire and fencing symbolizes our being trapped by circumstances,
the threat of losing certain freedoms and liberties, and a heightened
level of security. That's what I saw and felt the morning that I made
that photograph, Juan, as I was heading to San Francisco to meet you.
But that's just my interpretation. Yours may be different, but no less
valid.
The most important aspect of any photograph is, I think, to get the
viewer to think about what he or she feels or experiences when viewing
it - to get the viewer to feel something, even though it's not readily
explainable or clear, even if the viewer dislikes what he or she sees.
Maybe to provoke an action from the viewer. ee cummings wrote:
since feeling is first
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you ...
It is not for us, as viewers of art, including photography, to always
understand that which we see and experience. The experience can be
enough at first, and the understanding can, and probably will, come
later, as long as we allow ourselves to feel.
"Juan J. Buhler" wrote:
> > > http://home.earthlink.net/~belinkoff/pow/flag-behind-wire.html
> >
> > I like this one a lot better than the other one. Says more.
>
> I also like this one a lot more than the other. It does say more, although
> I'm not sure what the message is. In a way, as a non-American living here, it
> made me think of my (currently ongoing and seemengly never-ending) greencad
> process.
--
Shel Belinkoff
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://home.earthlink.net/~belinkoff/
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