Flower Power Style
For a candid, there is so much going on I this
picture but of course a professional can get that. As a close up, we get a more
intimate insight into the events of the protest yet the aerial view also gives
us distance. The first thing I noticed when I looked at Flower Power was the rifles.
They are the central point of the photograph, not the men. It took a minute to
realize that there were flowers inside the rifles. That image is so powerful. This
action emulates the theme of this photograph and the protest: peace over
violence. The contrast between the light and dark emphasizes what should be an
enmity. Light colors are often associated with good and dark colors with evil
which are always at odds. The flowers help bring the two sides together just as
peace will unite our world.
I really enjoyed your insights into the juxtaposition of the black and white colors and how they symbolize opposing forces which are relevant to the hippies' beliefs vs. the government's actions: peace vs. violence. I also liked how you recognized the composition of the picture and how the guns with flowers in them were at the center. I agree that the flowers in the rifles create a poignant symbol for non-violence, which isn't even considered as an actual alternative to war presently. Maybe you could further look into the strategic composition employed by the photographer in separating the opposing forces in half? And in what that might symbolize?
ReplyDeleteLike Elene, I love how you made the connection between the juxtaposed shading of the picture. I also appreciate how you mentioned that the rifles and flowers are the focal point of the photograph. Although these two things are the center of the picture I also think that it would have been wise of you to talk about the obvious separation between the two groups and how this couldn't have been captured if not taken from an aerial view. If you would have elaborated on the good points you made that would have made this post even better.
ReplyDelete-Ashley McNeill
I third the appreciation of the analysis of the meanings behind the colors, and juxtaposition of black and white. As you mentioned, the photo is a candid, and I viewed it as one that was strikingly rich in imagery. You can almost feel the contrast in the photo; the hustling and bustling of the crowd control reacts with the calm serenity of the hippies who smell like flowers. I imagined a Bob Marley song being interrupted by the shouts of crowd control. I think this kind of style is targeted by reporters; to make the reader be able to put themselves into the headlines.
ReplyDelete