Diane Arbus: A Woman with Pearl Necklace and Earrings: N.Y.C.: 1967 : Walker Evans: Couple at Coney Island: 1928
The first photo is an example of a short depth of field photo taken by Diane Arbus. I found this photo to be powerful. As women, we are expected to smile for photos and this woman is not. She is outright frowning. The darkness that surrounds her head makes the viewer focus on her and her expression. She is dressed elegantly which only adds to the contrast of her angry face. I find the dimension in the photo in the creases of her face, the darkness of her lipstick, and the frown in her eyebrows. I thought it was striking and caused me to pause which is why I chose it. It is a great representation of female empowerment because it shows that women can be feminine in pearls and powerful simultaneously.
The second photo I have chosen is the complete opposite of the first. This long depth of field photo conveys a joy and love. The title, “Couple a Coney Island” only a further demonstration of what the photograph is about. It is easy to tell from the couple’s body language that they are enjoying each other’s company. This is a great example of a long depth of field because it shows the focus, the couple, but the background of Coney Island is also visible. The lines of flags create an aesthetic symmetry but arent distracting from the couple. I like how they are dressed up for their date, it adds a note of elegance to the photo, which is challenging to find in a photo of an amusement park today. The only way this photo could be better would be if it was colorized. This photo makes me envious of couples who got to enjoy dates like this in the 1920’s