Photography With A Message

Born Into Brothels Activity:

Part A- Answer the following questions:

1. What did Zana describe as the reason for giving the cameras to the children in the beginning of the documentary? i.e. why didn't she just take the photographs herself?

At the beginning of the documentary Zana said her reason for giving the cameras to the children was because she wanted to see the lives of the people in the red light district from the children's point of view, and through their eyes. She wanted the pictures to be real, not posed, so by giving the cameras to the children and letting them take the pictures, she figured that she would be able to capture what is actually going on in the brothels. Zana didn't take the photos herself because for one thing, it allowed her to teach the children about photography, and because if the children took the photos she would be able to get pictures from many different view points, from people actually living through the subject matter of the photo instead of just getting photos from her perspective. By letting the children take the pictures, I think she thought she would be able to get a better understanding of what was going on, and she was able to get into the lives of the children's family, probably closer than she would have if she had taken the pictures herself. Another reason why she didn't take the pictures is because if she did, she thought that people may not be acting like they normally would in their every day lives, she thought that the people may end up posing because she was taking the pictures, so by letting the children take the photos she figured that people may be acting like they usually would, allowing her to capture more realistic photos.

2. Why is the photographer's point of view or unique voice part of what we consider when we talk about pictures? Can't we simply just judge all pictures by the same criteria of good and bad regardless of who took them?

We consider the photographers point of view when we talk about pictures because the photographers point of view allows us to understand why they took the photo, and it may also allow the picture to tell more of a story than it would if you didn't consider the photographers point of view. We can't judge all pictures by the same criteria because pictures have different reasons for being taken, and they have different purposes and different messages that are trying to be portrayed. You can't simply judge a picture because it was good or bad, you have to take the photographers point of view into consideration when you talk about pictures, because it will allow you to better understand the picture.

3. Reflect on what Avijit says about painting: "I like to draw pictures because I want to express what's on my mind ...I want to put my thoughts into colours." What does this tell us about him?

When Avijit says that he likes to draw pictures because he wants to express what's on his mind, and that he wants to put his thoughts into colours, it tells us that art, and specifically, painting is his outlet. Painting is his form of personal expression, and possibly his way of dealing with the situation he is in. I think this tells us that painting is Avijits way of expressing his opinions and thoughts, and that it is also a way that he escapes his situation, so that he can be himself, develop his own opinions, and for a little while, not be told what to do.

4. Throughout this lesson the term 'personal expression' is used to refer to art, sports, writing and other activities. How would you define personal expression? How are photography, painting and writing forms of personal expression?

I would define personal expression as a method of someone portraying their emotions, feelings, opinions and thoughts. I think personal expression is a form of therapy because by portraying your feelings and emotions, it can help you deal with the situation you are in. Photography, painting and writing are forms of personal expression because they are things that have very little limitations. They allow you to choose the subject matter, and they allow you to express your feelings, emotions, thoughts and opinions whether it is through writing a story about them, or portraying them in a photograph or painting.

5. How can art (personal expression) serve as a means of educating others about a particular issue?

Art can serve as a means of educating others about a particular issue through the subject of the art, and the story. If a work of art is about current issues for example, it would help educate others when they saw it because the art piece would hopefully explain the issue and what it is about through the drawing. Art can tell a story through the subject of it, and how the art is composed, and if people understand the story a piece of art is portraying it will serve as a way of educating them. Art as a form of personal expression can educate others because it will usually have some sort of message or story about a particular issue.

Part B- Critique:

(i) Select what you believe are the two most beautiful images based on traditional photography standards (nice contrast, appealing colours and textures, clear focal point, etc...) and in a sentence for each explain why you like them.

I like this photo because it has good contrast between the leaves and the branches, you can see the texture of the tree, it has an interesting composition, and the branches lead the eye around the whole photo.

I like this photo because it has a clear focal point (the man), it has a good diagonal composition with the hill, and it almost looks like it has a panning effect as the man is moving and the background is slightly blurry.

(ii) Select what you believe to be the most effective pictures at conveying a message or educating you about the issues of human rights abuses and in a sentence each explain why you chose them.

I chose this picture because I felt that the red marks (almost look like hand marks, and it looks like he might have been beat up) on the man's body emphasizes the fact that human rights abuses issues are occurring in the red light district, and I feel that this photograph really teaches and educates people about what occurs in brothels like the red light district.

I chose this photo because I felt that the black ink marks, as well as the red marks on the child's face, along with the background educate people on what goes on in the red light district due to the fact that it educates others about how the people in the red light district are living, and it would also show them that human rights abuses issues are occurring in these brothels.

(iii) Does a picture need to be beautiful to be effective? Does it help?

I don't think that a picture needs to be beautiful to be effective because some photos that may appear ugly or disturbing can be the most effective pictures, as they tell a story and portray issues that may be occurring around the world. Although I don't think that a picture has to be beautiful to be effective, I do believe that it helps because most people today want to look at beautiful photos, not photos that they may consider disturbing. I feel that more people would see effective pictures if they were beautiful because people are attracted to beautiful things, and if more people saw them, they would be even more effective, as more people would know about the issues that are portrayed in the pictures.