While reading the analysis on Robert Capa’s photograph, The Falling Soldier, also known as the greatest war photograph of all time came across many discussions and about whether the photo was real or staged as “fakery.” I do find Richard Whelan’s argument convincing because I do not understand why one would fake death, especially during the middle of war. I also do not know how someone can fake death in the position the soldier was in. Therefore, I do not think Robert Capa’s photo was staged. As the article had stated, Captain Robert L. Frank has proven to us that when the fingers curl towards the palm, it indicates that the soldier’s muscles has gone is already dead. The photo does not seem fake or staged to me because I don’t know how someone could fake an expression of “death” as expressed on the soldier’s face you can tell it’s not fake. I also do not know how someone can hold themselves up in the position the soldier was while “falling” as shown in the photograph. I believe the authenticity for this photo matters because it is during war and since Robert Capa wanted to capture moments from it, the photos should be real and not staged or it wouldn’t have any meaning to it and for him to be there. If he wanted the photo to be staged, he could always have someone dress up as a soldier and go to a field and photograph them. I believe that this photo became popular because no one would have expected a soldier getting shot would be captured.
Homework #3: Robert Capa’s Death of a Loyalist Soldier
While Richard Whelan does have a vested interest in Capa’s photo being authentic (as he is Capa’s biographer), I do find his argument very convincing. It seems extremely plausible to me that the incident happened as Whelan describes. The ironic part is that if this is true, then it did not really happen in the heat of battle as the picture suggests, but rather as an unfortunate incident as a result of not being mindful enough while posing for a picture. In the end, to me it does not really matter if the picture is authentic or not. This picture was taken at a time when the only access that people had to war was written accounts and photos. If it is not real, then certainly numerous similar events took place during this war. The important part to me is that this picture gave people a sense of what was occurring during the Spanish Civil War, and allowed them to connect more personally with the conflict.
Cecilia Taveras – Homework #3: Robert Capa’s Death of Loyalist Soldier
While I was reading the article analysis about Robert Capa photograph that was labeled as one of the greatest war photograph that was ever taken but at the same time it was also known for being staged or if an individual may have called it “fakery”. When I was reading Richard Whelan’s discussion of Capa’s photographs, they was a lot of opinions to grasp on to tell if the picture that Robert Capa took was staged or not. During Richard Whelan discussion, he tries to prove that Robert Capa photo that he took which is called “Death of a loyalist Soldier” was staged or not. In my opinion, I believe no one would not do such a thing as in faking a death for a photograph especially standing in such a position that the soldier was in Robert Capa photograph. I believe that Robert Capa photograph was not staged because like the article said, when a person muscle is getting limb and is in the moment of dying, the hands in which the fingers of the individual starts to curls in which the soldier had curled up fingers(left hand) and I believe that a regular person would not know that in order to portray a staged photograph if Robert wanted to stage his photograph. A person would not know until they have gone through it. I believe the soldier position says a lot about Robert Capa photograph not being staged. For example, his right left arms facing us, it shows that it was sort of unbalance, in terms of his rifle was going to fall during the moment from his own hands.
Homework #2 Walker Evans
The discreet manner in which Walker Evans took photographs was perhaps one of the only ways to capture the true glimpses of people’s emotions in their everyday lives because trains are one of the only few places in which a range of different people stay in for an extended period of time. There are so many characters on trains that maybe the best approach to truly capture them as they are, is at a moment unawares. He went to such great lengths to capture the peoples genuine self discretely in the Depression-era that I couldn’t help but admire it the elaborate way he went about doing so. An example of this would be how he designed the wire to run down his sleeve and the Contax he painted flat black. Evans just seems like a curious type of person who takes into consideration the feelings of others even when the passengers didn’t directly know it. This was shown through his actions of waiting years to finally release his book.
Naturally, most passengers on trains just want to get to their destination without anyone talking to them. The passengers photographed by Walker Evans aren’t so different from the people you see today as they still make an effort to avoid eye contact with others. People on trains gain this sort of blank gaze and yet at the same time cautious alertness to any suspicious activity and it’s understandable. The person across from them is a stranger who could be a murderer for all they know. I imagine that if people were aware of being photographed on their daily commute, they’ll have qualms about it. The expressions of the riders today and then aren’t so different. We’d rather withdraw within ourselves than to talk to the stranger next to us.
Homework #3: Robert Capa’s Death of a Loyalist Soldier
Robert Capa, “Death of a Loyalist Soldier” 1936
At the age of 23, Robert Capa took a photograph that many have labeled the greatest war photograph of all time. Taken during the Spanish Civil War, the renown of Capa’s photograph, Falling Soldier or Death of a Loyalist Soldier, reverberated around the world as it was published and republished in contemporary news magazines. However, Capa’s photo has been shadowed by controversy, including accusations of fakery. Read an analysis on the image by Capa’s biographer, Robert Whelan, on the authenticity of the photograph. Do you find his arguments convincing? Do you think Capa’s photograph is staged or not? And do you think its authenticity matters? If you wish, you can compare Capa’s photograph to another controversial image.
Richard Whelan’s discussion of Capa’s photograph
To complete this homework assignment, please submit a post.
Please post your responses by Thursday, May 12th Thursday, May 19th.
HW#2 Walker Evans Subway portrait By Akash Ghosh
It’s amazing to see some pictures that had been taken in the subways. It looks so unique but sad to me. Because those pictures has been taken in great depression time, and those riders expressions says all. They had some unhappy,scary faces which doesn’t looks good to any viewers. I do see similarities between today and great depression time riders. The similarity will be both period of riders don’t smile in the subway. Even though nowadays people are all busy with their cellphones and other stuffs. They don’t care whats going on in the subways most of the times. But that great depression time people having horrible time. There were no reason to stay happy. Even though back then people used to be so energetic and friendly with a unknown person.So Evans took some excellent portrait to show their expression in great depression time, which doesn’t look good to me.
Hw # 2
I think walkers work was and is really interesting. The whole concept of capturing people’s faces on trains was really a perfect way to show the everyday life emotions one goes through. Since the first day of operations on the subway I think that was what they wanted to capture. What people’s feelings and expressions were towards the subway. Walker though the train was the perfect place to do his job. I know it must have been hard which photos to pick out of 600. His best ones were then polished 89 pictures. Those pictures really do tell stories, they can be true or false but there expression can tell you something about them. In my opinion I don’t think that would work as well now in present day. The trains are much crowded now then it ever was back in the days. Overal walker captured the moments on the subway beautifully and its nice to see how similar and yet so different the passengers are today. Everyone just has something to say but there face will be doing all the talking.
HW #2
Walker Evan was a great photographer, and also his style of taking pictures of passengers on the subway during the great depression was brilliant, in my opinion it’s something that no one has done or thought of. What i like about his photos is that each one of them is totally focus on the face, and by the looks of it they all look serious and overwhelm, and to top it off all of the photos he took he had his camera hidden. People didn’t realize they had their photo taken, so to me that’t make made his photos naturally, and i guess you could say emotional as well because this was during the great depression so no one was happy around that time. I don’t see any similarities between the depression era to today’s riders because most of us are either in our smartphones, or reading a book. What i see are people sleepy, and energetic so its much different in today’s society.
Hw # 2
I loved the use of capturing expressions during the brief time period. Evans way and use of photography was genuine in existence to me. It wasnt in a set of order nor organized. It also was something that was taken off guard it was not set up for a photograph. It was something real. Eveyone on the subway was focused on themselves heading to where ever they intend to go. As for today you would see the same thing . During train rides we all find things to do that kills time such as video game devices, books and more. This picture although shows more of the past where electronics were not as advanced as today’s generation. I beleive if a picture like this was taken today today it would be similar but include this generations electronics and new creative things. This photo captured many details such as facial expressions as well as what they were doing. it also depcits how back then they had less then now.
Homework #2 Walker Evans Subway Portraits : Henry Gomez
Walker Evans displays his work in a very unique way. The way he was able to capture the image of a person on the subway was clever. Using his clothing to cover up parts that won’t make other suspicious of what he was up to. This allowed him to catch a unique and real image of a person on the subway without them knowing they will become a piece of art. Everyone has a different expression which makes Evans project more interesting because it captures the fact that no two people are alike. Although it took him a couple of years to release his work it shows that it was worth the wait because of the amount of pictures that he has taken and knowing that there are more that didn’t make the cut shows that he was really into his work. As for similarities of the people being photographed then to now there isn’t much of a difference. Most people are usually minding their own business and avoid eye contact while on the train. If there is a time that there is a similarity it will have to be if you do something to catch their attention in which everyone will give you the same awkward stare.
