The story I elected to analyze from the New York Times Lens Blog is, “A Photographer Captures His Community in a Changing Chicago Barrio.” From the title, I infer that there will be a collection of photos taken from a hispanic neighborhood in Chicago because of the usage of the word, “barrio”, or “a Spanish-speaking quarter or neighborhood in a city or town in the U.S.” according to Merriam-Webster. This segment of photos document the events transpiring over a weekend during the Mexican Independence Day Parade festivities in this 2.8 square mile neighborhood, Pilsen. There are an assortment of shots utilized here: portraits, to landscapes, people in motion, to perspective (ex: the still of the police stop shown through the reflection of his vehicles’ rearview mirror). The sequencing used feels a bit sporadic in order, but there are clusters of photos that pool together to form sub-stories within the gallery. However I do feel if the order was switched, for instance, in chronological order from the time they were taken or even displayed in a montage of morning until night fall, then it could potentially add new depth to this work, complete with a “day in the life” feel. In my observations I did observe characteristics such as leading lines, framing, filling the frame, symmetry and pattern being used in composition.
While I don’t “love” this photo, I empathize with it most. It captures raw emotion, an uncertainty, a helplessness and hurt, on what for others is a day of celebration throughout the neighborhood. Framing Jezebel in the photo, off-center, and with a strangers hand offering comfort on her shoulder, the leading lines of the road whom is then marred by a police tape, and the effect of blurring the background and bringing her to focus make this a successful shot. The lighting does well to highlight her silhouette different from that of the pavement.
This project took two years to shoot. It was not shot over a weekend. The photographer says his central concern is gentrification. The photo you picked to focus on does convey this young woman’s feelings of worry and concern. That is one of the most important things a photo can do is make you feel something.
In all fairness professor my reference to the weekend was not to frame the entire project but instead the Mexican Independence Day Parade, and its related events that eventually transpired to this young ladies loss. I do believe that his central concern is gentrification, but his photo selection was not limited to this. I observed a lot of pride, celebration, and in other frames such as above hurt, shock, and concern. This neighborhood is in fact a roller coaster of both high and lows, both which have been galvanized in his captures.