Category: HW1: Gordon Parks (Page 2 of 2)

The photograph is titled Red Jackson and it was taken in 1948. The subject matter in this photograph is of a young man called Red Jackson. The subject is staring out a window against the bright sunlight falling down his face. This brings out a sharp contrast between light and dark. The sunlight is very harsh and it makes the color almost white against his face and shoulder. The background is mostly black lacking detail. Another composition that fits is Figure to Ground. Because of its contrast and the amount of space that the subject takes within the frame against the background of the window, it creates a positive/negative space.

The subject, Red Jackson, was the leader of one of the Harlem gangs called Midtowners. Gordon Parks’ intent with the photographs was to reduce the feeling of threats/fears for residents of Harlem. He mentions that he also did want to affect the subject, by recounting their stories. His use of light and dark brings an almost anonymous feel to the subject. He could have gone straight to silhouette, but, we can see Red Jackson, looking out at the streets and pondering. The window line creates a separation from him and society. The broken window glass shows hints of violence and poverty.

The image I decide to talk about is the “Emerging Man” 1952 photograph by Gordan Parks. In this photo we see an African-American man hiding in a manhole. Where this photo was taken was in Harlem according to Gordon Park. This photo with the details of the street and pavement with the blur building in the background gives the idea of the Harlem neighborhood. I really like this photo because it shows the life of African Americans in 1952. It gives off the emotion of sadness and fear. 

In this Photo the terms that best describe it is the Contrast of Light and Dark and Figure to Ground.

In term of composition, it shows a great example of the contrast of light and dark because it the pavement is dark when looking upward the man looks dark and blends with the light of the background. As for the term Figure to Ground which is when the relationship between subject and background can be seen as negative and positive space. The subject of the photo is a man in a manhole and the pavement creates a connection with the subject because of the dark tone and then with negative space of the background bring the focus back to the subject. The reason that the photo is black and white gives off the emotion of fear also the man looks away from the camera demonstrate that around him something frightening is happening.

-Daniel Rodriguez 

The image that I was assigned to study for homework is titled “Emerging Man”, an photograph taken by Gordon Parks in 1952. The photograph features a close-up photo of an African-American male hiding inside of what appears to be a hole in the middle of an area. Since the area in question takes place in Harlem as stated in Gordon Parks’ caption, one can assume that he is surrounded by pavement of some sort, showcasing the streets of the neighborhood. In terms of photography, Parks has displayed some intriguing composition using contrast of light and dark colors to showcase a gritty, “poor” tone to capture Harlem’s lifestyle, as well as using rule of thirds by placing the subject in the upper areas of the image, leaving the bottom half of the image as dark as the hole the subject is inside of.

Gordon Parks uses contrast as well as the Rule of Thirds strategy as a way to pay homage to Ralph Ellison’s novel, Invisible Man. In the novel, Ellison paints a picture of what living conditions were like during the mid-twentieth century. Parks took that idea and made a symbolic approach to it, as he uses the hole as a metaphor for how rough “underground” living was like during Ellison’s time. The colorless background as it becomes more and more grainy as you reach the edges of the photos give off a tone of gloominess as the man looks away from the camera, as if his own focus was more towards something else, which could portray either a sense of hope or more hardship; whichever the case may be, it is certain that his current condition can definitely be considered unfavorable–both for our subject and for us, the readers.

Gordon Parks was many things but above all he was a photographer who captured the essence of that America was behind the scenes in the early and mid 1900’s. Capturing things like injustice, race relations, and civil rights. In this picture of Malcom X in 1963 which was taken in Chicago Illinois, you can see it was taken in black and white and has a strong sense of contrast of light and dark as a use of figure to ground. In the picture you can only see Malcolm X as the focal point on the image and everything beyond his is straight darkness. Nothing else so focus on but his actions as he held the rally, trying to guide his people. But this image gives off this sense of power that is radiating from Malcolm X.

At that time Gordon Parks came back to Chicago after decades to ultimately write an article about the Black Muslim movement. A lot of white reported where trying to get the scoop but with him being the only black one he was given an opportunity to do so which would help his career flourish. During his time there he spent weeks with the black Muslim community where he felt like he was able to reflect on his duel status as an insider and an outsider. In this picture he was able to capture Malcolm X in the mists of a speech which would help push this civil rights movement in the 1960’s. In which Parks could relate to coming from poverty as he acknowledged after this piece “These circumstances of common struggle has willed us brothers.”