A função pacificadora da Comissão Interamericana dos Direitos Humanos e os destaques legislativos decorrentes
2. A comissão interamericana dos direitos humanos como intermediadora de soluções amistosas
The Use of Perspective in Ricardo Ocreto Alvarado’s Filipino Farmers in America
Belong to the first wave of Filipinos who migrated to America in 1928 to work as janitor and houseboy. During World War II, he was a medical technician in the Army's highly decorated First Filipino Infantry Regiment. After the war, he developed his passion for photography and took countless photos of the Filipino-American community in San Francisco, California.
His camera gave him entry into large social functions ― weddings, funerals, baptisms, parties and dances ― as well as intimate family gatherings. Shooting the tractor from an interesting angle, the machine does not distract the subject of the photograph: two Filipinos looking very hard working, posing for the photograph, the same way a person would have his/her photo taken beside in a Ferrari prestige car. Shows how the Filipinos worked in their new land and home. Through the use of perspective, the tractor wheels in front seem bigger than the back wheels. Perspective also shows the mountains and trees in the background smaller than the human figures because they are farther in the camera.
The background, foreground and subject are all sharp because of the camera exposure to light. Despite this, the viewers eyes are easily directed to the two men, with faces that shows traces of old age and hard work. Their clothing reveals they are in a foreign land because in tropical Philippines, farmers work in minimal clothing and do not wear hats. Photographs of genre subject like this is characteristic of the 1950s where everything is shown in sharp and the main subject in still
position. This is due to the limitation of the camera that could not capture movement. Blurring technique was also not possible, since there were not too many apertures and shutter speed options.
The Form
1. What are the dominant element?
2. How are these used in the photograph?
3. How is the main subject matter treated in relation to the background?
4. How many space used within the frame?
5. How does the dominant element affect you?
6. Is there a balance of forms or do some objects cover most of the frame?
Analysis
1. The dominant principle of organization in the photograph is the use of perspective that shows the difference in the size of the objects in the foreground and in the background.
2. The vast space does not diminish the significance of the object because the tractor, shot in an angular position, leads the viewer's eye to the main subject.
3. Hence, a balance of form s is achieved.
The Medium
1. Does the photography as a medium enhance the beauty of the image?
2. How well does the medium selected show the artistic representation?
3. If the artist chose another medium, do you think the same effect will be achieved? Why and how?
Analysis
1. Photography is the best medium for the image because it is able to show the details and facial expression realistically which oil painting or other mediums cannot show.
The Subject Matter
1. What is the main figure in the artwork?
2. How do the other figures in the artwork affect the main figure?
3. What is the significance of the figure/s to you in terms of personal, historical, social, or political value?
Analysis
1. The main figures are two farmers posing while riding the tractor.
2. The objects surrounding them do not conflict with the main figures, rather enhance them as the focal point of the photography.
3. This shows the lifestyle, work and state of being of the Filipinos who migrated to America in the 1950s.
The Style
1. What particular characteristics does the artwork have that are also present in the other works by the same artist?
2. Describe the use of art and the principles of organization that identify the artwork with the other works done in the same era or movement?
Analysis
1. Clarity, sharpness and detailed representation are the characteristics of Ricardo Alvarado's photographs, which were all in the same quality of photograph taken in America during 1950s.
The Use of Balance in Cheryl Diaz Meyer’s The War in Iraq
Meyer was born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated with her family to Minnesota, USA in 1981. As a photojournalist, she was assigned to cover the US-led war in Iraq. The photograph War in Iraq shows soldiers saving an old man from a car bombing incident. The photograph consist of two parts. On the left are three human figures escaping from the bombing. This may be one image in itself but on the right, there is a burning car that cannot be neglected because its dark smoke connects to the image on the left.
The space below the car is empty and this gives a breather from the fully-occupied space on the left side occupied by three figures. Thus, the diagonal composition of the photograph is well-balanced. This is achieved through the use of perspective, where the car is located far from the main figures and therefore serves as a background. The main figures are also sharp, with details like human teeth showing and the different shades of green in the soldiers’ uniform.
This owes to the precision of the camera in recording details. Modern innovations in photography have benefited not only photojournalism but photography in general. High speed, sharp focus, high image resolution and color sensitivity are just a few capabilities of the camera that modern photographers enjoy.
The Form
1. What are the dominant elements?
2. How are these used in the photograph?
3. How is the main subject matter treated in relation to the background?
4. How is space used within the frame?
5. How does the dominant element affect you?
6. Is there a balance of forms or do some objects cover most of the frame?
Analysis
1. Balance is used as a dominant element in the photograph.
2. The three figures on the left side of the photograph, which as a group, appears heavy and covers half of the frame is balanced on the right side by the burning car and space below it.
3. These images complete the story that the photograph tells the viewer about the war in Iraq.
The Medium
1. Does photography as a medium enhance the beauty of the image?
2. How well does the medium selected show the artistic representation?
3. If the artist chose another medium, do you think the same effect will be achieved? Why and how?
Analysis
• Photography is essential to photojournalism.
• It can record incidents instantly.
• It can capture images as they happen.
• Thus, it is a record of historical incidents and reality however, this technology can also be manipulated to distort the truth and can be used for propaganda purposes.
The Subject Matter
1. What is the main figure in the artwork?
2. How do the other figure in the artwork affect the main figure?
3. What is the significance of the figure/s to you in terms of personal, historical, social or political value?
Analysis
1. The main figures are the two soldiers carrying a bloody victim away from the burning car in the background.
2. The burning car clearly tells us the cause of the injury.
3. The photograph tells us about the human suffering and struggle in the US-led war against Iraq.
The Style
1. What particular characteristics does this artwork have that are also present in other works by the same artist?
2. Describe the use of elements of art and principles of organization that identify the artwork with the other works done in the same era or movement.
Analysis
1. As a photojournalist, Meyer’s photographs are documentation of the new story.
2. As such, she has good control of the camera and is sensitive to the best angle for shooting them.
3. She is brave and is skillful in terms of timing.
4. These are important characteristics of photojournalist to be able to capture images that show good balance, focus, details and the story in the news.
Excerpts from Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News published a report on the recognition of the photojournalism work of Meyer: Cheryl Diaz Meyer won the 2004 Pulitzer prize for breaking news Photographer David Leeson for their body of works depicting the invasion and aftermath of Operation Iraqi freedom. Her work was awarded the Visa D’Or Daily Press Award 2003 in Perpignan, France. Aside from being Published in major metropolitan newspapers and magazines and aired on the television stations around the world, her work was also featured in books by Corbis and Life-entitled Desert Diaries And The war in Iraq.
The Use of Variety in Margaret Bourke-White’s Louisville Flood Victims, 1937
Variety - (also known as alternation) is the quality or state of having different forms or types. The differences which give a design visual and conceptual interest: notably use of contrast, emphasis, difference in size and color.
Margaret Bourke-White’s Louisville Flood Victims 1937 - Louisville Flood Victims shows variety. It contrasts between reality and dream.
The main focus of the photograph is the American flood victims queuing for supplies. Their faces show sadness, hardships, hopelessness and loss amidst the cold weather.
In the background is a billboard showing an American family and dog in a car, all looking happy and thrilled about their trip. The caption encapsulates the idea behind the billboard illustration: “There’s no way like the American Way.” The title, “World Highest Standard of Living”
can make any flood victim unhappy. The irony presented in the photograph is that while some Americans are enjoying the highest standard of American living, there are those who deprived of basic needs due to natural calamities.
The ‘rule of thirds,’ where the subject should be located either above or below the center of the frame is observed by Bourke-White as she put the row of queuing Americans right below the billboard that occupies more than half of the horizontal frame. Photographs during the 1930s were in black and white but the lack of color does not affect the message, which is important in this case because it serves as a mirror of reality at a particular time and place in American history.
Using some guide question, let us analyze the aesthetic qualities of the Louisville Flood Victims, 1937
The Form
1. What are the dominant elements?
2. How are these used in the photograph?
3. How is the main subject matter treated in relation to the background?
4. How many space used within the frame?
5. How does the dominant element affect you?
6. Is there a balance of forms or do some objects cover most of the frame?
Analysis
1. Variety is used in this photograph to show the contrast between reality and dream in America.
2. Although the billboard in the background occupies a larger space in the artistic frame, its layout leads the eye of the viewer to the people standing in queue.
3. This is how balance is maintained.
The Medium
1. Does the photography as a medium enhance the beauty of the image?
2. How well does the medium selected show the artistic representation?
3. If the artist chose another medium, do you think the same effect will be achieved?
4. Why and how?
Analysis
1. The use of photography to record a social reality is a good choice of medium.
2. It captured a moment that revealed a strong contrast between what is proclaimed to be “an American dream” vs. an American Reality.
The Subject Matter
1. What is the main figure in the artwork?
2. How do the other figures in the artwork affect the main figure?
3. What is the significance of the figure/s to you in terms of personal, historical, social, or political value?
Analysis
1. The main figure in the photograph is the row of Americans queuing for supplies at a time of natural calamity.
2. The billboard which shows a picture of a happy family contrasting with the fate of the flood victims only heightens the drama.
Style
1. What particular characteristics does this artwork have that are also present in other works by the same artist?
2. Describe the use of elements of art and principles of organization that identify the artwork with the other works done in the same era or movement.
Analysis
1. Bourke- White used black and white photography as her medium of expression.
2. Although photographs during the 1930s were in black and white, it was nevertheless an effective tool to record historical events and social realities, such as the 1937 flood victims.