Photo Exhibit Writing Assignment

I attended the Jasper, Texas photo exhibit featuring the work of Alonzo Jordan which showcased the African American culture during the 1940s-1950s in Jasper, Texas. Mr. Jordan was an African American who held multiple positions in a pre-dominantly segregated community of Texas (was a barber by trade, as well as the local photographer). Racial tensions were recently renewed with the brutal murder of African American, James Byrd Jr., by three white men in 1998 which unfortunately earned the community’s notoriety to date.  However, most of Jordan’s photos expressed African Americans maintaining the same jovial rituals as their white counterparts in the community such as weddings, reunions, parades, organizations, and dancing.

          There were a few photos that I was able to snap with my blackberry (security was very kind/understanding~ sorry for quality) that I would like to comment on. First, is the wedding preparation photo showing a bride getting her hair done by another woman, and you can see their reflections in the mirror, providing context / a converging vector. I think this is a great shot that is symmetrical and adds balance to the shot between the two live people and their reflections that are comparable in size. Furthermore, it was taken from the side, so more of the focus is on the bride’s full-faced smile in the mirror  . The next shot I want to comment on is the catching of the bouquet.  At first glance, it seems a little off-balance, as the women reach for the bouquet on the left. However, after further analysis it becomes apparent that the bouquet is actually the index vector as if it’s pointing, leaving plenty of empty space on the right side of the photograph. Not to mention, the women are looking in the opposite direction with their backs to the camera.

         Finally, my third picture I would like to comment on that illustrates the 2-dimensional field structure using a closure  into a triangle is the shot of the Jasper residents dancing. The woman in the lighter dress being front/center really closes the triangle, and it's like she's the center of all the action. Which is really interesting because her dancing partner is so disconnected from her that he's closer to the gentleman on the far left who is leaning against the wall. Speaking of the gentleman on the far left, his arm is a little bit cutoff  leaving lead room on the right hand side. With the woman in the center, and the same amount of people on either side of her, this adds symmetry, with her gaze acting as a pointing vector in the direction of the gentleman on the far left.
                In conclusion, Mr. Jordan exhibited a keen style that expressed the emotions of those being photographed. Whether it was a family reunion, a graduation picture, or somebody just standing out in front of their yard, the photos exhibited a pride that subjects weren't all that different to their white neighbors. As mentioned, it's unfortunate that the town of Jasper is plagued but its recent inhumanity/intolerance, though it's nice and refreshing to see that the African American community still had their good times. I am happy to have attended this exhibit, and it was a bonus that I was able to analyze the photographs with the knowledge of 2-dimensional dynamics and the importance of composing a shot that were taught in class.