Lunchtime atop a Skyscraper - Danielle Barberio

This photo is called Lunchtime atop a Skyscraper. The mystery behind this photo is that no one is 100% sure who took it. Many believe that is was Charles C. Ebbets, but Thomas Kelly and William Leftwhich were also present that day. This photo was taken in 1932 during the Depression. I chose this photo because it shows tranquility of some of the several workers that worked during the construction of the Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. It draws attention to the eye immediately because people are casually eating and smoking while being 840 feet above the city. The way they are laughing and hunched over makes the photo even more eye catching. This photograph gives a clear vision of New York and affirms the romantic belief that New York is a place unafraid and will tackle any project. It shows the New Yorkers are down for anything and they tend to go with the flow always. 

Dubai Photograph - Sofia Williner

 

This photo was taken by me, it's from Dubai in 2019. I chose it because I think it shows the unlimited technology and architecture of one of the seventh united Arab emirates. I took it from the Burj khalifa floor 128, and something that amazed me from the city was that is full of cranes, but this picture only shows one. Dubai has more than 1000 skyscrapers, having the tallest building in the world. I like that each building style is completely different and is not something that we are used to seeing. Last but not least, another example of their futuristic technology is one of their latest constructions, "The Museum of the Future". It is shaped like a ring with a gap inside, challenging architecture to another level. 

Hays Code Photography Grace Lavery

 

Thou Shalt Not

"Thou Shalt Not" photographed by A.L Whitney Schafer poses a satirical take on the Hays Code, a major movement in cinematic history that censored the images shown on screen between 1930-60s. This was a very difficult time for filmmakers because they were forced to keep up with the codes as a way to keep their films public. During this time period motion pictures were more suggestive rather than literal. Shaffer shows how these rules are extreme and breaks some of the most important ones in one single image as a way to challenge these rules. This photograph itself was censored and outraged the public. The photographer was threatened fines for even trying to distribute it. Now a days these images aren't too uncommon to see in film as the Hays Code eventually diminished thankfully. 

I personally find this image striking because the more you look the more you see. The powerful stance of a woman who typically would be seen as delicate or frail during this time holds a gun and is smoking a cigarette over a dead body, it is very powerful.

V-J Day Kiss

This photo was taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt on August 15, 1945 moments after America was notified of Japan's surrender in WWII. The photo features two strangers, a sailor, who spontaneously kissed a nurse out of pure excitement. Since being taken, the photo has become extremely well known and some people have even tried to recreate it.

World War II

 I chose this photo from World War II when The United States defeated Japan. This photo was taken at the highest point of the island Imo Jima to represent victory. The original photo was taken by Louis Lowery but the iconic photo was the second try with a bigger flag. Half of the people in this photo were killed during the Battle of Iwo Jima. This photo shows movement throughout, the wind blowing left to right, and the flag being put up left to right. The man who is furthest left was pushing the flag the whole time and now has finally let go because he cannot reach it anymore. It further shows the movement of the photo that the flag is continuing to move up. The ground shows how gruesome the battlefield is, having the whole ground covered.