Quality of Light

Peter Merzbacher, junior student, reads a novel while resting under a tree near the Campus Pond on October 6th, 2009. "I should be doing homework right now, but this is so great!"- Peter said.

REACTION PAPER

Book: “Paul Strand: an American Vision”

Photographer: Paul Strand (1890-1976)

Library Call Number: TR 647 S85 1990 FOLIO

Page Numbers of Photographs:

Photograph #1 (page 11)

Photograph #2 (page 15)

Photograph #3 (page 61)

Reaction Paper

While reviewing the first pages of Paul Strand’s photography book, I found this amazing phrase which called my attention, especially because it is written in the previous page of one of the photographs that I liked the most. And I quote: “(…) the expression is simply the measure of a vision, shallow or profound as the case may be.  Photography is only a new road from a different direction but moving toward the common goal, which is Life…” (p. 10)

The Photograph #1 (Blind Woman, New York, 1916, p. 11) is a black and white portrait picture.   There is a deep contrast between the word BLIND in the woman’s chest, and the black clothes that she is wearing.  Because of the grey colors, it seems that the photographer wanted to expose her face and also the wall behind her.  The woman has a badge with the inscription: “licensed peddler-New York City”, which may indicate that, even though she is old and blind, she depends on herself to survive in the streets. What impacted me about this picture is that the photographer captured in the woman’s expression all the pain, suffering, and difficulties of a poor and probably homeless person, in the 20^th century New York City.

The Photograph #2 (Portrait, New York, 1916) is also a black and white portrait.  In this case, the lady’s face is exposed in detail.  She is well dressed and we can see the textures of her clothes and hat.  The right side of the picture is predominantly dark grey/black, and the light comes from the left side, illuminating her face. I would say that the mood in this portrait is melancholic. Maybe she is remembering old times, or maybe she is just very old and tired of life itself.

The Photograph #3 (Rebecca’s Hands, 1923, p. 61) is a black and white close up picture of a woman’s hands.  Her hands are exposed (light grey color) in contrast with the black background.  Even though the hands seem to be of a relatively young woman, they also look dirty and wretched. What I liked the most about this picture is the position of the hands.  It is like if she were looking at her own hands when the photographer took the picture.  In order to be able to do this, Paul Strand was probably standing behind the lady.