Photo Essay 2
Curiosity Question:
How much of my identity as a Christian Jehovah’s Witness is purposely presented and how much of it is subconsciously shown?
Best Answer:
After reviewing my pictures, my process with the camera and my class evaluation, I feel that I present very purposely my identity as a Christian Jehovah’s Witness in the way I dress, who I am with, and the setting associated with me.
Process with the camera:
For my all of my pictures, I aimed to illustrate my sense of ofawareness of the camera. For inspiration I looked to and observed my picture on Instagram and other social media sites. I used the skills I acquired from the observation and analysis exercises done in class when looking at social media pictures to gathering information from my own pictures. I observed that I am someone who is always smiling for the camera and if I am not, my pose if purposeful even if I am not directly looking at the camera. I believe that shows my character very well.
Also, I aimed to capture a similar aesthetic for the setting of each picture throughout each picture. The hues captured included; a muted green and beige. Each picture also includes some sort of text in the background indicating the my intended setting. The setting that I am surrounded by in each picture is a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I also feel that my pictures rightly capture this setting as a Kingdom Hall is distinctly different looking from other places of worship.
In addition, I took into consideration my wardrobing for the photo shoots. I am someone who is always pictured in a very feminine and conservative outfit. Each picture pictures me in floral with a consistency of wardrobe color throughout each picture. I found this important to include as Jehovah’s Witnesses are know for their conservative, respectful and proper dressing in a place of worship.
On the other hand, I am pictured with two people within my essay. In the first picture, I am with my boyfriend who is also an indicator of my faith as he is dressed similarly and respectfully. Similarly, in the second picture, I am captured with my mom who us also apart of my faith and the background captured is a scripture from the Bible.
Class Evaluation:
I am happy with the results of my photo essay as many of my peers in class regognized my techniques with the camera. The picked out the main theme of text in the background and also the aesthetic I aimed to capture throughout my essay.
Photo Essay 2:
Picture 1:
Setting: The setting of this picture takes place in a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Within the background of this picture are chairs and a stage that looks foreign to any other mainstream place of worship. If it is not explicit which organization it is that I am portraying just by the background, at least there is enough detail in the background to portray that this place of worship is set aside or different from other main stream places of worship. Also the colors in the background will continue on with the next few pictures within my photo essay.
Props: The pops in the picture include the chairs in the background, the stage in the back and also my costuming and my boyfriend’s as well. We are both dressed in a very clean, proper and respectful manner. Also I am dressed in a very feminine floral dress. It is very much apart of my character to be wearing something famine with some sort of floral pattering on my clothing. Similarly, my boyfriend is wearing a clean and masculine suit.
Camera use: My approach with the camera was quite simple here. I wanted to capture juste enough of the background to capture a distinguished setting but I wanted myself and my boyfriend to be the main subjects of the picture. Also, I found that in most of my pictures on social media that I drew inspiration form for this essay were ones in which I was hyper aware of the camera. I was usually smiling at the camera and I wanted to capture this within this picture as well.
Picture 2:
Setting: The setting of this picture is one of my place of worship which is a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. This is evident by the text that is shown on the building.
Camera use: The approach I took with the camera to take this picture was one that was again very simple. I wanted to capture the text on the building walking into my place of worship. I feel that as a progression from my first picture to this one, it is now evident where in fact I was pictured in the first picture. It was important for me to capture text within the image. As the photo essay progresses, text within the image will be a common theme. I was pleased during out critique/discussion in class of my photo essay because I feel that my attempt to translate the theme of text within my images designated with my peers and was overall successful.
Picture 3:
Props: The props that I used for this picture included; the Holy Bible, Jehovah’s Witness literature, and a coffee mug. I used the Bible to represent region. Also a detail on the bible is my name monogrammed which connects me to the Bible. This details illustrated that the Bible is personal to me. Another prop that I used was Jehovah’s Witness literature. The literature that is shown under my Bible is literature that is specific to my religion. I thought this addition would compliment nicely the Bible shown. Lastly, I also employed a coffee mug as a sign/symbol of regularity. This picture was actually taken during the actual activity that I volunteer in every single Saturday. Therefore, I was aimed to capture a sense of regularity within this photograph especially with the use of the coffee mug.
Camera Use: Again, my usage oft he camera was simple. Although simple, the angle of the camera for this picture did differ a bit from the previous pictures. This shot is a close up. The close up capture the three main props that I gathered to create this image. I also feel that a close up shop helps to create a personal and intimate reaction to the objects/props set up and also helps focus on the subject of the picture.
Picture 4:
Setting: The setting of this picture is shown evidently through this image. Again it is showing my place of worship. The sign says, ” Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses” which specifies where the setting of this picture takes place. Again, similarly to one of my previous images within my photo essay, this image include bold text/writing on the building. I was a common theme that I aimed to show throughout.
Camera Use: I used the camera here to just simply take a straight on shot of building. Again, I just wanted to capture the text on the building to continue with my theme throughout.
Picture 5:
Setting: Again the setting of this picture is in my place of worship. The background of this picture is the same as the first picture in my photo narrative. The coloring in the background is the same but the placement the subjects within the picture is just a bit different. Instead of being in the middle of the hall like the first picture, my mom and I centered on the stage. On the stage is says above us, ” Trust in Jehovah and do what is good”. Again, similar to a few of my previous pictures, I aimed to capture text/writing within this picture. I thought that taking advantage of the plaque above the stage was perfect to continue with my theme. At this point within my photo narrative I believe that in conjunction with my previous pictures, a story/photo narrative has begun to form.
Props: The props that were used included; the plaque and my our outfits/manner of dress. Similarly to the first picture within the essay, I wanted to portray a clean, feminine and proper way of dressing that would be appropriate and indicate a place of worship. Again, here I was wearing something floral continuing with my costuming in the previous pictures creating a fluidity throughout my photo essay.
Camera use: Here I used the camera to capture a slight low angle shot and a full body shot. The low angle shot was to capture our full body’s and also the important words written on the plaque above us.
Picture 6:
Props: For my final picture the used reoccurring props. In this picture the one clear prop shown is my personal monogrammed Bible. The Bible again indicates religion and classifies me into a religious class of people.
Camera Use: Here similarly to one of my previous pictures I used a close up shot of my hand and the Bible to capture the subject of this picture. With my hand over the Bible, I aimed to capture a sense of fimiliarality with my Bible and also comfortability as well. Furthermore, underneath my Bible I am wearing the same dress as pictured in the first image to continue with an aesthetically pleasing fluidity of the photo narrative throughout.
