Assignment #1: Photo Analysis

In 1982, Ron Edmonds of the Associated Press won a Pulitzer Prize for News Photography for covering the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. Edmonds was Reagan's personal photographer, and was covering an average-day speech at the Washington Hilton Hotel. Suddenly, as Reagan was approaching his car, Edmonds heard gunshots and the President ducked into his vehicle. The photographer then snapped the three famous images that skyrocketed his career and made front pages across the world.

The would-be assassin, John Hinckley, Jr., was a psychopathic criminal obsessed with the Martin Scorsese film Taxi Driver and it's young star, Jodie Foster. In the film, Robert De Niro plays Travis Bickle, a crazed man who attempts to kill the President; Foster plays a 12-year old prostitute. Hinckley claims that he tried to assassinate Reagan in an attempt to impress Jodie Foster. When we visited the Newseum, I was familiar with the story of John Hinckley, Jr.'s assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan, mostly because of it's connection to Taxi Driver. I am a huge movie fan, so seeing Edmond's images immediately reminded me of the powerful effects of cinema. Movies can play an influential role in real-life events, as demonstrated in this memorable incident.

Ron Edmond's Pulitzer Prize-winning picture shows me the importance of taking advantage of situations. Had he taken the photo a second later, he would have missed the great shot. This demonstrates how careful and attentive photographers must always be. The image reminds viewers of the historical incident; it touches on the disturbing memory for those who remember the story and photographs.

On a technical level, Edmond's photo is a minor miracle, as it was taken quickly and without much preparation. Nonetheless, the image is a marvel to behold visually. While Reagan is at the center of the photo, the camera's unbiased equality of shot captures the entire surroundings. The Hotel can be seen in the background, as can various Secret Service agents. In the foreground, the President's car's windows allow viewers to see through the vehicle onto Reagan. The photo also shows the initial shock of the men who heard the gunfire. The framing puts Reagan in the center, with near symmetry around him in regards to people and walls. This creates a balance in the otherwise hectic situation. It has a subjective point-of-view, and is an eye-line shot of the event.

This image caught my attention on an emotional level because it reminds me of how crazy the world can be. The man who prompted this whole incident was a gun-wielding maniac, so criminally insane that he got a "not guilty" sentencing on these basis alone. I cannot even imagine our President being so close to death as Reagan was on that day. When I saw this picture, it gave me an overwhelming feeling of unsafeness and worry. It all looks so normal at first, but when you realize what you are actually looking at, it suddenly becomes disturbing and terrifying to believe.

All in all, I really enjoyed this masterful image from Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Edmonds. It showed me the power of the movies, the technical prowess of a photograph, and the chaos of the world. I hope another incident like this never happens again; but, if it has to, I hope that there's another photographer ready to take a powerful image right there along with it.

Exercise #3: Balance Images

Balance images are important to understanding why designers choose to make some objects balanced and unbalanced, and for what purpose that balance serves. Symmetry and Asymmetry are the simplest forms of balance images. 

Symmetry 

Symmetry is simply the split down the middle of an object, and if the two halves are identical, then the object has symmetry. Symmetry indicates order and organization, and the simplest representation of this idea are doors. These elevator doors at a metro station are symmetrical for common sensical purposes, and for making an easy divide that riders can walk in and out of. 

Taking it one step further, symmetry extends to organizing people entering and exiting a building. Here, at the Chinatown metro stop, a staircase in the middle of an escalator litterally splits the transport into two parts: up and down. The two escalators on the right (placed there because the "right lane" in America equals "forward") are going up, while the two on the left are coming down. Symmetry here makes life easy for travelers. Let's take a journey around Chinatown to continue our exploration of balance images. 

Outside of the metro, this building represents symmetry based on it's side. The three columns on the side of the building are evenly spaced (another characteristic of symmetry), and next to the first and third column there are two close-togther columns that complete the symmetrical feel. 

The final example of symmetry is this building, with two columns on the front facade being equal design and equal spacing. If you look closely, even the side of the building has windows that are virtually identical. These are strong examples of balancing, with equality in images and design. But sometimes, designers decide to make buildings that are asymmetrical. Why?

Asymmetry 

Take a look at the image above. Unlike the previous four examples, the image has no identical halves, yet still holds balance. Why is this? This object is asymmetrical, meaning the two halves are not identical. This modern art piece outside of the National Archives still has balance, however, because the shape still rests on the ground. 

The Smithsonian Castle also has the properties of an asymmetrical object. Even though it's not the same on both halves, each tower and column have special meanings. Asymmetrical objects are much more artistic, much more cool than symmetrical ones. 

See the tower at the front of the building? It breaks up the facade but still maintains balance in the building. As we return to the metro, look at how this building adds a sort of "corner" feel to the turn in the street. It's asymmetry adds artistic merit to the building. Though we enjoy the organization of symmetry, we like to look at asymmetry more.  

Finally, back at American University, the front of the Katzen Arts Center has asymmetry because the two halves of the building are not identical, basically because the curve in the front half breaks it up. The parking lot below is symmetrical, yet the building itself is asymmetrical because of the curve in the front part of the center. 

Symmetry and Asymmetry are important parts of balance images. I hope these examples have helped to clarify this!