A photo can be worth a thousand dollars, be a gift, or convey a simple yet stark emotion that unfolds each time an eye passes over it. A photograph can tell a story, even when the photographer did not mean to. Many things such as the light, the composition, and the texture change the way the story is told to each person who sees the photo. My photo tells the story of how I see America, and how I present this to the world. Lighting in a photo acts like a pointer, it takes an eye to a certain point and lights up specific sides of the subject, or shadows the things meant to be hidden. In this photo the light represents new beginnings. Everything has a pale, misty light over it, however coming above the trees in the right corner are bright rays. I always felt that the spirit of the American people was the sameno matter how dull or grey the world seems, there is always an underlying sense of optimism that breaks and floods the nation. This is what brings us together, and makes us proud of our country. Another element critical to a photo is the composition. There are no clear, solid lines throughout this picture, except for a slightly visible roof pointing straight into the sunshine. The tree roots are spread out and entangled on both trees. Looking at this, I see the ironfisted way Americans refuse to blend and have a monogamous country. We are the
melting pot of the world, with seemingly nothing to tie us together; however, there is an underlying sense of pride in our roots, such as the roof discretely pointing to the source of life: the sun. Throughout the entanglement, there is always something solid underneath. Lastly, the texture of this photo seems simple, but to me, I see many levels. The roughness of the branches and of the ground are blanketed by a dusting of snowjust as all people appear to be disinterested in others and selfcentered, while truly, we all have the common tendency to care for others. We are, after all, the only species concerned with what others think of us. Yet the smooth, fresh newness of the snow cannot cover every single bump; there are imperfections, little cracks and bumps visible. There is always room for improvement, for self evaluation and perhaps even a smoothing of the imperfections underneath the surface. While my photo of America is not a brightly colored, perfectly photoshopped image of a sunny day, the elements behind reveal the story I am telling. There are flaws, there are things that seem dull and cold, but even at the lowest point, this country shows amazing unity and an unshakable faith in new beginnings. With each rise of the sun that spreads over many different days, there is a sense of togetherness that has not faded since the founding days of this country.
