Monday, November 17, 2008

The Stranger Photo Essay

Here's my QA - if the link doesn't work right away i'm working on it - be patient. I don't have a facebook so I have to make do.

12 comments:

halfnickel said...

Jennie-Jenkins i really enjoyed your leaf photo; first of all, it was a fantastic photo :) secondly, i love the simplicity of it with the quote, it really matches the photo. but also this quote is very important because Meursault is noticing the enivornment/ his surroundings. yay, jennie

A Songbird Who Sings said...

I think my favorite of your photos is the one with "Meursault" in the window, with the city shown in the reflection. It gives a much different effect than if you simply took a photo of a city straight on. Even without the caption, you can tell that the photo is about someone watching the city rather than the city itself. I really love the lights in the windows, they give just enough hint of the cityscape.
The one with the quote from where Meursault is walking on the beach gives me the impression that the entire beach itself, which would be beautiful to most people, is just a blur to him since he's so wrapped up in only what he knows about himself (i.e. physical sensations), which are the only things he cares for. He notices the beach, but only in the barest sense.
The final photo's quote, though, takes a different turn, probably because it's from later in the book. He not only notices his surroundings (or what he can notice of them from his cell), but acknowledges them as comforting and positive. I will admit that the leaf confuses me a little, since the quote is talking about summer, so leaves should not be falling yet. I would guess that it would represent Meursault, though.

Me, Myself, and I said...

See, I like what you've done with photoshopping (again, I know I'm weird).
My favorite photo is the yellow and blue swirlish one. Yes, I know you probably don't think its a swirl. The quote that goes with that photo is pretty important, too. It highlights the sun, what he quotes as the reason he shoots the arab.
My second favorite quote/photo combo is the first one, with the lights. I think the quote relates to the novel because mersault is noticing all of the people. I think he is happier in his own little world without emotions and without people. In this photo he notices all of the people, the flashing lights. He notices the silver shining. He does not like light, he feels uncomfortable in lighted areas (like when he's interviewed, when he's on the beach) and here he's realizing the whole world has light.

Me, Myself, and I said...

An additional comment...
You use color very nicely in these photos. The first photo is dark with silver flashes/ city lights. The second, a bright swirl of color. The third, the writing is the only real color. The fourth, the leaf stands out dramatically.

I particularly like the leaf photo (more now then when I made that last post, for no real reason). It's more than just a leaf representing the countryside, too. The quote is how he has peace, is at rest. The photo, however, kind of contradicts that. The leaf pops out, a very dramatic red compared to the black background. The whole novel is somewhat like this relationship: he deludes himself ("no really, i don't have emotions. it's all the sun/environment's fault") and the background fades away when there's something to focus on. When there's Marie, he focuses on parts of her. When he's shooting, he focuses not on the Arab, but the gun, the feeling of the peace being shattered by the trigger. One thing, seemingly insignificant, is what he focuses on.

Esbee D.B. said...

Jennie, why are you so awesome? Seriously. Your skill in Photoshop well suits your natural photo-taking ability. I really love the city shot. They way you show Meusault's perspective - society reflecting off all surfaces - by having the city reflected oddly on the windows is just great. I also like how Meursault is a dark spot in all that light - more like the inanimate bricks of the building - like he's lacking the spark of humanity that can be seen in everyone else and their lives.

I also really like the effects of the beach shot - it almost looks like a painting.

The last shot, with the leaf, has an air of the metaphysical about it, with the leaf wafting through space and stars. It really conveys a sense of Meursault being at one with nature, with his memories of the country and summer supporting him internally and the image of the stary night supporting him externally.

martitr said...

I like your blurred sand/sun/sea image and the quote goes well with it. The blurring is almost a physical sensation that goes with the feeling of heat swelling one's head, eyes, etc. My eyes are tired now as I write this making it even more vivid...

martitr said...

Your tobacco photo and quote are kind of funny. Again, sort of a surreal feel that goes with it to match his nausea. The reflection of the cars makes you look twice, wonder if your seeing things correctly. How did you get that shot anyway?
The leaf looks like it should be an album cover (ohh-just dated myself) or an ad for some kind of soothing bath oils! Very pop art but appropriate and evocative for your quotation.

Spence said...

Jenny, excellent work. I love your use of photo shop and im a little jealous i didnt have such a program to use. the way you altered the color in your pictures gives them character. your first picutre is the best. the way you made the building look like a city apartment at night is awesome. the picture captures the mood of what meaursault is saying.

Spence said...

The second photo is great work as well. once again i really like the use of photo shop to alter the picture and give it more emotion. with a non-altered photo, sometimes the viewer is unable to capture the intended emotion. with your second photo the viewer can feel the sensations Meursault was feeling from the sun and the heat. the picture focuses in on what he would have been focusing on; not the pretty beach but the burning rays and sweat in his eyes.

Spence said...

Third photo is OK. it is a little too literal for my taste, both the quote and the picture. the picture looks great though.

Spence said...

Your final photo is amazing. it really puts you into the mindset of meursault is in. he talks about a peacful and starry night with a cool breeze and your picture is exactly that. although the way you altered the leaf is great.....it shouldnt be a leaf...it should be a moon. but great photo.

on whole your pictures where superb. they made me a little uncomfortable because i think they're almost as good as mine.

halfnickel said...

okay, im posting again because i sorta want to "beef up" my comments so here it goes:
\
in addition to what i said, i really enjoyed the bright/contrasting colors in the photo with the blue glass, even though blue is a dark color, it is much brighter next to the black and really makes it "pop". it really got my atteniton and made me focus in on the details of it with all the little colors in the blue. all the colors popped and it was beautiful.