Brain Fitness Debrief #2

A significant amount of time was spent looking through photos of S and his wife, with these seeming to be the most significant source of comfortability and happiness in his life. In recalling his wedding and specific memories of how they met and became acquainted, it led down this path of recalling other aspects of his life that were occurring at the time; for example, his attendance to the University of Florida, which then led to his occupation after having graduated, travelling to Europe for this job, and finally having children. This thread of thinking was especially interesting to me because, while starting from other points of discussion, he would lose his train of thought or momentum; though when beginning the conversation with mentioning his wife, he adopted a more expansive perspective on his life and was able to recall much more. Consequently, I believe that marriage, which takes on a very personal role in one's life, has proven to be the most effective source of recollection. Therefore I don't believe that finding outside sources or unfamiliar events would prove to be successful. While pictures relating to marriage in general, even if it isn’t him, might surface memories of his own experience with marriage, I believe it would focus the conversation too intently on that particular topic, rather than a thread of personal connections. 

"Seeing Photographs" Response

The ideas presented in this Powerpoint demonstrated an interesting way of considering how to effectively convey a message or embody a concept. More specifically, I have always mainly considered the scene which I am photographing to represent an idea; however, the Powerpoint points out that this is not always the biggest consideration, where cropping and framing can also represent elements of an idea in themselves. For instance, cropping the image awkwardly could, in itself, represent awkwardity. What I found to be most valuable about this presentation was the way it showed how symbolic framing choices could really be, and how its not always the presence of certain things happening in the photo itself that captures an abstract idea.

"The Photographer's Eye" // 'Why We Make Pictures' Response 1/29

Something worth noting is the way in which the idea of "art" changed in regards to the rise of photography. There was no longer an emphasis on the "creation" of the work, no built up process to signify and emulate specific ideas so much as capturing the current state of affairs as they appeared in that moment. One of the key aspects of this was the opening of artistic endeavors to the everyday bystander; anyone had the ability to capture moments of their lives, without needing to have any artistic background to do so. In this, art had developed an entirely new dimension, where people were challenged not with formulating the creative ideas and finding a way to transpose them, but with considering the everyday scenery and finding the meaning in things that surround us in daily life.

I believe that this actually provided one of the most influential gateways in artistic history, in the sense that it forced people to consider how variable the everyday lives of different individuals can be. Combined with the fact that any random person from any background could pursue photography, viewers had insight to the unique conditions of someone other than them. Relating also to the ideas portrayed in 'Why We Make Pictures', there is an added opportunity for the viewer to interpret these images in their own unique way, and compare these portrayals to their own life. Evidently, there is significant creative potential in the photography realm. I wonder if this facet of art began a new perspective on life, encouraging people to realize the beauty and creative potential in everyday things, focusing more on the present moment than the thinking encouraged by other areas of art?

Photography and Memory Response 1/26/17

Reflecting on this reading, I am drawn to the idea of the significance of a memory, and how that can be represented through a photograph. The author mentions that in taking a photograph, the person decides whether or not this moment is considered significant and worth remembering in the future. I think this is an especially interesting way to think about it, in the sense that it gives the viewer a look into what this person values and considers to be important. Looking over the photos passed around in class today, it became clear that everyone's perspective and perception of life is so different; what I would personally consider to be important does not always hold true in the lives of other people. Also, since photos allow us to transport back to past times, they have similarly allowed us to consider the dynamism of the values of humans over time.

Throughout the article the author resurfaces this idea of photographs being "something to hold on to" that exists outside of our minds, or something that is symbolic and represents something else. I agree with this statement, however from a personal standpoint, I do not prefer to depend on photographs to construct my interpretation of reality, and solidify the past in my mind. While looking back on things to jog my memory and remind me of events that I forgot had happened can be entirely effective, I am growing more fond of letting memories within my mind speak for themselves, and not having an attachment to a physical object to do so. Therefore I pose the question; Do you think society has come to favor objects, such as photographs, as the primary way of coercing someone to reflect on life events? How might this differ from previous times where photography was not around?

Mini Photobook Statement

Why are these images important?  How/why does this grouping help to tell the viewer who you are?

After watching my mind constantly run in loops for almost four years now, I feel like I'm finally looking at these destructive tendencies from the outside, in. It is not unusual for me to pick up on the negativity that surrounds me in daily life; my inner state is usually a mere reflection of how the outside world touches me. Because of this, I begin to reflect on myself in negative ways, questioning my own motives, capabilities, and significance as an individual. I notice that there are often negative feelings inside of me, and I start to believe that I'm not as pure and beautiful as I'd hope to be. Every time my thoughts move towards negativity or I don't feel emotionally optimistic and upbeat, I get angry and frustrated towards myself and feel as though there is something fundamentally wrong with me. I search for happiness in other people and outer situations, thinking that this will solve these issues, but the relief never stays and it feels like I'm drowning, without a voice (or a purpose). So I cut myself off from everything for a while, sit in one spot and focus on nothing at all, letting thoughts go as soon as they pop into my mind; I calm myself, realigning myself with inner peace and stillness. It is here where I feel the most expansive, the most free, with infinite potentiality. I separate myself from my identity, my rigid human form, and most importantly, my mind. And subtly, without noticing or reflecting on a specific moment in which it actually happens, I feel how big the universe actually is, and how breaking this expanse down into worries and trivial concerns only separates me from the place of pure potential and peace. Everything is going to be okay, I just have to allow it.


One may read the above statement while looking at my photobook, and notice the metaphors that each of these photos hold. While broken up into separate pages (or moments), when I find my inner stillness there is no separation anymore, no definitive answer to anything, no conception of time or right and wrong. Therefore, the lessons at the end fill my existence up all at once and I feel full with peace and optimism, and like before, infinite potentiality. I would hope that this photobook allows someone to reflect on a human's tendency to move towards instability, face it, and see how they have the power to turn the process around by relaxing and feeling their existence from the inside.