Synopsis:

I chose to interpret the work of Gordon Parks. He initially worked for the U.S. government in the Farm Security Administration, then as a correspondent with the Office of War Information in Washington D.C. after the FSA's disbandment. After resigning from the O.W.I., he worked for the Standard Oil Photography Project in New Jersey to photograph small towns and industrial centers. He later became a freelance fashion photographer for Vogue and later a photographer and writer with Life magazine. His photos consist majorly of ethically evaluative photos throughout the United States and parts of Europe. The photos I decided to review range from racial injustice to the average life of an American.

 

New Perception:

Gordon Parks’ works have shown me the more raw and realistic aspects of photography that most don’t often think to photograph. Rather than focusing on aesthetically evaluative and appealing photos, he focuses on the harsh realities of underrepresented Americans. His photos evoke a sense of morality that gets me to really open my mind to the world’s realities, while also understanding that these are people, not just photos to admire and forget later on. I’ve learned to appreciate, not just landscapes and nature, but the stories behind the more realistic photographs.