Photographer: Thomas Hoepker

Title: September 11, 2001. New York, Brooklyn

Year: 2001

This photo is said to have been taken by Thomas Hoepker on the 11^th of September 2001. The photo shows a group of New Yorkers relaxing in the sun in a park with clear blue water behind them and in the background the dust and smoke coming from the area in which the world trade center once stood. In 2001 when this photo was take, Hoepker refused to publish it as it didn’t seem an appropriate image when such a serious disaster had occurred.

This image was eventually published in 2006 and caused a lot of controversy as some people felt that the photo portrayed Americans in a way that even though a horrible disaster that has killed thousands of people had happened that there was no need for people to change or reform as an united nation.

However others felt that the photo captured a historical moment which shows that regardless of what terror attack or war is going on, life doesn’t stop it goes on.

This photo 13 years on from the date of the disaster is one of the defining photographs from 9/11.

Image source:

http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL5351FG

Photographer: Eve Arnold

Title: Childbirth, a baby’s first 5 minutes

Year: 1959

From The Series: First five minutes of a baby’s life

The subject of the photograph is a baby who has just been brought into the world and captures the first 5 minutes of the baby’s life. The image manipulates our emotions by drawing us to the subject through the use of an extended depth of field.

The rule of thirds applies to this photo with the mother in the bottom of the image with the baby in the centre and the doctor who has delivered the baby at the top of the image. There is an intense light behind the doctor, which gives a sense of an angelic / holy person; this makes you think that the baby is a gift from a higher presence.

When Eve Arnold decided she wanted to become a photographer, she showed her mother some of her photographs, which happened to be photos that documented the first five minutes of a baby’s life.

Her mother never seen the potential of her daughter’s photographs even though her work led to numerous awards, first female member of Magnum and respect from peers and fellow photographers but despite this, she wanted approval from her parents. She did eventually get approval from her mother but it did not come easily.

At the time this photograph was taken, the Nikon F camera, Nikon’s first SLR was introduced. This was one of the most advanced cameras that contained all of the concepts that had previously been introduced but combined them all in one camera. AGFA also introduced the first fully automatic camera.

Image Source: https://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&STID=2S5RYDIET7XL

Photographer: W. Eugene Smith

Title: Dr. Ernest Guy Ceriani going to visit patients

Year: 1948

From the Series: Country Doctor

This portrait shows a country doctor, Dr. Ernest Guy Ceriani (aged 32), going to visit his patients in their remote villages. The ‘Country Doctor’ series was W. Eugene Smith’s 1948 feature for LIFE magazine. He spent 23 days in Kremmling, Colorado following GP Ernest Ceriani. His images capture the emotional and physical challenges faced by the doctor and also the reality.

This portrait is very dramatic as the image is in black and white and is intensified by the large dark cloud that is above the doctor. The black cloud could suggest the doctor may be on his way to deliver bad news to a patient but captures him in a natural way. The doctor is in the centre of the image with the focus being mainly on him but the fence to the right of the image is a bit distracting. The viewer is instantly drawn to the subject due to his dominance in the frame.

Image source: http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&ALID=2TYRYDDWML5P

Photographer: Marilyn Silverstone

Title: Mask room at the Pemayangtse Monastery

Year: 1967

Marilyn Rita Silverstonewas an accomplished photo-journalist and ordainedBuddhistnun. She spent a lot of time travelling around Europe, Middle East & Africa and ended up having a lifetime love of India.

This photo makes me feel a bit weary because of the amount of masks hanging, the bizarre appearance of the masks and also the way in which Silverstone has shot the photo.

The masks are in the darkness and the two young boys in the lower corner are In the light, this creates a feeling off demons in the shadows.