Land  of  the  Free,  Home  of  the  Brave  

By  Nickie  Inglesby  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction:    At  first,  I  was  unsure  of  what  to  choose  as  my  topic  for  this  assignment,  until  I  drove  past  a  house  with  an   American   flag   outside   of   it,   and   that’s  when   it  hit  me.   I   thought  of  American   flags  as  a  symbol  of  patriotism   –   showing   love   and   support   for   the  country  we   live   and   thrive   in   today.   Patriotism   is  defined   as   the   cultural   attachment   to   one’s  homeland   or   devotion   to   one’s   country.   America  has   faced   a   number   of   wars   including   two  world  wars,   terrorist   attacks   that   took   of   the   lives   of  innocent   people,   assassinations   of   government  officials,  and  nuclear  bomb  scares.  Through  all  the  life-­‐threatening,   scary   events   American   citizens  have  been  exposed  to,  we  still  show  support  to  our  country.  We   are   proud   that   our   country   has   gone  through   so   much,   and   remains   one   of   the  dominating   countries   in   the   world   today.   By  raising   flags   outside  of   houses,   schools,   and  other  places   display   the   love   and   gratefulness   we   have  for  America.       Sometimes,  I  feel  like  people  take  for  granted  how  lucky  we  are  to  live  in  a  country  that  grants  us  

our   rights   and   freedom   –   freedom   of   religion,  freedom   of   speech,   the   right   to   vote,   the   right   to  bare   arms,   the   freedom   and   right   to   do   pretty  much   anything   that   is   not   illegal.   However,   other  countries   aren’t   so   lucky,   and   their   government  limits  what   they  can  and  cannot  do,  especially   for  women   in   particular.   There   are   some   countries  that   live   in   extreme  poverty,  where  most   families  live  in  tiny  huts  and  their  water  and  food  supply  is  very   low.   Countries   such   as   Afghanistan   and   Iraq  see  violence  almost   every  day,   and  wake  up  most  mornings   fearing   for   their   lives.   Displaying   pride  for   our   country   also   shows   support   to   the   brave  men  and  women  who  put  their  lives  on  the  line  to  ensure   our   safety   and   freedom.   While   they   are  overseas   or   stationed   at   a   different   location,   it’s  important   that   we   show   appreciation   for   all   that  they  do.    

Some  people  may  look  at   flags  and  not  even  give  it  a  second  glance,  or  even  think  anything  of  it.  However,   my   photo   essay   will   make   you   think  differently.    

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         

                                                                 

 

                                                         

       

     

     

 

 

 

 

 

     

                 

             

     

                     

America,  The  Beautiful  I   took  my  pictures  with  my   iPhone  5c,  which   is   8  megapixels.   It   features   a   sapphire   crystal   lens  cover,   LED   flash,   exposure   control,   tap   to   focus,  five-­‐element   lens,   and   backside   illumination  sensor.   I’m   very   experienced   with   the   camera  feature  the  iPhone  and  know  how  to  do  things  such  as   zoom   in,   focus   in   on   an   object   as   well   as  cropping  and  putting  effects  and   filters  on  certain  photos.  I  utilized  the  editing  feature  on  the  iPhone  to  put  effects  on  pictures  and  also  downloaded  an  iPhone   application   named   Aviary   that   expanded  my  filter  options.   I  would  have  much  rather  taken  these   photos   with   a   digital   camera,   but  unfortunately,   I   did   not   have   access   to   one.  However,   I   feel  my   iPhone   5c   did   an   outstanding  job  of  capturing  clear  images  for  this  assignment.       As   for   the   photos,   I   wanted   to   capture   the  importance   and   beauty   of   patriotism   –   even  making   something   as   simple   as   a   flag   have  tremendous   meaning.   I   decided   to   take   the  majority   of   the   photographs   in   my   hometown   of  Hasbrouck  Heights,  New  Jersey  because  I  know  the  area  more  and  I  felt  I  could  get  a  better  depiction  of  patriotism.   I   also   thought   I   would   have   a   better  chance  of  getting  pictures  that  abide  by  the  rules  of  composition.   A   few   were   taken   in   Glassboro,   but  living   in   a   college   town,   the  only  American   flags   I  

see  are  hung  up  in  fraternity  houses,  and  I  wanted  it   to   be   much   more   symbolic.   After   taking   the  pictures,   I   played   back   and   forth   with   different  effects  on  the  iPhone  editing  feature  and  the  Aviary  application,  choosing  the  effect  that  best  enhanced  the  photo.   I  decided  giving  each   image  a  different  filter   would   be   best   for   my   photo   essay   because  each  image  tells  its  own  story.  When  talking  about  banal   snapshots   and   memorable   photographs,  Berger   states   that,   “What   distinguishes   the   one  from   the   other   is   the   degree   to   which   the  photograph   explains   the   message,   the   degree   to  which   the   photograph   makes   the   photographer’s  decision  transparent  and  comprehensible”  (292).  I  feel   as   though  my   images   back   this   statement   up  by  the  composition  in  which  they  are  taken  in,  the  message  behind  it,  and  the  filter  chosen.     In   Annette   Kuhn’s,   “Remembrance”,   she  discusses  how  photographs  are  evidence,  however,  evidence  that  is  not  necessarily  to  be  taken  at  face  value.  I  agree  with  Kuhn  and  think  my  images  back  this   up.   Each   image   is   evidence   of   patriotism   and  the   different   ways   and   locations   it   is   displayed.  Kuhn   states,   “Simply   that   a   photograph   can   be  material   for   interpretation   –   evidence,   in   that  sense:  to  be  solved,  like  a  riddle;  read  and  decoded,  like  clues  left  behind  at  the  scene  of  a  crime”  (396).  

The   images   I   photographed   are   evidence   of  patriotism   that   have   messages,   which   could   be  decoded  in  multiple  ways.  To  the  ordinary  eye,  the  messages   might   not   be   noticed   right   away.   You  must   look   deep   into   the   image,   including   the  background,  the  location,  the  filter,  etc.  I  also  kept  

in  mind   the   rules  of   composition  when   taking  my  photographs.  Some  of  the  rules  I  used  are  the  rule  of   thirds,   background,   viewpoint,   framing,   leading  lines,  and  symmetry.    

 

 The  Story  of  a  Flag  

                                             

The   photo   that   I   chose   to   analyze   is   the  image   above.   Now,   I   know   what   you’re  thinking…what’s  so  special  about  this  photograph?  It’s   just  a  flag  hanging  on  a  wall.  Well,  that  is  true,  however,  there  is  a  much  deeper  meaning  than  just  an  ordinary  flag  on  the  wall.    Before  I  get  into  that  aspect,  I  want  to  point  out  the  rules  of  composition  that  work  with   this   photograph.   First,   the   rule   of  thirds   is   present   in   this   image.   If   you   divide   the  picture  into  9  equal  parts,  the  object  I  want  the  eye  to  focus  on,  the  flag,  is  in  the  middle  intersections.  Leading  lines  is  also  seen  in  this  photo.  The  stripes  on   the   American   flag,   the   lines   created   by   the  window  blinds,  and  the  molding  on  the  window  all  work  together  to  create  leading  lines.  Another  rule  of   composition   in   this   image   is   symmetry.   In  Darren  Rowse’s  article,  5  Elements  of  Composition  in   Photography,   he   talks   about   how   symmetry  adds   to   an   image.   He   states,   “A   symmetrical   shot  with   strong   composition   and   a   good   point   of  interest   can   lead   to   a   striking   image”   (1).     In   this  image,  the  flag  is  the  point  of  interest,  and  the  two  windows  with  blinds  on  each  side  make  the  flag  in  center  pop  and  draw  the  eye  to  focus  in  on  the  flag.  These   rules   of   composition   work   together   to  enhance  the  image.         Prior  to  this  assignment,  I  would  have  looked  at   this   photo   and   wondered   what   was   so   great  

about  it.  Look  deep  into  the  photo  and  past  the  fact  that  it’s  just  a  flag  on  the  wall.  Where  do  you  think  the   location  of   this   flag   is?  Why   is   it  hanging  on  a  wall   rather   than  on  a  pole?  What   is  being  used   to  hang   it?   I  want   those  questions   to  enter   the  mind  when  looking  at  this  photo.  Take  a  look  at  what  is  being  used  to  hang  the  flag.  It  is  a  plaque.  A  plaque  usually   stands   for   importance.   In   most   cases,   it  serves   as   some   sort   of   award   or   recognition.   I  didn’t   read   the   plaque   prior   to   taking   this   photo,  but  once  I  read  it,   I  knew  this  was  going  to  be  the  photo   I  wanted   to   analyze.   The   plaque   reads   that  this   very   flag   was   flown   at   an   operating   base   in  Jalalabab,  Afghanistan  near  the  Pakistan  border   in  October  2008.  This  information  gives  the  photo  so  much  more  meaning  and  it  also  gives  insight  as  to  why  I  chose  a  black  and  white  filter  as  opposed  to  color,   like   the   rest   of   my   photos.   The   black   and  white  effect  gives  off  more  of  a  dismal  tone,  which  coincides   with   how   the   flag   was   flown   in   a   very  dangerous   area   overseas   where   our   men   and  women  are  putting  their  lives  in  total  danger.       This   photograph   captures   the   essence   of  time.   At   one   point   in   time,   this   flag   was   in  Afghanistan,   and   now   it   is   being   hung   up   in   the  Hasbrouck  Heights  Police  Department   in  honor  of  our   country   and  military   services.   In  Afghanistan,  it  was  a  reminder  to  the  military  each  day  to  keep  

fighting  for  America,  and  that  one  day,  they  will  be  back   home.   In   Hasbrouck   Heights,   it   serves   as   a  reminder  to  give  thanks  and  respect  to  those  who  dedicate  their  lives  to  save  ours.  In  Susan  Sontag’s  Photography,   she   discusses   how   photographs  express   the   concept   of   time.   She   states,  “Photographs   may   be   more   memorable   than  moving   images   –   because   they   are   a   neat   slice   of  time   (9).   I   feel   as   though   this   photograph   is  evidence  of  what  Sontag  is  saying.  In  addition,  this  photograph   symbolizes   a   specific   event   that  previously   happened   before   it   was   hanging   up   in  my   town’s   police   department.   In  Understanding  a  Photograph,   Berger   states,   “A   photograph   is  already   a   message   about   the   event   it   records”  (292).   The   event   of   the   flag   once   being   flown   in  

Afghanistan   is   a   message   in   itself,   and   the  photograph   is   a   record   of   this   message.   This  message  is  the  whole  point  of  my  photo  essay.  The  message   of   remembering   our   military   past,  present,   future,  and  to  always  have  pride   for  your  country.           I   feel   that   this   specific   image   achieves   the  goal  for  my  photo  essay  by  using  the  photography  rules   and   elements   of   composition   as   well   as  utilizing   readings   to   prove   why   this   photograph  works  with  my   essay.     These   tools  work   together  to  bring  meaning  to  this  photograph  and  help  build  a  story  behind  it.  This  photograph  tells  a  beautiful  story   of   patriotism.   Who   knew   a   simple  photograph   of   a   flag   on   a   wall   could   have   so  meaning?    

                       

Works  Cited      

Berger,  J.  (1974).  Understanding  a  photograph.  In  A.  Trachetenberg  (Ed.),  Classic  Essays  on  Photography  (pp.  291  –  294).  Leete’s  Island  Books:  New  Haven,  CT.  [pdf]  

   Kuhn,  A.  (1991,  2003).  Remembrance.  In  A.  Wells  (Ed.),  The  photography  reader  (pp.  395  –  401).  New  York,  

NY:  Routledge.  [PDF]    Rowse,  Darren.  "5  Elements  of  Composition  in  Photography  -­‐  Digital  Photography  School."  Digital  

Photography  School  RSS.  N.p.,  n.d.  Web.  11  Dec.  2014.    

 Sontag,  S.  (1973,  October  18).  Photography.  The  New  York  review  of  books.  Retrieved  from  

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/1973/oct/18/photography/?pagination=false&printpage=true  [PDF]