Falcon Photo

The first image I viewed from the Newseum’s Pulitzer Prize photo gallery is called “Kosovo Refugees”. In 2000, photographer Carol Guzy spent time at a refugee camp in Albania during the Kosovo crisis. The award-winning photo depicts a young boy being passed through a barbed wire fence at the border. I was drawn to this photo because the extraordinary use of visual elements allowed me to connect to the child struggling between the fence. In my opinion, “Kosovo Refugees” is among the most strikingly emotional photographs mounted in the Newseum. No doubt, Guzy’s photograph is effective in evoking emotion. As I gazed into the child’s eyes filled with fear, my heart broke. The frantic environment captured by the photographer delivers the underlying message of conflict and desperation. I felt sympathetic towards the two-year-old child who seems so panicked… it’s hard to imagine that thousands of ethnic Albanians were forced to flee their homes in Kosovo.

The second image I viewed from the Newseum’s Pulitzer Prize photo gallery is called “Chiapas Racers”. In 2003, photographer Don Bartletti documented the desperate migration of Central American children searching for parents who had immigrated to the United States. Amazingly, he decided to ride atop of a train with the children who were in search of their parents. The award-winning photo portrays a young boy and girl who are on a horse racing alongside the train in the jungle. I was drawn to this photo because these children were smiling and laughing, unlike the other children Bartletti had photographed. Although they were risking their lives in search of their parents, they were still thoroughly enjoying themselves. The expressions on the children’s faces made it seem as if they didn’t have the slightest idea that they were on a treacherous journey. Therefore, I find it significant that it captures the emotional differences between the issues occurring and the individuals in the photograph. Not only is the image unique and special in its own nature, but it also conveys a powerful message about living life to the fullest. I felt joyful after viewing this photo. Most photos that have won the Pulitzer Prize tend to directly demonstrate the emotional reactions to sad events or issues, whereas “Chiapas Racers” does the opposite.

Truthfully, I don’t think I would be able to separate my job from being human. Some of the struggles of being a photojournalist include witnessing these heartbreaking events with their own eyes. Despite the fact that they are capturing a historical moment that others will be able to learn from, it must be extremely difficult for them to decide between taking a photo or saving someone’s life. Sometimes, photojournalists can’t help given the circumstances. It is painful to imagine how much guilt weighs on them and how they have no choice but to live with that regret forever after.

My favorite exhibit was the 9/11 Gallery & Film because it has remarkable first-person accounts from journalists who covered the story. My favorite artifact in it was the 360-foot antenna mast that toppled from the World Trade Center’s North Tower when the building collapsed. The antenna served most of New York City’s television stations. This exhibit fits in with the rest of the Newseum because records of the tragic yet historical event allow people to get a deeper understanding of the past.

This photo is very sad because it is so unbelievable that humans can wish to torture other humans so much that they have to flee from their home. This photo was very special to me because my parents were influenced by this war and had to flee their home and family as well. I was drawn to this photo because of the vibrant colors and the child as the focus.

This photo shows how horrible things can happen when you are thinking that the situation cannot get any worse. There was a fire in the building and this family fled to the fire escape which unexpectedly broke while they were still on it. I was drawn to this photo because of the positions of the people in it. It is unbelievable how the photographer took a photo of them while they were in midair.

 My favorite exhibit was the Pulitzer Prize Photographs because it was so enlightening. I witnessed so many things that I did not now about. There were also some things I had heard about, but never in this much detail. These photos made me realize that there are so many hardships in the world and that I am lucky to have such an easy life compared to others around the world. I wish to visit this exhibit in the future when there are new photographs.

I think it would be very difficult to be a photojournalist. There are so many dilemmas, like do I save the person in danger or do I take a photograph so that other people can learn about this moment as well? I feel that many of the people that were in the photos did not want to have their photo taken and think of the photographer as a bad guy cause he/she is not helping them. I feel that being a photojournalist could take a toll on your health and happiness. A good part of being a photojournalist could be taking positive photos that make you feel happy as well as make the person you are taking the photo of proud.

In photography we went to the Newseum. We roamed around and looked at different pictures and exhibits. I think the best exhibit was the ” Pulitzer Prize” exhibit. One of the pictures was called “Struggling Girl”. 

This photo shows a starving girl, crawling to a United Nation food camp. The vulture is sitting there waiting/watching the child as she’s dying, so that as soon as she dies it could eat her.  The photographer, Kevin Carter, committed suicide 3 months after taking this picture because he was so sad and tired of seeing these horrible sights. I was very, very sad when I saw this picture because it made me think of all the starving people in the world. I don’t know why this picture pulled me in, it just has the affect on people, that makes them want to help.

The next picture that I liked is called “Reunion.” It shows a refugee, Agim Shala, 2, being passed through the barbed wire fence into the hands of grandparents at the camp run by United Arab Emirates in Kukes, Albania. This picture made me happy and sad because I was happy that the child was saved but I’m sad for all the people that wouldn’t be able to fit through the fence. It drew me in because the baby’s coat is a bright blue and my eyes just went to the picture as I was walking by. 

I probably wouldn’t be able to take the picture because I’d have a crazy urge to help. Maybe if it wasn’t too severe, like the “Reunion” picture but if it was someone dying, I would help. The only reward you would get from taking a picture is money, if you helped someone the reward is saving someones life. Which in my opinion, saving someone’s life is a better reward than money. It’s hard to be a photographer because you have to chose between helping someone and taking the picture. 

These pictures show DC. We went to the balcony and looked over DC.  I liked it because I like heights and I like down and seeing everything smaller. My favorite part are the little statues on buildings and on the sidewalks. This fits the museum because it’s literally where the museum is and these pictures show everything around the museum and the view from the balcony.