Representation of Life

The other day, I was flipping through some of my pictures that I have on my computer and facebook and I thought about how much pictures are visual symbols of my life. I think the most meaningful for me might be pictures of my family and friends, or really any picture that helps to represent where I come from and what I am. I am no photographer, and often find taking pictures from interesting or creative angles difficult (even after some instruction in photo design, I’m still struggling with this), but the content is what means the most to me.

It seems strange to say, but I think looking at my life through all of my pictures would be very interesting. And yet, only looking at pictures would give a skewed view of myself and my life. If I’m in the photo, I’m often smiling, as are most of my other photograph-victims... Taking pictures on the farm of the animals often allows me to have less self-conscious subjects, and yet even their actions are often influenced by my presence. Even when I'm taking pictures of our pet llamas, they are in my face wanting to know what that "cool new thing" in my hand is (and no - that's not using zoom... and I have pictures of just parts of noses from them. They are VERY curious creatures!). Even they put on a different face for the camera! Pictures that I take don’t usually show everyday life.

I find it funny how we, myself included, cling so tightly to things like photographs when they can never show the “whole story.” Something to think about.

Photographs are from my private collection.

Visual Symbols in My Life

Week 1, January 23, 2011

Visual symbols affect my life greatly on a daily basis. I wake up and

go to check my email, and there is some forward from my sister with hilarious pictures to accompany a funny, yet fictitious, story. I go to check my Facebook, and one of my friends has posted recent pictures of her trip over seas. I go to watch some news and I’m bombarded not only with what I intentionally tuned in to, but commercial after commercial trying to sell me anything from lotion to a brand new iPhone. Visuals that are out there solely to catch my attention and make me think, “Yeah! I want that!” Next, I pick up a book for class or for enjoyment, and the visual symbols that are the English language jump out at me, as do any illustrations or diagrams that assist in

my understanding of what I'm reading.

Then I go to class, and I’m faced with what I would consider another genre of visuals, ones that enhance my education. While I learn from what I have already witnessed before this point in the day, somehow it’s very different. I’m not trying to ignore the commercial with the stunning visuals and catch song, but am tuned in to what the teacher and other students have to say, what is in my book that can reinforce each idea, and what is on display during class. I have had very few classes in my college career that didn’t include a Powerpoint or video almost every time we would meet. And I have to admit – classes without some sort of visual symbols to assist in my learning were classes that I left feeling like I didn’t learn anything and just wasted an hour of my life.

Visual symbols help me work my way through life and clarify my understanding of the world.

Photographs from my personal collection.