“15 people at picnic,” 20th century
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“15 people at picnic” is a photograph in the Korean American Digital Archive at the University of Southern California. Though it is an image of a common activity, many elements of the photograph warrant closer attention.
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2020-11-22T09:07:38-08:00
“15 people at picnic” is a photograph in the Korean American Digital Archive at the University of Southern California. Though it is an image of a common activity, many elements of the photograph warrant closer attention.
Upon first glance, the most striking aspect of this photograph is the harsh contrast between the white clothes and white picnic blanket at the center of the image and the dark shadows framing the edges. This immediately draws the eyes to the brightly lit center of the group, which is the main focus of the image. There is also a clear difference in the sharpness of different areas of the photograph. The faces of the group are clearly visible and in sharp focus, allowing us to see the smiles on the children’s faces and even the wrinkles of the man on the left. In contrast, the groups of people in the far background are blurry, and nearly escapes the viewer’s notice as they blend in with the shadows of the distant foliage.
Next, we see the expressions and body language of the picnicking group. Many of them are smiling, especially the children, conveying a sense of warmth and happiness. The positioning of the photographer with respect to the group then sets the scene—the photographer is positioned as an outsider looking into the scene, but the people, especially the man in the dark suit on the far left, seem to be inviting him to join their picnic. The viewer, by extension, feels welcomed to join this happy gathering and to identify with an ethnic group that may perhaps be different from one’s own.
While some photographs are taken to capture a scene merely for the photographer and viewer to observe, this photograph was deliberately taken to include the photographer. This implied subject is not a casual observer and actually appears to be a new member of the picnic group as they seem to be including him or her in their friendly gathering. This invitation is then extended to the viewer as we view the scene from the perspective of the photographer.
