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| Ghetto Boy by Gordon Parks, 1953 |
Gordon Parks photograph entitled "Ghetto Boy" is a black and white photo that shows a boy in the streets on with a makeshift cape on, standing in a dirty chair surrounded by dirt and rubble. The boy in the chair is in the center of the photo with a window to each side of him. The window's are divided into four panels, on the left window the bottom right panel is broken. The boy appears to be African American and is looking straight at the camera with a blank stare. He is wearing a dirty white shirt and dark pants. On top of his shoulders he has a dirty blanket that he seems to be using as a makeshift cape. In his right hand he is holding something small and white and in his left hand he is holding something that appears to e a blanket, that is long and white. The picture is mostly all dark shades of black and grey other than the boy and his blankets in the center of the picture.
When I look at this picture I think of it as being sad because of the darkness. The look on the boys face does not give off a particular emotion, although you can tell he is not happy, it almost looks like he is surprised. I think that this photo is trying to communicate a feeling of sorrow but also hope because even though this little boy is alone in a very dirty place he still is trying to create a fun time.
What makes this a fabulous photograph is the emotion that it communicates. The boys face is unexpected, you would expect a young boy to be happy but he gives a look of sadness, concern, or even of concern. His facial expression gives the photo most of emotion. The fact that the photo is black and white also makes the boy stand out more because he is in a dark place surrounded by white items, like his shirt and the blankets.
