Joel Sternfeld

Joel Sternfeld’s manages to take a very powerful photo keying on few themes. Everything in this photo was meant to be in the shot. One of the most notable elements of the photo is the symmetry. The fact that there is about half an inch from the edge of the building to the margin means that the photographer was obviously trying to capture the complete destruction of the building. Also on the left side the Sternfeld manage to capture the beginnings of a guilty plaque. Almost as if he was attempting to create some sort of background story to tie into the quote on the front of the building. The flowers and crosses do a good job at provoking the idea of a background story. The photographer’s point of view is apparent, by managing to get every run down aspect of the building the reader instantly jumps to a number of conclusions creating this emotional back story. Another neat thing about this picture is the guilty plaque is almost hidden and it’s not until some fairly intense review that the viewer sees it. Once seeing this plaque the entire back story formulated by the reader is almost confirmed. All in all it is a pretty neat picture that is quite moving.