Jamel Shabazz
Overview
Jamel is an African American photographer who has several contributions in the photography industry to his name (Annenberg Foundation). The artist focuses his attention on New York life from Times Square to Brooklyn and many other locations telling the stories of the people living in the city. New York is a vibrant location with various activities going on at any given time. There are also divides spanning from the high life in Manhattan to the street life in Brooklyn. The artist captures simple activity in its natural form hence captures the attention of the audience because the work is relatable. Some of the artist’s work includes the Sights in the City New York Street Photographs, which narrate the city’s story (Shabazz). The photo of a man playing with a dog on the streets invokes various perspectives based on the themes put across.
Themes
Peace and Happiness
The picture showcases a peaceful element whereby everyone is going on with everyday activities on the streets. The man playing with a dog, the pedestrians walking by, those looking at the man and dog, buildings in the background that showcase business are all indicative of the existence of peace (Shabazz). Such action would be impossible in a protest area or location where there is war or strife. The man and dog depict a happy moment, which mesmerizes the people passing by on the street.
Color and Life
The photograph has a variety of colors used in the piece. The use of color brings the photo to life as various objects possess original shade. For example, the hydrant is red, and the skyline is a bit cloudy, street names, and the dog also come to life as well as the handler (Shabazz). The people walking as well as the buildings all possess a color that brings the art to life. The artist uses different shade that does not distort the original objects in the photo.
Natural Activity
The audience can see a wet tarmac road indicative of rain before the photo was taken since people are not carrying umbrellas meaning that it is not raining at the time of photo capture. It is also not as cold as the people in the photo are not warmly dressed. The horizon past the building at the end of the picture has a foggy skyline indicating a cloudy or rainy day (Shabazz). All these perspectives tell the audience that it is a wet, cloudy, but relatively warm day as New York is. Despite the weather, people are going on with activities such as grocery shopping as showcased by the people carrying grocery bags. Movement is highly associated with the city of New York, which is synonymous with a fast-paced lifestyle.
Reasons for Choosing the Photo
I chose the photo because it is not only comfortable to look at but also easy to associate with as a person living in the city. For an audience that does not live in the location, there is a clearer understanding of life in New York. The dog and man in the middle of the street particularly draw attention to the photography work. The action is a rare occurrence hence drawing attention not only from the audience looking at the piece but the audience in the photo. Few people in the picture are staring at the man and the dog, which is indicative of a mesmerizing moment. The color is another reason as the use of natural color brings the photo to life. Taking the picture on the streets with buildings and people walking and shopping is relatable on a personal level. Jamel is a famous American photographer, and his work is well known. The photo is one of his works, and I chose this photo among his many pieces that all tell the New York story. The picture does not need an explanation for what the theme or intention is, which makes it simple and straightforward. Choosing the photo is made easy as the element of simplicity is significantly high. One does not need to be a photo or art guru to understand the content and context.
The peace and activity element is also significant in the piece characterized by the number of people captured in the photo. Simple everyday activities such as shopping, walking on the streets, opening businesses have all been curtailed by the current pandemic. Such simplistic actions are no longer possible due to lockdown and curfew measures. The photo is a reminder that simple activities taken for granted are not always available and doable. Therefore, it is essential to savor every moment that an individual can go on with these activities. The very street that the photo is captured has been a ghost town following the pandemic. A photo during the lockdown would be devoid of people on the streets or open businesses. The dog and man would also not be captured. Whereas the piece by Jamel indicates happiness and peace, a photo during the lockdown would bring out a theme of loneliness.
Conclusion
The photography work by the artist is a highly recommended piece for all the reasons outlined. Work by Jamel is significantly recognized, making the photographer a renowned artist. New York is also an exciting city to focus on as it offers diversity relating to history and culture. The photo supports the aspect through the people, buildings, and activities captured by the phenomenal photographer.
Works Cited
Annenberg Foundation. “Jamel Shabazz”. Annenberg Space for Photography, 2020,
https://www.annenbergphotospace.org/person/jamel-shabazz/#:~:text=Jamel%20Shabazz%20is%20best%20known,York%20City%20during%20the%201980s.&text=Shabazz%20is%20the%202018%20recipient,of%20world%20history%20and%20culture. Accessed 8 June 2020
Shabazz, Jamel. Jamel Shabazz: Sights in the City, New York Street Photographs. 2017,
https://www.amazon.com/Jamel-Shabazz-Sights-Street-Photographs/dp/8862085222. Accessed 8 June 2020.