Winegar 6
Hannah Winegar
Heather Custer
English 1000 Sec 130
12 November 2014
Beyond the Lens
Joy Mckinney began a project in 2013 titled, “The Guardian,” in which she decided to break down some of New York City’s social barriers, and also some of her own, by photographing strangers while touching them (Mckinney). Although a simple touch might not seem like much to someone who is used to sweet Southern hospitality, in New York City it is out of the ordinary to touch someone who is not familiar or a family member. In her project, Mckinney photographs strangers with her hand on their faces, specifically on their noses. She solicits a pathos response in “The Guardian” because of her appeal to diversity through the use of contrast and focus on connectedness, while making a statement about the standards of beauty in America.
One of the most alluring photographs in this collection is of a young woman with short black hair and piercing brown eyes. It is in Union Square in New York City with a crowd of people in the background, along with a few trees and buildings. It is likely summer because it appears to be warm outside and there is a lot of sunlight. The subject’s shoulders and neck are exposed and tank tops are also visible in the background, something that would not be present during a fall or winter month in the north. The choice to take photographs on a pleasant day probably brought in more willing volunteers for Mckinney. The subject looks laid back but also focused on where she in going in her life and in the photograph. There is a sense of tension in her face, but she is still calm. The tension is likely from the placement of Mckinney’s hand on her face, something that “The Guardian” collection attempts to highlight.
Mckinney makes clear compositional choices in her photograph. The most apparent ones are dealing with her constant use of contrast, which speaks of her message about diversity. The color of Mckinney’s fingernails against her dark skin makes them pop, while there are not many other bright colors that are in focus. Most of the colors in the photograph are neutral skin tone colors, and the decision to cut off the majority of the subject’s bright blue shirt is important. If her blue shirt were still in the picture, it would take away from the effect of the fingernails and the bits of clear blue sky, which are emphasized to show more contrast. The deep brown color of the subject’s eyes is also a factor that draws the viewer’s eye into the picture because there is a strong contrast to the whites of her eyes, which seem to be more piercing than the average person’s.
The bits of blue sky in the background pop out against the brown in the buildings and the grey on the ground, illustrating the delightful day. The subtle pops of color in the background are a reminder that life is going on outside of the main focus of the photo, but it does not take over. There is an intimate moment happening between Mckinney and the subject, and these kinds of moments make it easy to block out the rest of the world and disregard all other activity. This is a metaphor for life in general; even when something is happening to a single person, there are still millions of other things going on at the same time to which they become oblivious.
Another element of contrast comes in with texture in the photograph. The subject’s skin is extremely smooth, while Mckinney’s hand is wrinkled. Her time-weathered hand gives the viewer the idea that the photographer is older and experienced, which gives Mckinney credibility and the appearance that she is knowledgeable through the inference that she has wisdom. The subject’s cutting edge haircut adds to her youthfulness because it shows that she is fashion conscious and is up on current trends. The contrast of the wispy texture of the subject’s hair against her smooth skin shows her edge and breaks up the photo. Also, her eyebrows are perfectly waxed and shaped, while her hair is left to its own natural state. Since the trees and buildings are blurred in the background, their texture is difficult to decipher, showing how Mckinney did not want them to take away from the focus on the subject’s appearance.
The photograph is focused directly on the subject’s face and Mckinney’s hand, which suggests how important the subject’s facial expression is to the picture and how, although there is chaos going on in the background, the subject is infinitely more important. The background is a blurry, lighthearted park setting, but the expression on the subject’s face suggests that she is off in her own, more serious world—she looks very concentrated, yet there is a sense of serenity. Mckinney’s decision to photograph the subject head-on in landscape highlights how she wanted the emotion to be the focus, not her arm or the subject’s shirt. The light from above shines on the subject’s brow bones, intensifying her gaze while softening Mckinney’s hand at the same time.
The meta-narrative this photo expresses is how diverse the United States is and how many different elements mix together to make one small snapshot of the culture. The fact that Mckinney is touching her subject brings in a sense of togetherness, despite differences. The race of the photographer and the subject also play into the diversity because the photographer is obviously African American, and it seems as if the subject has some of the same roots, but also has some other races mixed in. The contrasts in the photo play off of each other, but they all come together in the end to make the final creation, similar to the way that people do in the United States. The face-to-face angle also brings a sense of connectedness between the two women, as well as the viewer. This photo causes the viewer to look deeper than the surface, because it is different than a typical image. Often, photographs include smiling and happy people who attempt to get their message across clearly and as simple as possible, but it is obvious by the subject’s cheekbones and lack of lines around her eyes that she is not smiling. This image has another level of emotion that is not so easy to decipher and makes a viewer look for more in the photo.
The photo also highlights how important beauty is because the girl in the photo is not just someone who catches the eye, but holds the attention. This makes a statement about American culture because the pretty girl is the part of the photo that is meant to keep the attention, not a wrinkled hand or the aspect of nature in the background. The response to this photo is an immediate interest, and in some cases attraction to the subject. This makes it easier for the photographer to convince people of her message, and attractive people are often an advertising tactic. The subject has desirable features, like high cheekbones and beautiful eyes, which are at the center of American beauty standards, while mixing it up a bit with a different hairstyle.
These meta-narratives appeal to pathos because of how they evoke emotional opinions in the viewer. When someone looks at this photo, the emotion in the subject’s eyes captures their interest and makes them question it. Diversity is something that many people have an opinion on, and New York City is a prime example of the “melting pot” because of all the different districts. Mckinney’s decision to take her photograph there was conscious and understandable. The beauty of the girl also appeals to pathos because it elicits a libido response. When people see an attractive person, they are instantly more interested in what they are looking at and also more likely to agree with the photographer’s message.
This is a photograph that draws a viewer in and keeps them lingering. There is a series of interruptions in the photo, from the hand on the subject’s face to the busy background interrupting the focus. Mckinney’s appeal to pathos is convincing of her arguments about diversity and beauty, while not being offensive or putting anyone off. Touching brings people together while also highlighting their differences, which is something Mckinney aimed for in “The Guardian.”
Works Cited
Mckinney, Joy. "Photographer Challenges Social Norms by Touching Strangers in New York City.” The Guardian. Petapixel,15 June 2013. Photograph. 24 September 2014. <http://petapixel.com/2013/06/15/photographer-challenges-social-norms-by-touching- strangers-in-new-york-city/>