"Most of my portraits are not formal situations; they are found situations." Steve McCurry

People say a picture is worth a thousand words, this is proved right by the legendary Steve McCurry. Born in Philadelphia in the year 1950, he attended the College of Arts and Architecture at the Pennsylvania State University. Finding the “Essence of human struggle and joy” McCurry focuses on war and how it affects the landscape and us humans. After 2 years of working for a newspaper, McCurry flew off to India for self employment. McCurry’s career went skyrocket when he crossed the Pakistan border with film sewn into his clothing, these pictures were the first to show the position the Pakistani people were in, thus him wining various awards for bravery and endeavor.

He believes in hard work and how you grow by every experience you go through. “’If you wait’, he realized, ‘people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view." This quote proves to me his passion for photography, how he wants to see change in the world and showing this through his art would captivate people, making them wonder.

This vivacious photograph was taken in Rajasthan, India in 1996. In this picture I can see a pair of feet wearing a well crafted pair of jutis. I can see a dhoti (worn by Indian men) died in red, similar to the colors of the picture. His feet and the ground are covered in colored powder. Ripped and ruptured the jutis the man is wearing seem to be old. Holi which is a colorful Hindu festival is an occasion in which colored powder known as gulal is sprinkled; this photograph could be an evidence of the spring festival, known as the celebration of unity and brotherhood. What caught my eye was the spot of green smack in the middle of the picture, a contrast of colors and emotions. What interests me most, is the difference between the mood of the picture and what I think the meaning of the photo is, the colors are vibrant and remind me of spring, and the great variety of color. It reminds me of my experience when celebrating Holi, and the joy it brings with itself. The jutis, however, have major differences between the feelings of colors. Torn and scraped, the jutis reminds of sadness and pain, of poverty. “It is my hope that these images will provide a record of lost moments of culture.” The picture overlooks aspects of everyday life, compared to culture and celebration. It celebrates religion as well as human suffering and life. The simplicity and quality of this image shows how good a photographer McCurry is.

“Today we have many more soldiers, contractors, and NGO’S than we did five years ago, yet it is far more dangerous today than it was then. That tells me that many do not understand the country, the history, the people, the terrain, the language, the religion, the culture.” Steve McCurry has a way of illustrating his message instead of writing it below the image or making it too obvious. Doing so himself, he says being curious, hard working, being able to leave your comfort zone, having determination, the creativity to dig deep in, letting things change you and never letting an opportunity go are ways to become a successful photographer. McCurry’s photography turned him into a humanitarian, people are easily moved by his portraits, and how he conveys the message. The encouragement from National Geographic raised more awareness through publishing his work.

A great photo, what makes a great photo? It’s color? It’s background? According to Steve McCurry, that’s not all that gives a portrait its greatness, its meaning and what it’s trying to convey. A photo that’s makes you go “whoa” is an achievement for the photographer itself. Both paintings and photos make history, how and why? An image should have something special, it’s meaning so strong and deep it raises the hair on your arms. Reading an image is a challenge in itself. Observing each and every detail, reading between the lines, are key to reading a photograph. Each and every place Steve McCurry visits he brings back memories through his pictures, each picture drawing out its own story. His journey can be read, it can be observed, through his very own art, and passion for photography.

Steve McCurry expresses his emotions through his photography, each photo is unique in its own way, writing its own story out. The themes in his photos vary in style and color contrast, his pictures not only stand out but imprint its message in the viewers heads.

Picture 1: http://ivan-t3.deviantart.com/art/Steve-McCurry-55602160

Picture 2: http://www.stevemccurry.com/main.php

Picture 3: http://www.nz20.com/media/1/20090814-im11.jpg

Sailing the Waves of Fact or Fiction?

Jason and the quest for the Golden Fleece, is it fact or fiction? Is it true that Jason helped the old woman cross the river? Is it true the woman was Hera? So many questions, yet the answer still not answered. After studying the cycle of the hero, it surely tells me that Jason was a hero who fought, and who returned.

In Jason and the quest for the Golden Fleece, Jason “amulet” was Hera, who was impressed not only by his looks, but also his kind heart. She helped him throughout the tough voyage, and had an eye on him at all times. Giving tests was another part of the journey Jason had to go through. To test Jason’s kindness Hera herself challenged Jason. Disguised as an old woman Hera used the help of Jason’s strength to cross a river, but as he took each step Hera got heavier and heavier and Jason never giving up. From then on Hera had always been a good luck charm for Jason.

According Wikipedia.com there were at least 50 crew members on the Argo. All 50 were helpers, who held his hand throughout the journey. After the “final battle” which in Jason’s case was stealing the Golden Fleece, he had to face King Pelias and his lover Medea helped him. The Golden Fleece was Jason’s “elixir”. He had to crash down barriers to reach his goal, and to leave a mark. Jason returned but didn’t live for long. His life ended because of his broken promise. He was successful but lost everything. The journey that lasted over 10 years was after all of no use.

There are many interpretations of the myth, Jason and the quest for the Golden Fleece. Which one is true could get controversial depending on the way people think, but the facts remain whereas the hearsay continues and has developed the myth. In most versions of the myth Jason died due to the piece of oak on the Argo, which was supposed to be a helping hand, but killed him instead.

Jason is known to be strong, determined. Facing whatever comes in his way, however, he does have the advantage of Hera and Medea. The 2 together did wonders. He breaks his promise because of power. The power, the love, what to pick?! And Jason chose power which didn’t do him any good.

Medea is the young woman fighting for her love, but when the love is forgotten, she uses her powers for not for defending Jason this time, but destroying him and thus, she does.

Hera has a totally different side to her in Jason and the quest for the Golden Fleece. After reading about her in Hercules, it shows how she can be when she detests and when she admires someone. There’s a great contrast which surprises me, because she is a savior in this myth whereas Hercules she is quite the opposite.

For many years people thought of the myth as a mere legend. But archaeologists recently discovered a stone from the ancient age. This stone was found in the modern day Colchis. A version of the myth (Jason and the Argonauts) is drawn onto the stone. The drawings indicate that this happened during an early period of time, and the drawings clearly show each part of the story. A cave was also discovered known to be the home of Jason, where he grew up. Ancient technology was used to make the boat, the great Argo, used to travel around the world to face his challenge. Shockingly a picture was found of the crew involved in the expedition, they are said to be descendants of Medea herself. People in Greek still butcher fleeces, on special occasions. Hanging the skin on trees and eating the flesh. Even the weather connects to the fact that the Argonauts and Jason had to take a halt for the bad weather, and high tide, disturbing the ship’s path. Geographical and historical facts support the idea of Jason and the quest for the Golden Fleece being more than just a myth.

Jason, the one who fought, the one who journeyed to the end of the world, could this myth be fact or fiction?

Picture of Jason- http://plt25.deviantart.com/art/Argonautica-136356095

Picture of Jason's Helmet- http://oicemano.deviantart.com/art/Jason-and-the-Argonauts-GC-Cov-59619987

Picture of The Argo (The Ship)- http://perzo.deviantart.com/art/Argo-on-Danube-103930429

A Negative Potrayal of Curiosity?

The 2 myths Pandora, a Greek myth and Orphan boy, an African myth, warn us that curiosity can lead to change, both negative and positive. Examples of this are, when curiosity leads to Pandora to open the box, and causes humans to suffer. While in Orphan Boy the old man follows Kileken which unveils the Orphan Boy’s secret and the old man to undergo loneliness. Whereas the positive effect of curiosity was in Pandora when all the creatures shoot out of the box except for one, Hope, this is saying that there is always light at the end of the tunnel, and in Orphan boy the man realizes his mistake, realizes that sometimes you have to trust the person and bury your curiosity 6 feet under. Orphan Boy and Pandora are just 2 examples of myths that put a spotlight on curiosity, and its positive and negative effects.

Pandora Photo- http://pygar.deviantart.com/art/Pandora-115764837

Orphan Boy Photo- http://www.amazon.com/Orphan-Boy-Tololwa-M-Mollel/dp/0395720796#reader

Creation Myths. Similar or Different?

“Each time, storytellers clothed the naked body of the myth in their own traditions, so that listeners could relate more easily to its deeper meaning”- Joan D. Vinge. There are a number of common elements in all creation myths. Some elements are given more depth and are the main idea in a myth, while in other myths they are a sub theme or not at all mentioned. The explanation of natural phenomena, how the stars, moon, etc. were created, the cleansing of the earth, and human nature are just some of the most emphasized elements in creation myths. Both Pang Ku and the Norse myth mentioned how the creator sacrificed themselves to complete the Earth. This explains that natural phenomena is a common element in many creation myths. The cleansing of the Earth is another common factor included in creation myths. The Yoruban myth where a flood washed away the imperfect humans created by the gods and the Mayan myth where the gods conducted a flood sending all the humans they made away with the water, are just 2 example of myths that include the theme of cleansing. Another common building block in creation myths is the reasoning of human nature. In the Inca myth god carved out humans, and later realized that they were of no use. The gods in the Inca myth guided them through everyday chores. While in the Chinese myth, Pang Ku, the loss of the creator caused people to have pain and suffering in their lives. The explanation of natural phenomena, the cleansing of the Earth, and human behaviour are some of the, many common elements in creation myths. It astonishing how such different cultures, and countries so far apart from each other, have similar ideas. And as Joan D. Vinge said, different cultures have different values, and those values are added to creation myths, but the big picture is startlingly similar to all people.

Discovering My Name.

Mitsu, not complicated, just plain Mitsu, and so is the meaning light or honey/ nectar. How many of us go around every day and forget someone’s name (I know you have your hand up). We’ve all been in a situation where we meet someone whose name escapes us. “Hey, what’s up….buddy.” When we employ phrases like “hi buddy,” or “chief,” or “what’s up…big fella,” this hints the person that their name is forgotten. So is a name really that important…YES!, my name however can have both a disadvantage and an advantage. The story behind it just as simple. In India, before picking a name for the child, the parents have to ask a priest what the first letter of the child's name should be, after looking at the time and date of the baby's birth, the priest then draws out the letter. My parents knew someone named Mitsuie, so they decided to name me after her, playing around with the letter and ending up with Mitsu, and luckily the letter that the priest picked was M. That's all nothing special, in fact my parents didn't even know the meaning before they decided to name me. Of course they made a list, the names they chose were mostly lame, except for Mitsu which was the only Japanese name, or even the only one not Indian. My name feels like a bubble around me, its my own brand. Giving me an identity giving. Some parents keep names that may not be appropriate when they are adults, and the child thinks of changing them, for example my cousin. He changed his name more than 3 times in 2 years! I surely wouldn't do that. Hopefully. So there, the story behind my name. I love it, nothing could suit me better. It's unique, it's me, it's plain Mitsu.