Reality vs. Staged

Two distinctively different photographers, both Annie Leibovitz and James Nachtwey are inspirational in their work. Annie Leibovitz is constantly capturing the most perfect and beautiful picture with elaborate  costumes and stages. She knows exactly what will make her pictures strikingly remarkable, and even emphasizes the importance of editing the photos to bring out the qualities of a scene. Although her work is mainly of celebrities, Leibovitz is able to offer a sort of magical experience through her images. Nachtwey, however, takes a less glamorous approach, but his photos still leave a lasting impression on the viewer. His photos are constantly taken as he sees the subject, raw and without any make-up, and completed with minimal edits. Nevertheless, Nachtwey grips the viewers' attention through the grotesque, heart-wrenching and vivid images of war and other malices in the world. Perhaps, it is their differences which emphasize the goals and methodologies of photography, which can also be relevant to anthropology.

Annie Leibovitz's photo of Karlie Kloss for Vogue Magazine June 2009. The colors on this photo is just so stunning.
(Borrowed from http://community.livejournal.com/ru_glamour/3231182.html)

James Nachtwey 2009 in Congo. This photo speaks so much about war's impact on children without even showing a full picture of an adult.
(Borrowed from: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1878837_1844467,00.html)

Through their work, Leibovitz and Nachtwey illustrate the importance of photographs in representing an idea, a person, a event, and even a society. Leibovitz believes that a photo must truly bring out the person and so she gets to know the individual and incorporates certain objects and events of relevance to the person into their photograph. Similarly, in visual anthropology, we want to take a portrait that truly shouts the traits that we want to express of the individual without having to describe the photo, hence we also get to know our subjects before creating a photo of them. Nachtwey also illustrates a similar point as he spends some time with subjects (such as the one-legged and one-armed man) before he starts to document their lives. Similar to anthropological methodologies, Nachtwey and Leibovitz both believe that a mutual relationship of acceptance is the most basic foundation for an accurate representation of subjects. This relationship of acceptance is crucial for anthropologists for a couple of reasons. For one, this relationship will prevent any unwanted invasion of privacy, as we constantly want to respect and protect our subjects. Another reason is that it allows the subjects to become more comfortable with the photographers to the degree that their most natural acts can be recorded. Leibovitz was known for being able to blend in with her subjects and become unnoticed even with her camera in hand. Nachtwey was also able to capture photos with subjects in action because he was able to have his subjects ignore his presence. Such skills are truly important, as anthropologists want the most natural scene. Hence, whether it's expressing them on photo or through words, both photographers and anthropologists come together in their desire for the truth.

James Nachtwey during the Chechnya War 1989. Another image that leaves you in contemplation.
(Borrowed from http://picsicio.us/keyword/james%20nachtwey%20photos/)

Annie Leibovitz's collection of Alice in Wonderland photos with model Natalia Vodianova 2010. The set-up of this scene is amazing with the differences in scales of sizes.
(Borrowed from http://inspiremeplease.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/getting-to-big-for-the-dollhouse-alice/)

日本のお母さん

“你好吗" was among one of the many languages Okasan greeted me with during our first meeting. That was my first sample of her many skills and capabilities. As I got to know her, she helped me develop a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and society through her daily life.

Okasan has become proof to me that Japanese culture is starting to change and women are becoming capable, independent and even major contributors to society. While she considers herself a "homemaker," she has accomplished much more than taking care of a home; even though her family are all working overseas, Okasan chose to stay in Japan to maintain their home, lead her own life, and contribute to her community. Most women of Okasan's status, would be able to relax, travel, and enjoy life, but Okasan tells me that she has no time for such things. She isとてもいそかしい with volunteering and attending meetings to find solutions for various problems in the neighborhood; she has participated in various events from campaigning for child safety to simply establishing a cleaner way to recycle and dispose of waste. Amidst her involvement in the neighborhood, she has also worked into her daily routine of going to the gym, doing household chores, and taking care of a host-student. Even when she is tired, she is never the one to complain, as she will still smile a whole-hearted smile and have more energy than me for our daily chats at the end of the day. 

Through my interactions with my Okasan I am reminded that assumptions of people from one cultural group do not necessary stand true and have to exist. While some of my Okasan's traits are well shared among other Japanese people, such as her bright personality, which accentuates Japanese people's spirit of 元気-ness and eagerness to help others, her individual characteristics make it difficult to generalize everyone. I am sure not all Japanese people or women are like my Okasan, as the lifestyles that they lead, decisions that they make, and perspectives that they have vary. For instance, not all Japanese people balance her type of schedule at her age, or can speak Chinese quite fluently along with english and some Thai. Hence, my Okasan as a Japanese person, woman, and mother is both her own individual and a part of the Japanese whole. While she is just one part of the many faces of Japanese society, she represents to me a big and positive part of Japanese culture.