How to be a good photographer and good anthropologist?

 Annie Leibovitz is the one of famous photographers in the United States. She takes a lot of pictures of celebrities such as Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Scarlett Johannson. Her pictures look dynamic and gorgeous, as my first impression of her pictures.

   


I found the great portrait pictures. I think the picture below is really simple, but it looks gorgeous as well because of roses and her red lip. The another one looks cool and gentle. I think those pictures successfully express their images and personalities that they want to sell. Those are my favorite anyway!



I was fascinated with her pictures, but I think most of them are artificial; not real.

 

Natalie Portman photographed by Annie Leibovitz.
From  http://fuckyeahannieleibovitz.tumblr.com/

  

Jude Law photographed by Annie Leibovitz.

From http://www.etoday.ru/2008/04/annie-leibovitz-portraits.php

On the other hand, James Natchway, a famous war photographer, tells us the reality of war and the world. His pictures show misery and sorrow of war. Everyone suffered from war has sad story. We already know how terrible the war is through media, but we don’t really see those stories only through media.

 

Look at this picture below. This young boy lost his mother because of war. He has to live alone so that he should be strong. His face shows such feeling. This is his story that we cannot see only through media. I think Natchway’s pictures give a chance to reconsider war and peace.



In Cambodia, Va Ling, 12, holds a portrait of his mother at her funeral pyre; the picture is part of the “World Free of TB” exhibition at the United Nations.

From http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/28/arts/design/28nach.html?_r=1



Somalia, 1992 - Lifting a dead son to carry him to a mass grave during
the famine. From http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/



Annie Leibovitz and James Natchway devote their life to taking pictures. Annie Leibovitz said that camera is one of her family members. She takes picture every moment in her life time like eating food and sleeping. James Natchway goes to battlefield without regard to his life.

 

Annie Leibovitz and James Natchway have different style of taking pictures each other, but I think they have same concepts of being good photographer. I think that they tell us the important thing to be good photographer is to be active. Get out and take pictures so that we can get vivid scene and interpret reality of the world. Then we can learn more about culture, society and people as an anthropologist.





Japanese people!

Japanese people…I was thinking what is a definition of Japanese people.

Then I chose him!

This is Chris Grosardt. He is an American, living in Texas. He studied at Kansai Gaidai 2 years ago. We met each other at “Wisdom in west and east” class for the first time. I didn’t have any knowledge of philosophy but only have poor English, so it was really hard to keep up with the class. As I was struggled with the difficult class, Chris helped my English and studying a lot. He explained the content of a textbook and class discussion when I couldn’t understand both in English and in Japanese. He is a fluent speaker of Japanese, so he mainly talked in Japanese. He says the honorific words (敬語) fluently such as “Osoreirimasu(恐れ入ります)” and “Moshiwakegozaimasen(申し訳ございません)”. We went to sushi restaurant and karaoke many times. He usually sings Japanese song! I was impressed with his great Japanese and politeness. I always describe him as Japanese more than me!

Thankfully, I could pass the class and study abroad in the United States last year. That was great time to study with him and achieved the goal of passing the class and study abroad!

I’m surprised that international students are more like Japanese than us because of their manner and polite words. Japanese people have been forgetting those sense. I saw many Japanese people like eating food on the train and using cell phone near the priority seats. Foreigner tends to describe that Japanese people are modest and reserved. I think it shows how we should be as Japanese.

Chris not only helped my English but also gave a chance to reconsider what is Japanese. I am very pleased and appreciative of his support and kindness he has given me.