Great Talent, Annie Leibovitz and James Nachtwey

I've never seen certain photographer's pictures consciously before watching two films about Annie Leibovitz and James Nachtwey in the class. The common lesson I learned was that consistent styles of  taking photo seemed to exist.

For example, both Leibovitz and Nachtwey become invisible to be a part of their subject's world so it appears what the subject really is.

Mick Jagger by Annie Leibovitz
http://www.flickr.com/photos/annulla/428897352/sizes/m/in/photostream/




photo of Afghanistan by James Nachtwey
http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/

 
 However, as these two photographer's types of title, their works are quite different. Leibovitz , a portrait photographer takes lots of celebrities' pcitures for magazines, ads, etc. the photos are all sophisticated and enchanting as if she could find the moment of the peak and cut it.

Antoinette by Annie Leibovitz
http://bealencastro.tumblr.com/post/196745051/antoinette-photo-by-annie-leibovitz



Jamie Foxxby Annie Leibovitz
http://www.egodesign.ca/en/article.php?article_id=323

On the other hand, Nachtwey, a war photographer's photos remind me what is happening in the differnt places on the Earth. There are the scenes that I could not stand watching without pain in his photos. A photo of survivor of genocide in Rwanda was especially impressive for me. Personally, I research on conflicts in Africa and thought I'm understanding what is going on there. But seeing this photo my images for conflicts became more serious and real.



Survivor of Hutu, Rwanda by James Nachtwey



Totally different kind of photos are taken by these two photographer but they also have some common features. They obviously show respect for subjects and love their job. I learned what taking photo is through two films. I'm glad to be able to know these great photographers and want to take more techniques in my own photos.

What I learned from foreign students

 What I think about foriegn student.

They have strong mind to do something they are interested in. They study alot and aquire skills a lot.
It may be just my stereotype of foreign student but still I can't stop to think so. I often see my Japanese friends sleeping in the class. But how about foreign student?
They listen what teacher and/or other student say and have their own opinion.
I was surprised when I saw student say their opinion and then other student make a counterargument to the student.
I could learn many things studying with foreign students.

Here are two pictures of two guys from U.S.
Jake and Andrew.



Jake



Andrew

They studied Japanese when I come to them and they both spoke Japanese really well even I thought no need to convey what I think in English.
I was afraid to talk to them when I approached to them because I could be strange Japanese student who wnats to take their picture.

taken by me with Andrew's iPhone(my camera's battery was dead)

But they nicely invite me to their table and hear what I was doing.
We talked for a while and I admired their attitude to studying. Jake also can speak Spanish but his major is science. I haven't seen Japanese science students interested in language even it's highly required in business now.
I thought I shoud practice my English more and more not to be ashamed to say my major is English.