M1L3 Compare & Contrast Assignment Sample

Part 1: Search for and choose two images to compare and contrast - one taken before 1980 and the
other taken after 2000. Insert your images in the spaces below. Type identifying information for each
image into the spaces provided below the images.

Title: "Omaha Beach, Normandy, France" Title: "Situation Room"

Photographer: Robert Capa Photographer: Pete Souza
Date: June 6, 1944 Date: May 1, 2011
Technique: Platinum Print Technique: Canon DSLR
Source URL: Source URL:
http://static.neatorama.com/images/2006-12/omaha- http://cdn.timesofisrael.com/uploads/2012/04/Politics-
beach-robert-capa.jpg Osama-bin-La_Horo.jpg

Part 2: Compare and contrast the two images by answer the following questions in a short paragraph
that covers the following points. Use spellcheck to check grammar and spelling prior to submitting
your assignment:

• What does this photograph tell us about the photographer who took it?
• Do the tools or technology used to take the photograph impact the image? How so?
• How is this image a reflection of time and culture?
• Why is this image significant or worthy of being captured?

Both photographs capture epic moments in world history. The first photograph is an image of the shores of
Normandy on the morning of D-Day, World War II. This photograph is reflective of the tumultuous wartimes of the
1940s. The anonymity of the soldier captured further represents the horrors of war by modeling the unknown
brought upon by war. Because of Capa's fear and minimal photography equipment, the photo is blurred. However,
this is almost better, as it displays the speed and anxiety stemming from times of war. This photo is very powerful,
and speaks up for peace, explaining why the human race should try its hardest to avoid a situation such as D-Day
from happening again. The second photo was taken as the White House staff were monitoring the Navy SEALs
mission to apprehend Osama Bin Laden. This is of course a major occurrence, particularly for Americans, considering
the ten year hunt for Bin Laden that began after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The crisp clarity of this photograph is
significant as it displays the emotions of the onlookers very clearly. The blurring of the document in front of Hillary
Clinton was done for privacy reasons, but further emulates the secrecy and safety precautions that abound within the
White House. This photo is significant for many reasons. It represents the ending of a chapter, and the beginning of
a new one, for both the U.S. and the world as a whole. Deeper than that, the boundaries broken in the photo show
how far the U.S. has come as a culture. Both men and women of a multitude of races are working together to
achieve a common goal.