Globalization

Another powerful facet of photography is it's ability to tell a story.  In the above picture, two somewhat foreign entities are brought together in the sense that McDonald's and fast food in general are western commodities.  However, as globalization has persisted, the exchange of culture and ideas has facilitated assimilation of numerous western aspects into other cultures and vice-versa.  Another aspect of this photo is irony in that the religious images represent Hindu tradition while the Ronald McDonald represents the exploitation of beef as a means of profit.  There is both humor and sincerity in this image, a quality that really makes it stand out to me.

Ian Berry - Egypt

I have always enjoyed photography as a means of portraying things found in nature or as a method of teaching others about places they may never be able to see in person.  I have yet to leave the western hemisphere or North America for that matter, but would love to one day travel and experience the world.  Until then, pictures are one of the only ways in which I can experience and appreciate other places. Egypt has a rich culture and past, and it is definitely a place I would consider visiting.  Pictures such as this demonstrate the unique beauty that this country possesses.  America does not have anything remotely similar in terms of geography and the cultural origins of these edifices are unique to Egypt.  This picture helps the observer feel as if they are standing across the river observing this interesting place.

Indiana State Fair Tragedy

On August 13, 2011, a great tragedy occurred at the Indiana State Fair when the stage collapsed due to a gust of wind, killing at least 4 people and injuring many others.  This picture, although tragic, captures the moment when the stage begins to collapse.  The image is truly powerful as you are able to witness the very beginning of the devastation, and certain individuals in the crowd have already begun to react.  A camera captures the time of the event in a way that the naked eye could not, demonstrating the power of photography in recording this horrific moment in recent history.