My get pushed challenge from Marelize Dry @ounooi this week was to "portray emotion in a photo." Did I go out and photograph something that would inspire the viewer to a similar emotion -- something that would tug on their heartstrings? Something so joyous they would burst out in spontaneous song? A scene that would inspire anger or disdain or horror? Nope...
I thought immediately of a book that had belonged to my grandmother when she was young -- "The Delsarte Speaker or Modern Elocution." It is full of a various selection of poems, prose, and a wee bit of drama appropriate for public recitations. It also has instruction in the "Delsarte System of Physical Culture and Expression." Frank kindly helped me recreate a few of the emotions illustrated in the book.
I have to share a little background on the book.
Grandma asked for, and received, the Speaker for Christmas in 1901. Well, actually, her little brother, Clem, asked Santa to bring it for her. He dictated and she did the writing. The letter is taped inside the front cover of the book. It's in an envelope addressed to:
Mr. Santa Clause
3798 East Sky St.
Heaven
The letter reads:
Dear Santa Clause,
will you please bring Clement V. Geis a bicycle, six marbles and one large glassie, a football like Frank's, some powder for my cannon, a fly snapper and a flower pot for mamma, some cigars for papa, a handkerchief for Bertha, a diamond pin for Rose, a speaker for Gertrude.
from your friend Clement Geis 645 East iron Ave, Salina Kans.
Dec 1901
i've noticed that you often fill the frame with your image and it's surroundings, and was wondering how you'd feel about a challenge of minimalism...
let me know if you've done this to death and i've missed it, or if it just won't work for you for some reason... i've lots of other ideas :)