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Compare And Contrast The Two Photographs In Terms Of The Techniques Used By The Photographer And Their Impact On The World

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Photography and the way in which people are presented to the world can have a huge
impact on how they are viewed by the public and portrayed in the media. Not only do photos
show us a moment in time but they create a narrative and allow us to form opinions on what
we believe a person to be. While this can be a positive thing it is more often than not done
with an ulterior motive behind it (Srivatsan, 1991). This essay will explore two photographs
of prominent figures in American and world culture and explore the cultural impact that these
photos had and still have to this day. One of the clearest things from these photos is the
cultural attitudes toward women that were present in these very different times and how
women needed to be presented to be viewed in a positive light.
This photo is called Camelot and it was taken in 1953 by photographer Hy Peskin.
John F. Kennedy would take Presidency of the United States and go on to serve until 1963,
not having finished a full term due to his assassination in 1963. Before this photograph and
some other work by Peskin, the world did not know who John and Jackie Kennedy were.
Peskin was personally invited by John to come with them and photograph their trip for LIFE
magazine. This was the world’s first introduction to the pair. Kennedy’s presidency was often
referred to as Camelot which was a reference to King Arthur and represented the idyllic
happiness of the couple in the many photographs taken of them.
The name Camelot and the photographs that came with it painted a picture of a couple
that could be nothing but adored by their country. Kennedy’s time before and during his
presidency was, however, not as idyllic as this photo and the ones following made it out to
be. He was often overly promiscuous, and staff worked tirelessly to keep this hidden from
both Jackie and the American public (Berkeley, 2013). These sorts of images helped to push
the narrative the Kennedy was a man of high moral standard that would not do wrong by
people. After his death these photos were used by Jackie herself to ensure that the memory of
her husband was not one of a man who was immoral and unfaithful at any point in his life.
Despite Kennedy’s actions he was painted overall as a tragic loss of a young life after he

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died. The American public saw this as a time of innocence and purity in government that
would not happen ever again.
After studying the photos and their impact in comparison to Kennedy’s actual life and
time in the Oval Office it is clear what an effect these images can have on a narrative. Rather
than being seen for the negative things he had done like so many presidents before and after
him had been, Kennedy was seen in a positive light and still is by many. There is still a broad
view from the American public that Kennedy was a President who did no wrong during his
time. Kennedy was President during the middle of the Vietnam war which lasted from 1955
all the way through to 1975. The horrific crimes committed by the American government and
army during his term were taken quite lightly due to the positive image that Kennedy had
built up and the general attitudes of many Americans at the time (Robarge, 2005). Kennedy
represented the American dream that so many strived for with his beautiful wife, successful
career, and exuberant youth that so many admired him for. The lasting impact of photos like
this one can be clearly seen by the attitudes that were taken towards Kennedy in comparison
to the negative views that many Americans held on the presidents before and after him such
as Eisenhower and Johnson, who did not represent the classic American dream.
The photo itself is laid out very strategically on Peskin’s part. The photo is posed in a
way that draws our eyes from John straight to Jackie as he looks at her lovingly. Having
Jackie in the front of the photo and all eyes on her draws us towards her. This effect makes
her the focus of the photo. While it was posed to have Jackie front and center, the way it is
shot and the expressions on their faces make the photo seem very candid, almost like Peskin
just happened to capture a moment in time. The expressions on both of their faces paint the
picture of the idyllic life that Camelot represented, with Jackie at the core of it (Short et al.
2019). In the upper background and foreground, the couple are surrounded by the sails of
their boat. This creates a frame around them and creates a somewhat cozy feeling to the
photo. The open sea visible in the background also reminds us of their youth and how idyllic
their life and relationship are. The photo and its composition paint a picture of two people
that should be admired and liked. There is a sense of trust and a welcoming nature presented
to us by Peskin.
One of the most famous photos of world leaders in the modern day comes from
German photographer Jesco Denzel and was taken in 2018 at the G7 summit. This is a

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Photography and the way in which people are presented to the world can have a huge impact on how they are viewed by the public and portrayed in the media. Not only do photos show us a moment in time but they create a narrative and allow us to form opinions on what we believe a person to be. While this can be a positive thing it is more often than not done with an ulterior motive behind it (Srivatsan, 1991). This essay will explore two photographs of prominent figures in American and world culture and explore the cultural impact that these photos had and still have to this day. One of the clearest things from these photos is the cultural attitudes toward women that were present in these very different times and how women needed to be presented to be viewed in a positive light. This photo is called Camelot and it was taken in 1953 by photographer Hy Peskin. John F. Kennedy would take Presidency of the United States and go on to serve until 1963, not having finished a full term due to his assassination in 1963. Before this photograph and some other work by Peskin, the world did not know who John and Jackie Kennedy were. Peskin was personally invited by John to come with them and phot ...
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