More Files from AIX

Cafe, Aix, by Louise Chapin-Lehire

We haven’t finished our first critique. We’ll do that this afternoon. Here are a few more of my student’s pictures. Louise’s nighttime cafe shot reminds me of a Robert Frank photo without the jukebox and cowboy hats. OK, so Robert Frank’s The Americans was all about jukeboxes, cowboy hats, TVs, American flags and frowns. Actually, the French are good at frowning, they just don’t wear cowboy hats.

Bread by Anna Jackman

What the French do best– cheese, bread, wine–is the subject of Anna’s picture. OK, so it isn’t about the wine; students did comment on the cherry pit smiley face that she subtly inserted.

Garlic by Virginia Hill

If we weren’t in such proximity to Italy, I’d say food is what the French do best. They stole so many good ideas from the Italians. They slipped-up when they omitted pasta and red sauce from their daily diet. I will say that they came very close to winning the world cup of cuisine with the simple cheese plate at the end of their already tasty meal.

Carousel by Bridget O’Carroll

I was looking at the pictures above and thinking how each one incorporates what I look for in a photograph. Starting with Louise on top, her picture is about light. Then, Anna does a delicious job of illustrating textures. Next, Virginia offers beautiful garlic forms placed on a complimentary pattern. And Bridget manifests energy or motion by smart use of her shutter speed. Finally, Louise’s leg picture below celebrates gesture and expression with a fresh framing.

Aix in June, by Louise Chapin-Lehire

I still have two more student artists to post after their critique today. For now, I’ll end with an American icon that even the prescient Robert Frank neglected to represent in his historic book.

Marilyn Monroe for ever in an Aix shop window.