More Than Just a Pretty Face

Danielle Cummins
Photographs are one of mankinds most profound expressions of stillness. They allow us
the ability to hold time in our hands and facilitate a merging with time that exists in no other
form. Dan Winters
More Than Just a Pretty Face portrays the intimate thoughts and emotions a woman
experiences. They tell a story of longing, simple, yet intimate. The exhibit takes on a
metaphorical meaning as well as that of personal importance. A woman's life is be full of
emotion, often times we are misunderstood and unappreciated.
"The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her
heart, the place where love resides." Audrey Hepburn

This exhibit was put together as a collection of beautiful, intriguing faces throughout the
beginning of photography, featuring a variety of photographic processes. Their gestures, eyes
and facial expressions convey a deeper emotion that a woman in our world feels daily. The
portrait of a woman can allow you to see into her soul and express what she feels.

The photogravure of Miss R by Alvin Langdon Coburn was created in 1904 is not sharp, but
dreamy, mysterious and dark. The albumen silver print, "I wait" by Julia Margaret Cameron was
created in 1860 has such a shallow depth of field and the wings around the girl draw you into her
face. The portrait of Angelina Jolie, although more recent work, shows a great use of the zone
system and allows the face to look soft and natural. Her expression is depicts inherent thought
and desire. The favored print of the exhibit is the portrait by Sally Mann, of her daughter.
Mischievous and daring come to mind when viewing this image.

Each of these photos depicts an honest expression. The photographic prints range from a
photogravure to gelatin silver prints and include a platinum and a color Polaroid print. A portrait
can allow us to feel love and compassion for another human being. The images stand on their
own as a proclamation. There is no universal smile in this photo exhibit, just truth.

Sources:

Carol Squiers, V. A. (2009). Avedon Fashion 1944-2000. Harry N. Abrams.

Dorothea Lange, R. C. (2005). Dorothea Lange: Photographs Of A Lifetime (Aperture Monograph) .
Aperture.
Sally Mann, R. P. (2014). Sally Mann: Immediate Family . Aperture.
Stieglitz, A. (1978). Alfred Stieglitz: Camera Work: A Pictorial Guide (Dover Art Collections). Dover
Publications.
Winters, D. (2014). Road to Seeing . New Riders.