These photos show why Minnesota is important to me and how it affects my life. I cannot seperate this place from my family, my past, and my lifestyle.
Reflection
In composing this visual piece, I was surprised at how much thought I put into my choice of photos. Each photo symbolizes something very important to me about my home, so it was very important that I choose the perfect image. For example, I wanted to represent Richfield, my hometown. After looking through some web pages and seeing dozens of pictures representing the town, I was not satisfied with any of them. When I found the image of the water tower, though, I knew that it fit because not only did it represent the city as a whole but it also carries with it the meaning of: water (Richfield has the BEST water; it is a major source of city pride) and school (this water tower was on the grounds of my junior high).
Composing this piece also helped me think about visual impact. I had several choices for photo organization, but I chose this one for a particular reason. All of the images were important to me. I did not want one image to dominate the essay. Nonetheless, I did choose a color filter to highlight the central image and bring out specific colors in the other photos. I think that this creates a visual coherence to the photos since they are linked by similar colors. In addition, the highlighted central image is important because family is the main reason that I love Minnesota. That photo was taken during a day at the zoo with my nephew; if I lived somewhere else, I would not be able to spend afternoons like that one with him.
