I must say I underestimated our trip to the International Center of Photography.  As it turns out though, it was time quite well spent, since it became a complete new learning experience for me. At first glance, the images seemed simple and undeserving of second glimpses; but boy was I wrong. As my classmates began to discuss the photograph with depth, offering a variety of interpretations, my eyes were soon able to grasp the ideas they described with such detail. It made sense, per say, the way a peer described the daisies and gun as a depiction of a cemetery referring to the common phrase “pushing up daisies” Or how another friend found that the image formed a juxtaposition of war and peace. Personally, I find myself agreeing more with the idea of contrasting implications of items, as well as contrasting perspective of the very same image. For instance, the way the black spot that filled the page could represent either blood splatter or the centers of the flowers. Clearly, this artist desires his audience to become reflective on certain matters. Not to say that he is imposing a certain idea but rather just the thinking process that surrounds it.

On another note, the artist is remarkable in the way he manipulates each piece. He utilizes techniques that at the time were definitely considered atypical. Moreover, the fact that he is successful in portraying his ideals through unconventional forms is more than admirable. In the first piece we analyzed, the artist used the negatives of the photo to convey the feelings of darkness. In addition to this creativity, he divided the frame into three equal vertical sections to perhaps create a greater focus of the center, that is, the black coffin-like area that surrounds the gun. Likewise, in the second piece we interpreted, the artist divided the image into 6 equal parts much like the form of a comic strip. In each block, the image grew out of focus to portray how the blur we see is actually a historical tragedy. Such technique represents how such mass murders at times cause the audience to lose track of the individual faces of people and of the lives they carried out. Instead society gets caught up in the simple death toll, not realizing this number is a representation of real, unique, people.  As is evident, John Wood was a photographer that defied standards and predictability.