Anna Gilbert, The Calmness of Nature
My participant Kieran Connolly, an 18 year old student at the University of Central Florida studying industrial engineering has consented to helping me with showing me her take on the world around us. She is my friend from UCF who is also in this class and understands what we have been learning and working on. She has lived in Orlando, Florida her whole life and has traveled to experience her own take on the world. Although she is young and have not seen the effects on how the world has drastically changed she is able to take the best of it and use it to her advantage especially since she lives in such a beautiful place.
Consent
I, Kieran Connolly, am hereby giving my full consent For the UCF (University of
Central Florida) student, Anna Gilbert, to use any of my documents, photographs, and recordings accumulated and created for the purpose of her PhotoVoice assignment within the course Humanities. These materials may be publicly viewed within the class in order to be critically assessed and graded by her professor. Such materials may also be distributed amongst classmates/peers and via Pressbooks if the assignment asks for such evaluation.
Kieran’s statement
“While taking in the picture in its whole entirety I am seeming to focus on two main parts, the lush greenery but mainly the waterfall. Waterfalls to me are a funny concept because they are able to be so powerful yet so tranquil in some spots. In my eyes they represent that there are two sides to everything and to look into things on a much deeper view. I can almost hear the water cascading down and crashing in to the pool of water below. Which in turn fills me with wonder and awe and reminds me to take full appreciation in life’s amazing journey.”
Analysis
Standing there in the moment of this picture and just looking at it can have two different effects on people. Kieran described this moment and feeling as representing “that there are two sides to everything,” and it is easy to depict how she can feel like this. She sees this waterfall with a deeper meaning that others may feel when they look at it. Nature depends on equilibruim and with out it there would not be much left. The balance in the world and different ecosystems are what allows them to thrive. Comparing this to how Kieran felt on how the water crashes into more water, in accordance to how they are also “tranquil in some spots,” shows how there needs to be this balance in nature and she is able to relate it back to her life.
Kieran’s statement
“This picture fills me with a bunch of different emotions, some of happiest memories and moments were at the beach so this means a lot to me. The beautiful and vibrant colors of the sunset are just a big symphony of warm colors illuminating the sky all together. In moments like the one in the picture I feel calm and peaceful, a time where I can really just sit and reflect. Seeing the golden orangey sunset fading into the dark vast blue sea is something that I always cherished, seeing this picture brings me back to running down the beach at sunset with my best friends before I started.”
Analysis
Nostalgia is a big part of life and Kieran uses nature to encapsulate it. She mentions how it brings her back to being with her best friends and knowing that she is from Florida, I know that she has had a lot of these memories. Colors also can react with moods as some are seen as bright and vibrant and others gloomy. In this sunset that she captured it is very warm and goes along with her nostalgia. The warmness may feel like comfort to her and take her back to a happy place which is why these fun memories are re-occuring for her.
Kieran’s statement
“The overwhelming colors of blue and green are creating a very calm and peaceful atmosphere for this picture. This picture is like a breath of fresh air, wide open scenery with a lot to take in. For me in places such as the one in this picture I am able to fully appreciate the beauty all around me. In my eyes this picture sparks a sense of curiosity of the vast views of the world and how it has so much more to offer than what I am exposed to on a daily. Looking at things like this uplifts my spirits and brings feelings of peace and joy.”
Analysis
Kieran described this picture as “very calm and peaceful,” when looking at it you do not see multiple people, stores, or busy roads. All you see is green and blue, the true colors of the Earth. I feel these emotions just by looking at this picture and I can only imagine how enhanced they were just by being there. There is an ample amount of pure nature here with only a road in the middle which is not seen as busy, only a few cars on it. This is rarely seen now a days because they are all busy and have traffic which will produce stress rather than calm and peacefulness.
Reoccurring theme
Kieran uses her emotions to describe what nature means to her and makes her feel. The whole time discussing with her about this I kept getting the sense of calmness and comfort. In the visual story “The Sound of Silence” by August Druzgal, He played the sounds of the ocean at the Olympic National Park inWashington. These sounds give the same emotions as the theme of Kieran’s pictures. It makes you feel calm and gives you a sense of steadiness in the world. They tie together so well that if you played these sounds and looked at these pictures you could feel as if you were there. A big aspect of these two pieces being tied together is that moments like these are very hard to find. With the economy becoming a bigger priority than other things, such as the environment, to most people in this world it is important for us as the next generation to take a step back and realize this. Noise pollution is a big thing that is becoming a problem and can take away from these feelings that Kieran was getting in these moments and diminish them. Noise pollution not only effects humans and their sleep disturbances but also animals since they do not know what is going on. It is our duty to fix these issues and we know it is possible because at one point in our history this phrase did not exist. All in All it is important that we protect the tranquility of nature to allow the future and fix what we have now to take a fresh breath of the outdoors and let it calm them from this stressful lifestyle that is being created around us.
Sources
Media Attributions
- Screenshot 2023-12-01 at 8.11.18 PM
- Screenshot 2023-12-01 at 8.11.42 PM
- Screenshot 2023-12-01 at 8.11.48 PM
