The dark fluffy clouds come rolling in, shielding the beaming summer blazing bright sun. A little white church sits in the middle, surrounded by rolling green grass, white fluff budding from the fields, and a sea of yellow happiness, with sprinkles of houses scattered around.
Two African American children go running past the church, playing and laughing. Click. The sun begins to set painting the sky ever so gently in a soft, fading baby blue color with streaks of peach, a man climbs the a ladder to hang an American flag. Click, his silhouette, with a backdrop of sunflowers and sunset painted sky. A woman sits in her dimly lit house, window light slowly creeps in. Click, the beauty of age shines bright with the light. A basketball goal carefully sits in the front yard, a tire keeping it balanced,the backboard worn and leaning. Click, a boy leaps in the air, still tightly gripping the ball.
This is a portrait of a place, a place that lies in the depths of the backside of Texas, a place most pass up or don’t even get to see. This is a portrait of place, with 50 residents, founded by freed slave. A place that few probably would even see beauty in. It’s an intimate and beautiful portrait of Pelham, Texas.
This and all of Lisa Krantz’s work, an Express-News staff photographer, gives a sense of closeness and intimacy.Photo director at Wired.com says, “If you’re not getting invited to dinner, you’re not doing your job.” No matter what subject Krantz covers, it’s as if her viewers too are being invited to share in someone’s experience.
And this is why photojournalist are so important to the world, serving as a connection between two indifferent groups.
This article contains advice on how to make your work better as a photographer. http://www.wired.com/2013/03/lisa-krantz/#slideid-18603
