A Thousand Words / Rose Upton

A Thousand Words


By Rose Upton

My photo went differently than what I had planned for it. I was walking around at the Getty and decided to take a selfie of myself and the sky. Right before the camera clicked, friends called my name, forcing my head to look up at them. Then SNAP! The photo was taken and my idea twisted. In a way this photo represents the small moments in life that have big impacts. At the time I did not think about looking up in the photo but by not looking at the camera it gives the photo a feeling of unity. It also gives the photo some movement, as I look like I am going somewhere or have something more important to do than stop for a picture. The background has so much empty space that it balances out my body without causing symmetry. What I find the most interesting is my body language. As I said before, it appears I have somewhere to be, but you cannot tell where I'm going or where I've been. The photo is a literal snapshot of a moment in my life, a story that has no end and no beginning.