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Cayla Ossen

Zoos are controversial; they inspire future generations of conservationists, biologists, and environmentalists, but at what cost?  For my concentration, I chose to examine the difference between how zoos are seen by children compared to adults. Using light, color, and composition, I attempt to tell the story of the shift in perspective as children grow up, and the cages, glass, and reality of zoos become more visible. I experimented mostly with cropping, adjustments to light & color, and the organization of the project itself to be able to fit the story I wanted to tell.  I altered photos 1-6 to resemble the blissfully ignorant view of zoos of a child by altering light and upping saturation to achieve a playful and overly colorful effect. Photo 8 starts the transition (which lasts from 8-10) to a more somber feel which emphasizes more on the enclosures. Photos 11-15 represent the perspective of an adult, with focus on the emotional state of the animal in addition to the enclosure they are being kept in. In Photo 15, I experimented with the overexposure of the glass to block out the tiger’s head and put enough emphasis on the glass so that the tiger almost becomes an afterthought.

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