Larry Towell - Jake

Larry Towell was a Canadian photographer who primarily documented the mennoite community in Ontario Canada, the United States, and other outlying territories. This piece, the "Canadian" was captured in 1995 in Lambton County, Ontario. I found this piece particulary intriguing for the contrast in shadowed imagery as well as for the scene itself. Furthermore, Towell creates a strong diagonal line through the reminants of the staircase above the girl's head and the parallel lines that run down the front face of the stair case. Towell also creates a duel focal point, drawing the viewer's eye to both the somber image of the girl as well as to the image of the scenic tree in the background. The façade of the tree and pasture coupled with the image of the young girl gives the photo a glance of hope in lue of the dismal and decrepit tone.