Photoshop assignment

The meaning behind my image is freedom. More specifically, freedom of speech and freedom of the press. As a young reporter learning the ins and outs of journalism, I thought it would be neat to create a collage that illustrates freedom of speech. I want my collage to convey that freedom is very important, and that freedom of speech is especially important.

I hop that this collage takes viewers on a ride through the history of freedom. I used images that convey what freedom is and how it is shown in our society today. First, I used images that represent freedom in general, such as Abe Lincoln, the statue of liberty, and the brain. All these images said, “American freedom” to me. Next, I started to use images that represent freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Images that remind me of freedom of speech and the press are books and newspapers, so I used an image of the New York Tribune building, a public library, a book, 2 newspapers, editor Horace Greely, a boy selling newspapers, a man reading, a man watching papers come off the press, and people sharing books. All these images reminded me of the importance of free speech. All these images found on the archive websites remind me to not take my freedom for granted.

I put a great deal of thought into the layout of this project. Since we read the image from left to right, I made the collage flow from the past to the present. To the left of the image, you see the old New York Tribune building, Horace Greely, and an old newspaper seller. These are early images of freedom of the press. Notice how Horace looks to the future by facing outward. He can see the progression of freedom. At the time these images were taken, freedom was more limited than it is today. In the bottom left hand corner of the image, I placed a public library, books, a brain and Abe Lincoln because in order to disseminate free ideas, you have to have ideas. You can explore ideas by using your brain. Abe Lincoln had ideas, and he especially had ideas about freedom, which is why I made him stand out in purple. To me, purple means compassion, and Abe had compassion about freedom.

The collage then transitions to the people exchanging books. I put yellow stripes to emphasize the exchange. This makes the viewer shift their eyes towards the image of the newspaper and me. On the right side of the page, I have the image of me and the newspapers being produced. I put myself on the left side of the image because I am part of journalism today, not yesterday. I am responsible for continuing to use free speech as a young reporter. I need to uphold all that our founding fathers worked for in the past. Thus, I wanted the viewers eye to land on the image of me, and the image of people sharing information. I wanted the viewers to focus on the people sharing information because it is a vital part of our society. If people don’t share ideas and opinions, what will our world come to?

Overall, I think my image gives viewers a little lesson about freedom of speech. The viewer is taken on a journey of how freedom has progressed over the years, and the potential of what it can still become and the impact it can have. After taking a look at this image, I want readers to think about how wonderful it is that we are blessed with the freedom of information and the freedom to express our ideas.