Performance in a Photo

I decided to choose this photograph by Angela Pursell. The whole process of trying to photograph a baby is a performance in itself. You have to make sure the baby is happy and is clean along with the other aspects that one goes through when taking a photograph. Then, there is the idea of documenting someone when they are this age, they don't know what is going on... the whole idea is something the parents want to do. Some parents later on in life want to show off how adorable and innocent their child once was... when you grow up do you appreciate these photos that were taken of you when you were a baby? However, Angela Pursell was hired to take this photograph so can it be considered artwork or is it just her doing her job to make a living? Personally, I don't like being photographed now so why would I like it then? Recently when I was at my parents house I was looking through old photo albums and I found a photo of me, I have to be about 4 years old and it was taken right after I had been crying. The look on my face, its this look of "oh thanks your taking a picture of me after im done crying? thanks mom... ugh" I then asked my mom about it and she said "I wasn't trying to be mean I just really wanted to get a photograph of you in that outfit..." I'm not trying to bash baby photographs or anything but the whole process and concept of it is pretty silly if you think about it.