Auschwitz 65 Years Later

This is an image of Auschwitz taken 65 years after the closing of the camp. Take a moment to look at this photo and consider that approximately 1 million people were killed at this camp (that would be 1 out of every four people living in Sydney).

Key Visual Techniques

There are some powerful visual techniques being used in this photo. Take 5 minutes to point out at least 5 aspects of the photo which stand out to you and how they relate to the great anguish that was experienced at this site (create a post on your blog with the photo - don't try to copy and paste photo it won't work).

• Consider the use of vectors, line, contrast, composition, colour, and perspective (there are more techniques)
• How can the visual elements in the photo evoke empathy and reverence from a viewer?
• How is Auschwitz represented in this photo?
• Find another photo of Auschwitz that you feel has an important representation of this place that caused so much pain and destruction. Analyse the use of visual techniques which make it particularly engaging. How does it represent this location?

• The picture is dull, there are no vibrant colours, not even for the sun has any colour as it is hidden behind the clouds.
• The picture was taken at eye-level. This allows you to see the fence much further and even then it still seems to drag on endlessly because of the enormity of the camps and this picture helps to show that they didn't just do this on a whim. To build something of this size would have taken around a year so they where obviously planning to murder thousands of people.
• The bleak, colourlessness of the snow on the ground symbolizes the cold hearts of the German. They wouldn't care how much the Jews suffered. To them the Jews where nothing but animals.
• Everything is geometric. Even in a place of murder and death, which are usually horrible and messy, they still find that everything must be even.
• The whole place has no life, there are no plants, animals or people. Even the sun is not shining as brightly.
• Auschwitz is represented as a place where good men are forced to do evil things, where people suffered and died and where people place their fear.

This picture represents Auschwitz because it shows Jewish children in a concentration camp. It shows that the Germans didn't care how old you where. If you where Jewish you where in there.