n er a1nmen 'In Focus' opens a world of portraits to students

AMANDAFINNEGAN ASST. MANAGING EDITOR AJF724@CABRINI .EDU

A portrait is defined as a painting, photograph or representation of someone's face. But the National Geographic "In Focus" exhibit shows that a portrait is so much more than that.

"In Focus" illustrates that every portrait has a greater story behind it and can be a window into a person's soul.

The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, located on 3260 South Street, Philadelphia, Pa., is now home to the traveling "In Focus" exhibit of 50 black and white and color portraits from the astounding collection.

The National Geographic Society has collected an archive of 10 million striking photographs after a century of photographic expeditions.

The exhibition, running now until April 16, showcases a diverse group of images, almost as diverse as the people captured in the photographs. From women in the workplace to tribal leaders to fleeing refugees,"In Focus" displays images the public might never have a chance to see.

One of the most poignant and recognizable photographs in the collection is a photo by photographer Steven Mccurry taken in 1985. The photo is of Sharbat Gulu, a young Afghani girl with piercing greenish-blue eyes. At the time when the photo was taken, Mccurry did not know the name of the girl but reunited with her in 2002 during a time of turmoil in Afghanistan after 9/11 to retrieve his young muse's name.

"In Focus" also demonstrates the magazine's shifting role in society during a period of war, peace, technological and culture changes all over the world. It is obvious in the images during the 1930s and 1940s that the magazine was trying to divert the attention from conflict in Europe and at home and look at the positive aspects.

National Geographic embraced women through photos in this time period. Women peering through a gate of an all girls' college in Charleston, S.C. and standing by surfboards in Maui, Hawaii embraced women and showed how intelligent and independent women could be when the world might not have thought so.

Sophomore elementary education major Marlana Moore attended the exhibit. "The exhibit was really interesting. It was something different to do on the weekends," Moore said. One of Moore's favorite photos in the exhibit was a black and white photo by Robb Kendrick taken in 2003 of a rancher's daughter in Elko,Nev.

"In Focus" and the rest of the _ UPenn museum is free to students on Sundays and $5 Tuesday through Saturday with a college

I.D.

With parking close to $15 on the weekends, taking the train into Philadelphia is highly recommended. The University City station is only a half a block away from the museum.

Photos can open a world of unknown to those who don't have the means or time to travel.

National Geographic magazine associate editor Chris Johns said, "A photographer's desire to connect with people; to capture something consequential about another person. To capture the spirit and essence of other human beings is a challenge beyond measure, but when it happens and the photograph comes together, the creation brings joy."

If a photo is worth a thousand words, "In Focus" is worth an infinite amount.

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