Anything to Escape

At first glance, this picture might seem like a normal office with people sitting down. Upon closer inspection however, it is clear this picture is far from normal. Taken during World War II, this picture shows a couple of Nazi officials who have taken poison so that they would not have to be captured by American soldiers. This picture was taken from a sort of "birds-eye view" angle that overlooks the entire room. This allows the viewer to see the entire setting without anything blocking its view. What this does is it shifts some attention away from the subject of the picture (the three dead people) and allows the viewer to take in the whole setting. This further emphasizes the shocking difference in the picture. Part of it seems like a normal scene –an office with a desk, chairs, and other office supplies. This contrasts sharply with the three Nazi officials who are lying dead in the office. This sharp contrast has a large emotional and shocking impact on the viewer, as it takes them by surprise and really makes them question what is normal and what is not.

Further, the photograph's color and use of lighting acts to guide the viewer's interpretation of this photo as one that is not necessarily attempting to magnify the horrific nature of this scene. First, the brightest area of the photograph draws the viewer's attention away from the main subject, as if attempting to soften the shock that one might experience upon viewing the death of these three officers. Equally noticeable is the fact that the officers' clothing seems to blend perfectly with the furniture in which they are sprawled. Indeed, the photograph seems intent on portraying the three Germans as nothing more than extensions of the furniture rather than emphasizing their death. Due to the camera's unique angle, none of the three figures cast any sort of shadow on their surroundings. In fact, only the chairs and drapes provide any sort of dark lighting, again stressing the photographer's intent to provide normalcy to an otherwise bizarre scene.