Melissa Pinney

Melissa’s work is like no other. Her talent lies within her ability to capture the lives of “The American girl.” Melissa started her career in photography capturing her daughter’s childhood through to her adolescence. From then she incorporated other family, friends and the community, focusing on the protected youth to public maturity. Throughout her images she does an excellent job of placement. All of the photos in the Regarding Emma portfolio really show the curiosity and identity of a young girl. All girls can relate to these pictures, regardless of the extreme diversity between them. Melissa gives the reader/observer a better understanding to their place in America by showing what trials have to be overcome and dealt with. But she also shows positive aspects of growing into a woman. There are many situations and obstacles that girls go through, that many boys will never encounter or be disturbed by. The articles that were discussed on weight are a great example. This is an overwhelming problem still facing girls today. The places that described these issues really fit well. The mirror picture was a great example. I think overall these pictures incorporated what we have learned thus far in this class. Place, setting and the subject. Melissa does an excellent job showing the incorporation on them all.