Taking something familiar and turning it into something unfamiliar is a rather difficult task. The French presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gerald Causse, once said in a conference, “Don’t look for new landscapes, use new eyes to see what is already there.” With the attempt to help people realize that what they want is already there, however, we spend so much time looking for the next best thing. Every single day we walk the same steps, pass the same objects, see the same places, and experience the people around us. Most of the time we even unable to pick out anything “new” or out of ordinary.

French literary theorist, philosopher, critic, and semiotician, Roland Barthe, wrote the book Camera Lucida to investigate the effects of photography on the spectator. Barthes’s literary style, which may be seen as very stimulating, though sometimes eccentric expresses the elements within the photo itself that call interest to the person viewing it. Specifically, what element creates interest within a photographic image? According to Barthe, this can be referred to as studium. For example, the photographer may think of an idea or intention, then present it photographically, the viewer then has the power to act in the opposite way, they see the photograph then have to interpret it to see the ideas and intentions behind it. Perhaps it could indicate the historical, social, or cultural meanings that can be found through a thorough analysis of the photo itself. What elements/objects within the photocall the reader's attention? Barthe describes it as, ‘‘that accident which pricks, bruises me,’’ referred to within his writing as Punctum. The punctum points to those features of a photograph that seem to produce or convey a specific meaning without providing any recognizable symbol. This kind of meaning is found to be unique to the response of the individual viewer of the image. Although punctum can exist alongside studium, it disturbs it, creating an ‘element which rises from the scene’ and unintentionally fills the whole image. Punctum is the rare detail that attracts you to an image, Barthes says, ‘‘Its mere presence changes my reading, that I am looking at a new photograph, marked in my eyes with a higher value.’’

Countless... countless times I have walked in and out of my home without taking a split second to take everything around me in. To notice that my mom had put new decorations up for Halloween, or that my father had somewhat attempted to clean the garage. My house itself is connected through The Garage, connecting the upper and lower level of my house, as well as providing entries and exits with three separate doors.

A photograph of many beautiful photographs. These beautiful vintage planes cover the wall in my garage, my dad had just put them up after having the photos sitting in a box in my basement. One day I noticed then and thought it was weird that he randomly decided to decorate the wall. Little did I realize the significance and inspiration that these photos are holding over me. I feel the need to one day pursue my dreams of flying these planes. I believe my dad had put these photos up to give me a little extra boost of inspiration, to be able to visualize more easily want I want to accomplish. Helping me to realize that anything I put my mind to can be accomplished with hard work and dedication. When I look at this wall they allow me to feel positively-content, in the way that one day I will possibly be able to fly each and every model hanging on the wall. They give me the inspiration to do so.