Like many literary works set in a remote time and place, photographs can open a window onto a different culture. Jesco Denzel’s New Year’s Eve, St. Jacques, Perpignan, 2006 is no exception as it gives viewers a glimpse of the traditions and beliefs of the gypsy culture in Southern France. In this photograph, there is a boy smoking a cigarette while dressed in a suit. Next to him, there is a girl who looks to be his same age, glaring at him in disapproval. In the background, there are grown men dressed in suits and one of them is resting their hand on the boy. Based off of the design elements of camera angles and lighting, the photograph led to a story that could or could not be true.  The photograph explains and allows analysis for the lifestyle of a certain group in France. The culture displayed in the image also expresses to us that boys and girls should be treated like adults but not equals. 

Denzel’s use of camera angles truly captures and amplifies the perspective of the community of people in the picture. The overall angle shows a boy and girl taking up most of the frame but only displaying the boy’s face. In addition, the adults in the background are only presented from the neck down.  There are many meanings that can be drawn from this camera angle. Having only the boy’s face visible, shows the superiority over the girl because he is the most important one in the photograph. This links to the fact that males can smoke cigarettes in this gypsy culture but females are not allowed to, thus hinting at male dominance in this culture (Hiller 1).  Furthermore, the people in the background seem to be adults and their faces are not shown at all because they are cut off above the neck. This keeps more of a focus on the children and allows for the boy and girl in the photograph to serve as the centerpiece of the image. However, this soft presence of adults in the image keeps a professional and seriousness to the photograph.  With the focus on the children, the photographer captures them yet still maintains the mature mood of the picture. Denzel is able to do this even with adults still present in the background. This angle also brings more attention to the hand resting on the boy’s head from the man who seems to be his father. This makes it seem like the man pays more attention to the boy rather than the daughter. In addition, the fact that there are only men in the background add to the idea that men are treated more superior than women.   The angle of the photograph also conveys a sense of order and professionalism with the boy dressed like a grown man as if he is one of them. Also, the angle of the picture has the girl on the right side of the photograph. This could mean that the girl values doing the right thing over the wrong such as smoking. Jesco Denzel’s camera angle in the photograph truly helps tell the story of this culture in Southern France. 

Apart from the angle of the image, one of the first things that catches my eye in this photograph is the black and white lighting. The lighting in this picture truly sets a mood that is serious and sulky. Lack of color in the picture places more of an emphasis on the boy and girl as well as the overall feeling of the image. For example, there are not any distractions due to color in the background. This makes it so nothing is taken away from the main focus of the photograph. The stern mood that the colorless picture provides relates strongly to the emotions of the young girl. The girl seems very upset with the boy because her arms are crossed and she is leaning away from him in a look of disapproval. This grim emotion coming from the girl is augmented by the fact that the image is black and white. It also brings attention to the action of the boy smoking the cigarette. Because the lighting brings a serious mood, that contributes to how the children in the photograph are treated seriously like adults. Some sadness is also present in this picture from the perspective of the girl partly because of the lighting.  For the girl, she is expected to be an adult because of their way of life in the gypsy community (Hiller 1). However, she is also exposed to slight inequality because of the rules set in place in this culture of what women can and cannot do. All of this brings to light the lifestyle in this cultural group which shows equality among ages but not gender roles. 

Without a doubt, this powerful photograph by Jesco Denzel brings to light the culture of gypsies in St. Jacques.  Some of these cultural differences have exposed the gypsy community to prejudice from other people in France.  A reason for this discrimination is suggested by this photograph. Whether one finds humor or disgust in the picture, it promotes discussion about cultural differences across the world. With the camera angles and lighting in New Year’s Eve, St. Jacques, Perpignan, 2006, it helps document the way people in this gypsy community view raising children. 
