Category: HW1_Composition (Page 1 of 3)

I chose a photograph of the Brooklyn Bridge photographed by Michael Kenna, the 20th photo on the gallery link, titled “Brooklyn Bridge, Study 2, New York, New York, USA, 2006.” This particular photo of the Brooklyn Bridge caught my eye because of the presence of the moon in the top left and its reflection on the water. Also, the framing and timing of the shot were perfect, you can get a sense of where exactly the photo was taken and what it was trying to capture just by looking at it. The purpose of this image was to capture the Brooklyn Bridge in its natural element, the moon was just the cherry on top. The photograph conveys a grudge aesthetic due to the photographer’s unique editing style, it makes me feel ominous.

Michael Kenna uses Symmetry, Leading Lines, and Figure to Ground out of the formal elements from the Steve McCurry video. Symmetry is seen due to the Leading Lines that lead your eyes to the bridge as it appears to move further away due to the angle the photograph is taken. You are able to split the bridge right down the middle of the photograph. Figure to Ground is seen due to the photographers editing style and contrast between the city, moon, water, and bridge.

https://www.thomasholton.com/work/thelamsofludlowstreet

“Bath time,” by Thomas Holton, gives the spectator a insight into the Lams’ lives. This photo was taken in New York City Chinatown. The photograph shows a family of living in a very small Chinatown apartment. Despise the circumstances, Holton follows the daily lives of the Lam family. The main goal of this artwork is to depict the living circumstances in Chinatown. The woman in this photograph is meticulously washing her family’s clothes while keeping an eye on her children. Her children can be seen playing with toys in a bathtub while the mother stands up and washes her clothing. This artwork creates a dynamic but also gloomy feeling. When I see this picture, it reminds me of when I used to play with my cousins when I was a child. Every aspect of the picture describes a sense of nostalgia. The composition that embodies throughout this picture. It makes it appear wonderful compositionally. The actions of the children and the mom has a profoundly impact to those who see the picture. The bond and the connection towards the photograph give a very instant recollection of memories of the viewer.

The most significant form of elements described in the picture are fill the frame, patterns and repetition and rule of thirds. As I examined the photos, I noticed that the children are grouped together to the left of the frame, implying that the rule of thirds is displaying in the picture. I also see repetition in the clothes hooks that’s attached to the wire. The third and last component that Holton employs is fill the frame .I see that the photo is closer and demonstrates great detail. These three aspects contribute to the photograph’s ambiance by demonstrating that Holton photographed the Lam family in a small space.

https://www.suzannesteinphoto.com/New-York/i-7PWJVsr/A

The photograph that stood out to me the most was Suzanne Stein New York Street One “Image DSC08195.jpg”. Based on the scenery of the picture, it looks like this was taken at the Labor Day Parade on Parkway. For those who don’t know what this is, it’s a West Indian Day Parade where all the Carribean islands come together to represent their island and celebrate their culture, music, and dance. Every year it’s held along Eastern Parkway, a street in Brooklyn. You will see people marching on the Parkway in colorful costumes, their country flag wrapped around somewhere on their body and just simply enjoying themselves. Suzanne’s intention for the photograph is to show that even if it’s raining, that doesn’t stop anyone from having fun. They risk the chance of possibly getting sick rather than just going home. The purpose is to capture 2 young black adults dancing together since they are what we see first. Mood of the photo is kind of confusing a bit because both subjects look like they are having a dance together but the girl’s face doesn’t match the vibe. I don’t want to assume that she’s mad or sad but idk the relationship she has with the guy. Maybe she could’ve been smiling before changing her facial expression. 

Fill the frame, diagonals and dominant eye are the 3 elements portrayed in Stein’s photo. She utilizes the “fill the frame” to draw more attention to the subjects in the front of the picture. The yellow lines on the floor would be considered for “diagonals” not only because it’s very bold in color but it leads into what else is going on in the background. You can see that it’s raining and some people do or don’t have an umbrella. “Dominant eye” although the girl’s eye isn’t facing the camera, but you can tell how someone feels by looking at their eyes. You can interpret her feelings in various ways.