The photo I choose for this assignment was from Suzanne Stein. The image in question was a lady posing with a cigarette in her mouth, a pack of cigarettes in her left bra, and her left hand holding her wrist. This photo was visually engaging to me because it feels like Stein went out to the city and took a photo of a stranger without any prep time. Stein also captures the photo in portrait mode instead of landscape. I think this also helps the photo convey more emotion because instead of focusing on what’s around her it’s instead focusing only on her.
For the formal elements I have chose symmetry, patterns and repetition, and dominant eye. For symmetry if you slice/fold the photo down the middle it makes 2 perfect half’s. For patterns and repetition the figure is posing behind a gate that has a black diamond pattern. Finally for dominant eye her left eye the lady is showing her left eye more than the right.
https://photos.smugmug.com/New-York/i-r6nT3cZ/1/91917333/L/DSCF5220-L.jpg
This is a really intense photo of someone who is suffering. Excellent point that Stein used portrait mode for this photo. Remember that it really works for portraits to orient the camera vertically!
All the things you say about the composition are accurate. Note too that Stein shot this from a low-angle giving her subject stature. The photographer wants to high light her subject’s humanity as well as everything she has been through.