Category: HW1_Composition (Page 1 of 3)

The Lams of Ludlow Street II

The photograph I chose was taken by Thomas Holton, called The Lams of Ludlow Street II. This one in particular stood out to me because of the contrast and how even though it’s one picture, it tells two stories.

In this piece, there is a girl and a boy. Looks like they are both siblings. The right half of the picture is the younger sister lying in bed and staring at the camera. Meanwhile, the brother, who is clearly older, is studying at his desk. The contrast between the light and dark background kind of forces us to differentiate the siblings by showing a glimpse into their daily lives. There is a clear sign of diagonals from the bed to the curtains. There are also patterns and repetition on the bed and curtains as well. The sister looks a bit sad, could be because she wants to play with the brother but the brother is busy. There is a sense of strong emotions involved. The photo depicts great defeat and seriousness.

The photograph depicts a close-up of hands adorned with silver rings holding a small bird. The image focuses on the interaction between the hands and the delicate bird. The photographer’s intention could be to capture a poignant moment, which symbolizes the connection between humanity and nature, emphasizing themes of fragility, care, and the beauty of the natural world. The name of the work allows us to know that the location of the photograph takes place in a New York setting.  The juxtaposition of urban surroundings with the act of holding a small bird creates a compelling contrast, highlighting the theme of nature within an urban environment. This further evokes a sense of harmony and connection between humanity and nature.

The photographer uses figures to ground, fill the frame, and patterns and repetition in their work. The photograph uses the “fill the frame” compositional principle by zooming in closely on the hands and the bird, the photographer eliminates distractions and emphasizes the main subject. The Figure to Ground principle is used to contrast between the hands and the bird against the background. Thus, drawing attention to the central subjects. The patterns and repetition could be seen in the arrangement of the rings on the hands, this could have been used to add visual interest and texture to the image. The use of the formal elements like “Fill the Frame” and “Figure to Ground” also further emphasize the intimacy of the moment by isolating the hands and the bird from their urban surroundings, thus reinforcing the central message of the image. Overall, the photograph conveys a sense of tenderness and stewardship toward the bird. The mood or feeling of the photograph also conveys emotions such as empathy, connection, and a sense of wonder in relation to the natural world.