Hope Okoro
COMD 2330 D190
Photo Description
9/7/17
Link: http://www.michaelkenna.net/gallery_images/c522ea3.jpg
Brooklyn Bridge, Study 4, shot by Michael Kenna in Brooklyn, NY in 2000. Kenna shot this photograph to “capture” the viewer, to give them the feeling of walking on the bridge from shooting from below. To give the viewer a little visual experience of the bridge by imagination, to make them feel as though they are actually on the bridge. Kenna added a black/white filter to create an “dreamy” illusion that the person actually the Brooklyn Bridge with a kind of vintage shadow filter to fulfill illusion, as well as to bring out the elements of the bridge (subject).
Kenna employed 3 of the photography compositional principles that help make this shot more appealing to the eye, to help create his “illusion”. One of the elements is Symmetry. Kenna took advantage of the natural symmetry of the bridge to “wow” the eye, from the head of the bridge down to the white trail line, creating a “splitting” illusion of the bridge which the viewer in their imagination can perceive, causing the photo to give off the mood of astonishment. To further the illusion created, Kenna uses the element of Leading Lines to capture the viewer in their mind into the photograph, leading the eyes into the picture with a sense of “movement.” He again takes advantage of the natural element of the bridge which are this time the “lines” of the bridge leading further on the walkway which contributes to the sense of depth he creates with the filters. This gives off a feeling of continuous walking on the walkway of the bridge in the viewer’s imagination. Lastly, Kenna, similar to what he accomplished with Leading Lines, uses Diagonals to create “imaginary movement” on the bridge. This time with this composition, he tilted his camera to simulate a feeling of one finding themselves in a dream, walking on the walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge. All the elements, filters, and physical camera practices Kenna does helped accomplish his purpose in this single photograph, a “dreamy” illusion that one is on the bridge walking with the help of the compositional principles, elaborating the vision.
This is a great example of setting a photo at an oblique angle. And as you say it certainly is symmetrical if you base that on a tilted axis. this is also a good example of leading lines as all the lines in the photo basically lead to the arches of the bridge.