Author: Taneisha Bailey

HW1 – Describe a photo

https://www.alexwebsterphoto.com/projects/diovanna

The subject in this photograph is named Diovanna LaBeija(she/her). She is demonstrating technical old-way vogue movements in a studio session with photographer Alex Webster. I believe the photographer is trying to highlight the essence and vulnerability of LaBeija posing in vogue form. This photo is saying.. look here I am, in my most natural state of being. When I observe this photograph it makes me feel in touch with my sensuality and connects me to a person(subject) who is similar in nature to myself. An artist, a person who is of color, who also identifies as a woman regardless of the other shell of our body. After all, the body is just a vessel that holds a soul. I love the red lighting and the feelings it evokes. To me it feels powerful and emotional, conveying a sense of a deep passion for her artistry. The position of her body, the look in her eyes screams “this is me” in a very confident manner.

This photograph shows formal elements including contrast of light and dark, as well as figure to ground. Alex’s use of the red lighting/color gives the photo a more dramatic feel. It has a range of tones full of deep reds and blacks with dark shadows and highlights. When we speak in terms of the figure to ground, the figure here is Diovanna and the ground is the studio background. There is more light falling in the background rather than on the subject itself. This brings a lot of debt into the photograph and really grabs the attention of the person who is viewing this photo. The relationship between the figure and the background works well and points out details of the subject’s physique and the space LaBeija is occupying. Overall Alex Webster does a great job at bringing this work of art to life in a manner that exudes notability.