Author: Caliann

Caliann Deweever 

Essay: My Photo Essay  

ENG 1121 (Prof. Scanlan) 

9/23/24 

       Light Beyond the Ocean (2022)            Waterfront Evening Glow (2022)                    Burying my Heart (2022)

    These photos are arranged to convey my visual narrative, but it’s important to note that chronologically, the passing of my grandfather occurred first. Both “Light Beyond the Ocean”, “Waterfront Evening Glow” are art photos taken in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At the time of capturing these two images, I was in a state of depression, feeling the weight of my emotions caused by grief and other factors. I decided to book a flight to visit my loved ones, hoping that a change of scenery would help clear my mind a little and lift my spirits. While on my trip I had the urge to capture those very specific moments of the beautiful scenery of the buildings’ lights, the sky, and the yachts on the water that caught my attention. 

    While “Light Beyond the Ocean”, “Waterfront Evening Glow” utilize light to create a sense of beauty and peace in life “Burying My Heart” uses a grey filter to convey the feeling of hurt and gloom at the end of life. In “Light Beyond the Ocean” the golden rays break through the thick clouds creating that warmth and balance of beauty of the horizon in which the calm blue water flows towards. The shades of blue are soft and the waves gently rippling shows that peace. Furthermore, in “Waterfront Evening Glow” the soft blue sky creates that soothing peaceful backdrop bringing forth the gentle glow of the streetlights and building lights carried out into the distance. The resting boats reflecting off the still water and the green scenery of the trees indicate the pleasant mixture of nature and human activity. In contrast, the grey effect in “Burying My Heart” was intentional through the app VSCO with the preset effect A5. The grey in the sky reflects the emotions I was struggling with at the time—feelings of heaviness that weighed deeply within me and mirrored the emptiness and sadness that seemed to surround the atmosphere. The dominant expression of this photograph is the white casket in the carriage which stands out against the grey. The casket alone symbolizes the ending of life creating that intense sense of loss and grief.        

    As explained by Susan Sontag (2013), “Photographs are as much an interpretation of the world as paintings and drawings are.” Like paintings and drawings, photographs not only show things exactly as they are but show a way of seeing the world, just like when an artist paints or draws. The photographer makes the choices of what to include, how to take the picture, and what the photographs should feel like. The three photos, “Light Beyond the Ocean”, “Waterfront Evening Glow” and “Burying my Heart” all imprints in my mind the idea of inevitable change of life within the world.    

    Berger (2013) states that “Human visual perception is a far more complex and selective process than that by which a film records.” Most may look at the photos and focus on the surface elements each photograph produced —like the water, boats, and buildings—When I saw these images, I knew it was possible to relate them and tell a deeper story by going based on narrative created through the composition. Considering the sunrise accompanied by the ship; this indicated new journeys within a new day. The soft glow of the evening sky, transitioning from day to night represents the inevitable passage of time. Lastly, the white casket as a reminder of the finality of life’s journey; These images collectively portray the nature of existence, illustrating how moments in a glowing city can lead to an intense goodbye. The interaction of light, color, and subjects in these photos will encourage our perceptions.  

    In comparison, all three photos have a high reality effect. In “Light Beyond the Ocean”, you can see the sun peeking out through the gloomy clouds with golden sun rays meeting the ocean. The little ocean waves approaching shore, and the boat in further distance sailing by greeting the sun. In the art photo, “Waterfront Evening Glow” the bluish yellow evening sky can be seen above the tall lit-up buildings, the park trail, and the yachts on the dark water. Additionally, in “Burying my Heart” due to the carried casket being shown and my figure amongst the elements with the wind blowing my hair; that contributes to the high reality effect of each photo.  

    Most of the time we capture moments in our everyday life because we get caught up and drawn to the visual sighting of what we see or because we’re disconnected from reality for a quick second fully present, eager to document our experiences as they unfold. The moments we freeze in time are just pieces of a larger narrative, filled with emotions. In reference to Berger, he states that “Every photograph presents us with two messages: a message concerning the event photographed and another concerning a shock of discontinuity.” (63). The literal contents of these photographs above involve their unique scenery, whether the beautiful landscapes, or the quiet moments of reflection. On the outside scope after each photo is taken, they are reminders that life continues on beyond the frame and will eventually come to an end. Time doesn’t stand still; it moves forward. I see the photos as more than just a visual record. I look at them to reflect on the beauty but temporariness of life. 

(949 Words) 

Berger, J. (2013). Understanding a Photograph. In J. Dyer (Ed.), Understanding a Photograph: 

John Berger. (p. 51-63). Penguin. https://archive.org/details/understanding-a-photograph-john-berger/page/20/mode/2up 

Susan, S. (2013). On Photography. In D.Reiff (Ed.), Essays of the 1960s & 70s: 

Susan Sontag. (p.532). The Library of America. https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/scanlan-english-1101-d333-spring2018/files/2018/03/Sontag-On-Photography.pdf