GRA 2330 Digital Photography

http://michaelkenna.net/gallery.php?id=14

This image was captured in New York City, 2006 by Michael Kenna and is titled Chyrsler Builder, Study 3. The image displays the building as something grand in comparison to everything else around it. The idea of the very tip of the building touching the sky is what makes it so captivating. The use of black and white helps to portray a brooding mood. It almost appears that something strange or bad is about to happen; maybe a storm even. Just by looking at it I feel a sense of grief but at the same time get the idea that it is an old photo. It stood out to be because I have always been fascinated with images of the sky. Whenever I go on road trips I always try to capture the sky, mentally, as it changes colors from night to morning. I also like how the building has a highlight, sort of, from the light hitting it.

The photographer must of had help to capture this image. Because of the almost diagonal direction of the cloud, it looks like it could have been taken from the ground up but because the top of the building is captured and it is straight from eye level, I know the photographer may have been in another tall building or in something that granted him a higher level. There is not much pattern in the photo but the contrast between light and dark creates a gradient within the image. The contrast also helps to distinguish the mood of the photo. One can either view it as calming or as disturbing. The calmness could be from how serene the sky looks and how the clouds are moving. It could also be brooding specifically due to color of the image. The lightness in the clouds behind the building help to put the focus primarily on the building, since it does hold significance.

http://www.michaelkenna.net/gallery.php?id=33

The photo is “Alley of Trees”, Damyang, Jeollanamdo, taken in South Korea in 2012 by Michael Kenna. It is a picture of many trees that are lined up on both side of the road. There is a layer of snow on top of each tree and the way the branches spread out makes it look like they are touching each other. Seeing all the trees covered with snow really gives off a cold winter mood. It also has a calm and peaceful atmosphere since there are no people or animals. The ground is pure white with no foot print which makes a clean road.

The trunk of the trees makes a vertical line and the branches make a diagonal line. The photo was framed in a way where the trees are cut off at the sides which makes the focus of the photo to the middle. There is a pattern of open space and the tree and there is a high contrast of light and dark. The trees are the darker contrast and the snow all around is the lighter especially on the branches. At the angle of the photo was taken in makes the road and the trees to seem endless. The high contrasts of dark and light help create a winter time mood. The trees on the edges help to highlight the snowed road to make the eye move from bottom to top. The pattern help make the mood of the road to seem endless. The line that the branches make the eye move from right to left.

This photograph named The Lams of Ludlow Street was taken by Thomas Holton. The subject matter is knowing how a Chinese family is living in New York’s Chinatown. The photographer is half chinese but he never lived in Chinatown but his grandfather did. Holton wanted to experience what a Chinese family lived like. So he stayed in Shirley and Steven’s house and went everywhere with them. When looking at this photograph I feel a sense of narrowness, and happiness. The family looks happy even though they barely have space. Also the room feels small because of all the clothes that are hanged.

There is framing in this photography of the family. The framing is the family since it’s the main point of the photographer’s idea.  There is a diagonal line in the table all around. The image has a focal point which the framing helps to identify. Which is the family together smiling. The image gives of a  narrow feeling because of the table. Since it’s taking a lot of space.

http://thomasholton.com/

This photograph does not have a name but is part of the gallery called The Lams of Ludlow Street by photographer Thomas Holton. “The Lams of Ludlow Street” is an investigation made by Holton to show more into the life of one Chinese family living in New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood. In the photographs is the Lam family, Holton was half-Chinese and went in search for a bond or connection to the neighborhood or the culture. For his project, his idea was to get behind closed doors and photograph more than the stereotypical images of Chinatown’s street scenes. In my opinion the mood of this photograph is peaceful, calm and playful. The little girl playing and hanging back from the window makes the photograph peaceful. I feel that when you see a child you think of innocence. The fact that she focused on playing on the gate rather than looking at the view is a child’s way of thinking. The view of the city gives the feeling of relaxation and how beautiful a city can be when you look at the whole picture.

The use of the depth of field is amazing. The city is the focus point and the girl and the gate are out of focus.Not only do you stay in awe from the city view but you can see the detail and shadows caught on every building. The angle of view is set to seem like your viewing outward almost like your there. the angle was taken looking through the gate. The framing is perfect because you get enought of the little girl and the city view as well. The pattern in the image is the windows of the buildings . The use of lines is the metela bars of the gate th diagnol one guide your eye through the photograph as well as the others. All of these things help create the mood and feeling because every small part of this photgraph was done to make you feel like your there admiring the view.

http://www.thomasholton.com ->Photographs -> the lams of ludlow street

This photograph was taken by Michael Kenna in 2006. The setting of the photograph is located in Midtown of Manhattan in New York City. The overall idea of this photograph is to show the viewers what it is like to be living in the city or being in the city. Michael Kenna captured the city life in black and white for a reason. Since this photograph is taken in a black and white style, it makes the subject in the picture the main focus of the photograph. With this photo we can assume that it was taken during a night time scenery because majority of the city building light is visible.  When looking at this photograph, we get this sense of being in the city itself. We can feel our self being in the street, filled with crowed people who is always in a rush to go somewhere. We can imagine the city street is always facing traffic. We can hear the vehicle horn going on and on all day and night. This is what people meant when they refer New York City as the city that never sleeps.

The way Michael Kenna capture this photograph is quite unique. From looking at the photograph, it pretty straight forward that he took it from a high angle point of view. The reason of him doing so is because he wanted to get a pretty good view of how a city looks like and how big it can be. Also depth of field is related to this photograph. Some photograph can be out of focus to show depth of field but in this Michael Kenna photograph it shows the entire subject is being focused completely to make the subject more revealing to the viewers. These elements that Michael Kenna used allow the viewers to pin point what’s the main idea of the image is about.

http://www.michaelkenna.net/gallery.php?id=14