Tag: red photos

Creating+Critique of Red Photos: Set 2

Posted on by Josh

In total, there are 69 photos. Unlike the previous set, this set primarily focuses on the starting point of signs. The photographer of inspiration is Rob Hann. These photos were taken in a natural environment because I believe there are signs in nature worthy of our attention. I categorized these photos using the green, blue, and red selections. My criteria for a good photo are whether it relates to my starting point and whether the photo is aesthetically appealing.

In total, there are 40 green photos, 17 blue photos, and 12 red photos.

Example of a Green Photo

The above is an example of a green photo. The camera alignment in this photo needs to be improved. There isn’t a distinct subject in the photo. All of the elements in the photo are randomized. Although randomness is a sign of nature, this photo does not present randomness in an aesthetically appealing way. There are better representations of my starting point. Therefore, I put this photo in the green selection.

Example of a Blue Photo

The photo above is a blue photo. It includes the elements of line and depth. The lines created by the trees and their shadows look very intriguing. Depth is created when the sandy ground’s light portions are contrasted with the shadows’ dark portions. In the photo, the ground gets darker the farther you look into the photo. In addition, there is a triangular shadow in the bottom right corner of this photo. There is a long shadow next to it. These shadows make the audience curious because they are unlike the regular shadows of the trees. It could be the shadow of an animal, of the photographer, or of something else. This aspect gives off an ominous feel. This photo connects to my starting point because it shows that nature is mysterious, has depth, and can contain almost anything. This photo is very good, but I decided not to put it in the red selection because it could be more aesthetically appealing. Furthermore, it does not have any particular stylistic choices.

Example of a Red Photo

The photo above is a red photo. This is one of the 12 photos that best represent this set and my starting point of signs and messages. The most important elements of this photo are color, depth, and line. The first thing the audience would see in this photo is the red car in the upper center. This is because the car is red, an eye-catching color. In addition, the red color contrasts with the other less vivid colors in the photograph, so it stands out more. Therefore, color is a critical aspect of this photo. Then, there is depth and line. These two aspects are related since lines create depth. Near the center of the photo, a distinct vertical line defines the side of a bamboo bridge. This bridge directly points to the red car in the distance. However, it is the depth that makes the red car seem small. On the other side of the central line, there is a more diagonal line that is another side of the bamboo bridge. It is also angled towards the car. The distance between these two lines decreases as they both approach the car, giving the photo a sense of depth. The most important formal elements are shown in the diagram below. This photo connects to my artist of inspiration, Rob Hann, because it has the theme of human intervention in nature, where man-made structures are put in natural environments. In many of Hann’s photos, man-made structures are isolated in a natural environment. For example, Hann takes photos of abandoned buildings and vehicles in the Desert.

Diagram:

Red photo 2

The photo above is another red photo that differs from the one I previously analyzed. This photo is much more simplistic in nature. This photo was taken beside a mountain next to a river. It incorporates the formal elements of color, shape, and texture. Firstly, there is a large contrast between the water’s green color and the rocks’ grey color. This color contrast emphasizes the shape of each side of the photo. On each side, the texture is varied: the rocks have a rough texture; however, there are wavy white lines that mimic water; on the other hand, the water has a smooth, flowing texture, but small bubbles in the water mimic the small sediments on rocks. Between the rocks and the water, there is an S-shaped line. This line represents the conflict between the two elements as one element is trying to intertwine with the other. This photo connects with my starting point because it shows the sign that different elements in nature can be equally appreciated. The contrasting nature part of this photo is inspired by Rob Hann since he takes photos of two or more landscapes simultaneously.

Reflections: SET 2 Red photo analysis

Posted on by Josh

*Note: Couldn’t provide link to original PDF as it was too large to upload.

The above photos are the ones I selected to be a part of the red selection for set 2. As mentioned in a previous post, these photos were selected based on their correlation to my statement of intent and their overall aesthetic appeal. They are all taken in Shanghai.

Firstly, photos 1,2, and 3 focus on buildings at the banks of the rivers during nighttime. In these photos, most of the light is concentrated in the middle of the photo. This is where an imaginary line splits the water and sky. The tone of these photos is mostly dark in the surrounding perimeters, while there is a strong contrast between these dark parts and colored lights, causing a large tonal range. The range of view of these photos varies as some are taken in portrait, and some are taken in landscape. In general, photos 1,2 and 3 illustrate the reflections of light on water. It shows how modern technology can impact the beauty of nature.On the contrary, photo 4 focuses on the reflection of a shoe on the metallic side of a boat. The photo’s focal point is the light that shines on a white shoe. Apart from the focal point, the rest of the elements in the photo are not centered seemed positioned randomly. The tone and colors of the photo vary greatly, with no apparent pattern. I think this photo reflects the need to focus on one’s own identity and footprints in a society where everyone is reliant on technology and innovations. Next, photos 6,7, and 9 focus on the vast interiors of the Jin Mao Tower, one of the tallest buildings in Shanghai’s Pudong business district. The reflections in these photos mostly involve glass and light. Distinct geometrical shapes are defined in the architectural design of the building. These shapes are emphasized by the white line of light circulating around each layer. Photo 6 mostly displays the horizontal view of the Hyatt Hotel lobby. Lights from the interior and exterior of the building reflect on the spacious glass windows, creating abstract patterns and distortions. Photos 7 and 9 show the vertical layers of the building’s many stories. With a low ISO, even the uppermost layers of visible floors are distinct. The white line of light from each layer reflects off of the glass elevator shaft, creating a mesmerizing reflection. Overall, photos 6,7 and 9 display the beauty that can be found in the manmade structures. Next, photos 5, 8, and 12 show reflections of colored lights in different parts of the city. Photo 5 shows the reflections created by a purple structure by the sidewalk. The structure itself is clearly defined as a combination of 3-dimensional shapes by the purple light. In the dark lighting of the night, the purple light from the structure is reflected on surrounding objects, creating a completely purple biome for people walking by. Photo 8 is similar to Photo 5, but it displays subjects on a much larger scale. At a high elevation, I was able to capture a wide range of buildings. Using a low exposure, lights from the buildings were not overwhelming for the eyes and could be distinctly seen. Buildings reflected their light off of one another, but the most intriguing aspect of this photo is the subtle rainbow aura in the sky, created by the reflection of light on the air particles. This effect is created by using a narrow aperture, as all elements of the photo are in focus. In addition, photo 12 uses traffic lights and car lights to create an atmosphere of red. This effect is achieved by using extremely high exposure. In the foreground, a white car is captured at full speed, reflecting bright light off of its side and wheels, slightly blurry. This motion blur was achieved through a slow shutter speed. Overall, this photo shows the rapid bustle in the city. Altogether, photos 5,8,12 show reflections of light amidst different parts of the city and can be related to the photos of Craig Whitehead, my artist of inspiration. Lastly, there are photos 10 and 11. These photos depict reflections in areas that are less developed but still affected by modern infrastructure development. For example, Photo 10 shows the aerial view of a section of a hotel. Through a glass window, we can see a large green clover and the repetition of small wooden boards that form a section of the roof. Near the top of the photo, there are distinct rectangular shapes representing solar panels or small facility buildings. Above all, an unidentifiable object is reflected at the top left of the photo, making the seemingly normal aerial view feel surreal and uncanny. Photo 12 is also unique as it gives another perspective on the city’s suburban areas. The photo features a glimpse of an unclean back alley of a restaurant. However, filling up the entire space of the window is a reflection of the restaurant’s interiors. Reflections of perpendicular Chinese architectural designs can be seen along with a reflection of a silhouette. Combined with these reflections, the shadows of the spiraling stairs give an abstract feeling. Overall, the entirety of set 2 reflects the idea of how humans are influenced by modern innovations and carry-over techniques used by Craig Whitehead.