Paul Strand
What do you see? Look at the photo opposite by Paul Strand.
- Copy the photograph into your portfolio.
2. List 3 things the photographer might have been interested in capturing in this picture?
The photographer recognized the interesting line-form shadow, the contrasting shape (circle and rectangle), also the value in which the left side is slightly darker that creates the background. I think the photographer likes to take simpler photos in terms of a calmer tone.
3. If you were the photographer, what title would you give it? Explain why.
I would just name it “shadow” as simple as I can because this picture doesn’t contain many colors and a variety of lines. So I think a simple name will fit its tone the best. There are also simple shapes such as circles and rectangles.
4. Name one thing you think is unusual about the photograph.
I feel like this photograph doesn’t have the main subject (it seems like the circle, but not quite sure) Instead, it had contrasting shapes, and I can’t really tell what the photographer is trying to say.
5. Describe the use of line, shape, pattern, texture, tone, and focus.
This photo contains a lot of lines, for example, the reflected lines on the top left, created by the shadow. You can either see the dark side as lines or the light parts (no shadow) as lines, thicker and also thinner. There are also various shapes created both by the object and the shadows. Some of the light strands look like leaf veins and have some sort of repetition. The texture of this photo wasn’t really shown on the surface of the view, it also had textures affected by the value, for example, the surface of the circle seems to feel like dry cement, but has been polished. However, the left bottom, whereas having a darker value, seems to have the texture of dry cement rougher. Lastly, although the circle seems to be the main subject, almost half of it was cut out, I think the photographer didn’t want to focus on the object or the shadow, it’s a combination of them. Yet the entire photo was clear and big to see, if we were to be very picky, the focus should be on the plain circle in which the back of it was kind of blurry and dark.
6. What do you think is the best thing about this photograph?
In my opinion, the best thing about this photograph is how the photographer combined the shape and shadow. I really like how it didn’t have a lot of vivid colors, telling us even the simplest color can create a fantastic photo.