• Application of artistic elements: Using the interaction of light and shadow and different textures to create visual interest.
• Composition ideas: Employs symmetry and emphasizing object shadows and negative space to achieve a balanced and captivating layout.
• Theme and concept: The duality of object and shadow.
• Photographic techniques and post-production selection:Uses controlled lighting to capture clear shadows, post production may enhance contrast and color saturation for a more impactful presentation.

Artist information

László Moholy-Nagy was a revolutionary artist, designer, and educator whose influence on modern art and design is immeasurable. He was a central figure in the Bauhaus movement, a revolutionary art school that aimed to bridge the gap between art and technology. Moholy-Nagy’s work was characterized by a bold exploration of new materials and techniques. In photography, he pioneered photograms, creating striking images without a camera, emphasizing the interplay of light and shadow. His paintings and sculptures often featured geometric forms and a minimalist aesthetic, reflecting his belief in the power of abstraction to capture the essence of modern life. As an educator, he inspired countless students to embrace innovation and to see art as a means of shaping a better, more functional world. His legacy resonates today, guiding contemporary artists and designers in pursuing creative excellence.

Use of art elements

• Light and shadow： Strong contrast between light and shadow is evident. The shadows cast by the mesh create a geometric pattern on the ground and the dolls, adding depth and texture. The interplay of light highlights the contours of the dolls and the surface on which they lie.
• Texture： The rough texture of the ground contrasts with the smooth surface of the dolls. The mesh also adds a distinct, grid-like texture, contributing to the overall tactile feel of the image.
• Form： The dolls are human-like, and their placement and lighting emphasize their three-dimensionality. The geometric form of the shadow pattern further enhances the visual interest.

Composition ideas

• Symmetry and balance： The two dolls are arranged to create a sense of balance. The mesh and its shadow frame the dolls symmetrically, drawing the viewer’s eye to the central subjects.
• Foreground-background relationship： The dolls in the foreground are the focal point, while the shadow pattern in the background provides context and adds complexity to the composition.

Links to artists

Artist information:

Ernst Haas (1921–1986) was an Austrian-American photographer and a groundbreaking pioneer of color photography, best known for his innovative use of vibrant hues, motion blur, and abstract compositions. As a member of Magnum Photos since 1949, he worked alongside legends like Henri Cartier-Bresson and helped elevate color photography as a legitimate art form in the mid-20th century. His 1953 photo essay *New York* for *Life* magazine showcased his dynamic, impressionistic style, while his 1971 book *The Creation* became one of the best-selling photography books of its time, featuring surreal and vivid nature scenes. Haas also excelled in commercial and editorial work, contributing to major publications like *Vogue* and *Look*. His experimental techniques—such as slow shutter speeds to capture movement painterly—left a lasting impact on both fine art and documentary photography, inspiring generations of photographers to embrace color as a powerful expressive medium.

Photo analysis:

Color: The sharp contrast between the bright yellow of the taxi and the dark shadows creates a huge visual impact. A limited color palette, mainly dark with yellow accents, adds to the mood swings of the scene.

Light and shadow: projecting dramatic shadows, possibly from intense sunlight, which define the shapes of people and objects. The interaction of light and shadow adds depth and dimension to images. Steam or smoke can also scatter light, creating an ethereal quality.
Lines: The lines of the street, the edges of cars, and the contours of people create a sense of direction and movement, guiding the audience’s eyes through the scene.

Composition concept
Prospect background relationship: The yellow taxi in the foreground attracts people’s attention, while the characters and background elements, such as buildings and other vehicles, provide background and depth.

Balance: Placing taxis on one side and people on the other creates a visual balance. Steam or smoke fills the middle zone, unifying the composition.

Guiding line: The direction of lines and shadows on the street serves as a guiding line, directing the audience’s eyes toward the subject in the image.

The application of artistic elements
Color: The sharp contrast between the bright yellow of the taxi and the dark shadows creates a huge visual impact. A limited color palette, mainly dark with yellow accents, adds to the mood swings of the scene.

Light and shadow: projecting dramatic shadows, possibly from intense sunlight, which define the shapes of people and objects. The interaction of light and shadow adds depth and dimension to images. Steam or smoke can also scatter light, creating an ethereal quality.

Lines: The lines of the street, the edges of cars, and the contours of people create a sense of direction and movement, guiding the audience’s eyes through the scene.

Composition concept
Prospect background relationship: The yellow taxi in the foreground attracts people’s attention, while the characters and background elements, such as buildings and other vehicles, provide background and depth.

Balance: Placing taxis on one side and people on the other creates a visual balance. Steam or smoke fills the middle zone, unifying the composition.

Guiding line: The direction of lines and shadows on the street serves as a guiding line, directing the audience’s eyes toward the subject in the image.

Artist link
This street photography style with strong contrast and emphasis on urban scenes can be linked to the works of color photography pioneer Ernst Haas. His works often capture the vitality and drama of urban life, similar to how this photo uses color and light to tell a story about the city’s existence.

Theme and Concept
Urban Atmosphere: This photo captures the essence of urban life, with iconic yellow taxis, bustling pedestrians, and urban infrastructure such as buildings and streets.

Instantly: It freezes a specific moment, highlighting the transience of the urban experience, such as the steam rising from the streets, which adds a sense of impermanence.

Camera technology and post-editing selection
Exposure: Carefully manage exposure to preserve details in bright areas (such as taxis) while creating deep shadows. This may involve spot metering or carefully adjusting A to achieve a medium depth of field, which could be a processing issue.

Depth of Field: Medium depth of field may be used to keep the main objects (taxis and people) focused while slightly blurring the background to emphasize them.

Post editing: In post-processing, contrast may be enhanced to make colors more vivid and shadows darker and improve the overall mood of the image.

Use of art elements:

Color: The bright blue of the sky and water contrasts with the buildings and trees, creating a visual palette. The strong color saturation increases the impact.

Line and shape: Linear elements such as building edges, branches, and horizon lines (when considering the original direction) are prominent, which creates a leading line for the photo. The geometric shape of the structure and the organic shape of trees and reeds provide various forms.

Texture: The rough texture of brick buildings, the smoothness of water surfaces, and the dry and fragile texture of reeds can all be distinguished, adding contrast to the image.

Composition ideas

Symmetry and reflection: symmetry and reflection: Even when inverted, the reflection of real-world elements in water creates a sense of symmetry. This symmetry attracts people’s attention and emphasizes the relationship between objects and their reflections.

Balance: The distribution of visual weight between the different elements, such as the large building structures and the natural elements like trees and reeds, gives the images a balanced feel.

Framing: In some images, elements like trees or the edges of buildings act as natural frames for the central subjects, guiding the viewer’s focus.

Links to Karin Svadlenak Gomez: Gomez often explores the relationship between humans and the environment, and these images also touch upon this by showcasing the coexistence of artificial structures and natural elements. The use of unique perspectives and light and shadow can also be seen in these photos, especially in how light interacts with reflected water surfaces and various textures.

Themes and concepts

Duality of reality and reflection: By presenting the reflections in the water, the photos explore the concept of a parallel world. Inverting the images further blurs the line between what is real and what is a reflection, making the viewer question perception.

Urban – nature intersection: The combination of buildings, signs, and natural elements like trees and water shows the intersection of urban and natural environments, highlighting how they influence and coexist with each other.

Camera technique and post editing choice

Focus: Use a relatively wide depth of field because most elements in the image, from foreground to background, are in focus. This allows for a clear view of the entire scene and its details.

Exposure:Balanced exposure can capture details in both bright and dark areas of the image.

editing: Saturation and contrast may be enhanced to make colors more vivid and details more prominent. I choose to reversal the image is that completely changes the audience’s perspective

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ANSEL ADAMS

Karin Svadlenak Gomez

What does the photograph show?

A serene lakeside scene with mountains, clouds, and reeds.

What is the main focus/ where is your eye drawn to?

The reflection of clouds in the lake is due to the contrast with the darker mountains.

What do you like about the image?

Its peaceful mood is enhanced by the black-and-white format.

What composition style have they used?

The rule of thirds, with the horizon and reed placement. Mountains act as leading lines.

How have they used the lighting in the image?

To create contrast; bright clouds against dark mountains, and well – lit reflections.

Can you talk about any of the formal elements that are shown?

• Line: Horizon for stability, verticals from mountains & reeds.
• Colour: Black – and – white, emphasizing tone contrast.
• Shape: Angular mountains, rounded clouds, smooth lake.
• Form: Mountains’ 3D form is evident.

• Application of artistic elements: through color contrast and “caging” the reflections to build visual and hierarchical connections.
• Composition ideas: through framing, reasonable balance, guided lines, etc to create visual guidance.
• Artist link: implement modern characteristic painting and new vision photography, perform unique expression of color and perspective.
• Theme and concept: Cage larger objects (city, buildings, nature) to smaller things (motorcycle rearview mirror, Car hood, and building mirror)
• Photographic techniques and post-production selection: use different methods to highlight the theme and perform post-production to enhance the color.