Series: “Reflections”

“Red Leaves”

Analysis of the photo

What the photograph shows

Main focus and eye – draw

What’s liked about the image

Composition style

• Framing: The circular mirror acts as a natural frame for the reflected scene, creating a distinct boundary between the real and the reflected world.
• Contrast: There is a strong contrast between the dark, granular texture of the ground and the smooth, bright reflection in the mirror. This contrast helps to emphasize the reflection and make it stand out.

Lighting

Formal elements

• Line: There are organic lines in the branches and leaves in the reflection. The circular shape of the mirror creates a strong, geometric line that frames the reflection.
• Color: The dark, almost black color of the ground provides a stark contrast to the bright blue sky, white clouds, and red leaves in the reflection. The red and blue are complementary colors, which enhance the visual impact of the image.
• Shape: The circular shape of the mirror is a dominant geometric shape, while the leaves and clouds in the reflection are organic shapes.
• Form: The objects in the reflection, like the leaves and clouds, have a sense of three – dimensionality due to the lighting and the way they are rendered in the reflection. The texture of the ground also gives it a three – dimensional appearance.
• Texture: The ground has a rough, granular texture, while the mirror’s surface appears smooth. The contrast between these textures adds depth to the image.
• Tone: There is a wide range of tones, from the very dark tones of the ground to the light tones of the clouds in the reflection. The mid – tones are present in the blue sky and the red leaves, creating a balanced tonal composition.

Achieving meaning

Techniques

• Focus: The camera is focused on the mirror and its reflection, with the ground also in relatively sharp focus. This creates a clear and detailed image of both the real and reflected elements.
• Aperture settings: The image appears to have a relatively deep depth of field, as both the mirror and the ground are in focus. This suggests a smaller aperture, which allows more of the scene to be in sharp focus(which is a technique I really like).
• Shutter speed: Given the lack of motion blur and the well – exposed nature of the image, it is likely that a moderate shutter speed was used, appropriate for natural daylight conditions.

How this image inspired me

Sebastian Magnani’s works really inspired my own approach to photography, especially in his unique use of mirrors to frame and reflect the beauty of nature. Inspired by his series Reflections, I began experimenting with reflective surfaces, such as mirrors, in outdoor environments, in an effort to capture the interaction between reality and its mirrored double. The juxtaposition of natural textures (gravel, tree bark) and smooth, ethereal reflections in his images taught me to explore textural juxtapositions in my own compositions, namely through placing a mirror in the mossy stones to contrast organic textures with their shimmering reflections. His careful use of circular frames also served to emphasize how the act of framing an image can shape the viewer’s perception, which made me want to seek out natural frames in my shots, like arching branches or windows in buildings. And the way he contrasts color in his reflections, like crimson leaves against cerulean sky, have refined my eye toward color theory, so that I’ll seek color complements in the landscapes that might conjure emotion or depth. And lastly, Magnani’s theme of duality as a bridge between what is seen and what is reflected has inspired me to invent images that question notions of reality itself, fusing documentary style observation with a surreal, reflective perspective in order to draw viewers into a meditative conversation between what is solid and what is protected.

• Top image: “Street Reflection”
• Middle image: “Glass Self – Portrait”
• Bottom image: “Mirror Moment”

Use of Art Elements

• Line: The first image has vertical lines from buildings and horizontal lines from the sidewalk, structuring the scene. In the second, the glass panes’ vertical and horizontal lines create a grid – like effect, while in the third, the lines within the vehicle frame the subject. These lines guide the viewer’s eye and add a sense of order.
• Shape: Geometric shapes of architecture and organic shapes of human figures co – exist. The rectangular forms of storefronts and glass contrast with the fluid shapes of people, adding visual interest.
• Texture: The smooth texture of glass in the second and third images stands out against the rough textures of the urban environment in the first, like the pavement and building exteriors.

Composition Ideas

• Frame – within – a – Frame: The second image uses the glass as a frame to capture a reflected scene, adding depth and a sense of layering. It draws the viewer into a multi – dimensional visual experience.
• Leading Lines: In the first image, the lines of the building and sidewalk lead towards the people, while in the third, interior vehicle lines direct attention to the person in the mirror. This technique emphasizes the subjects.
• Balance: Each image achieves balance. The first has the people centered with equal visual weight around them. The second balances reflected elements, and the third balances the person within the mirror’s frame.

Links to Artists

Themes and Concepts

• Urban Living: All three images depict aspects of urban life, showing how people interact with and are part of the city environment.
• Reflection and Identity: The second image, especially, explores identity through the reflected self – portrait of the photographer. The third image also touches on identity with the partial view of a person in the mirror.
• Transience: The first image shows a momentary gathering of people, and the third captures a fleeting glimpse of someone in transit, highlighting the transient nature of urban experiences.

Camera Technique and Post – Editing Choice

• Camera Technique: The shallow depth of field in the third image isolates the person in the mirror, making them the focal point. In the second, a long exposure might have been used to capture clear reflections, and a wide – angle in the first gives a broader view of the urban scene.
• Post – Editing Choice: Converting the images to black and white adds a timeless quality. It removes color distractions, enhancing contrast between light and shadow, texture, and composition, making the art elements more prominent.

Message and Audience Experience

Photography Techniques, Styles, and Subjects

Techniques

Framing

• Depth of Field
• Composition

Use of Glass for Reflection

Comparing Favorite Images

Developing and Stating My Vision

Justifying My Vision

Naoya Hatakeyama

Lee Friedlander

Comparison of the photos

1. Composition and Structure

• Nagoya Hatakeyama’s photograph: The image features a long, narrow water – filled space, likely a canal or a flooded street. The composition is dominated by the linear structure of the waterway, which creates a strong sense of depth. The reflections on the water’s surface add a layer of complexity, with the vertical lines of the walls on either side contributing to the overall symmetry and balance.
• Lee Friedlander’s photograph: This image uses a more chaotic and layered composition. It features multiple exposures or a reflection that combines different scenes. There are people, buildings, and objects from different environments overlaid on each other, creating a sense of visual disorientation and a complex web of visual elements.

2. Use of Light and Color

• Nagoya Hatakeyama’s photograph: The light source seems to be coming from the far end of the waterway, creating a gradient of light and shadow. The colors are rich and somewhat muted, with the reflections of the lights adding splashes of color (pink, blue, white) on the otherwise dark water. This use of light and color gives the image a dreamy, almost other – worldly atmosphere.
• Lee Friedlander’s photograph: Being in black and white, it relies on contrast to create visual interest. The different tones of gray help to distinguish between the various elements in the multiple – exposure image. The lack of color focuses the viewer’s attention on the shapes, textures, and the interplay between the different layers.

3. Themes and Messages

• Nagoya Hatakeyama’s photograph: It may evoke a sense of tranquility and stillness, despite the urban setting. The reflections suggest a connection between the real and the mirrored world, perhaps hinting at ideas of duality or the passage of time.
• Lee Friedlander’s photograph: It appears to explore themes of identity, place, and the relationship between interior and exterior spaces. The overlapping of different scenes and figures can be seen as a commentary on the complexity of modern life and the blurring of boundaries between different aspects of our existence.

4. Photographic Style

• Nagoya Hatakeyama’s photograph: It showcases a more minimalist and contemplative style. The focus on the long, narrow waterway with its reflections creates a simple yet powerful visual statement.
• Lee Friedlander’s photograph: His style is known for its use of multiple exposures and a more free – form, spontaneous approach. The image reflects his interest in capturing the unexpected and the layers of reality that exist in a single frame.

Comparing of the two artists:

1. Background and Influences

• Nagoya Hatakeyama: A Japanese photographer, Hatakeyama’s work is often influenced by the Japanese aesthetic of wabi – sabi, which values simplicity, imperfection, and the beauty of transience. His upbringing in Japan, with its unique cultural and natural landscapes, has likely shaped his focus on capturing the essence of place, often in urban and industrial settings. He has explored the relationship between architecture, nature, and the environment in his long – term projects.
• Lee Friedlander: An American photographer, Friedlander emerged in the mid – 20th century American photography scene. He was influenced by the documentary photography movement but also had a penchant for pushing the boundaries of traditional photography. His work often reflects the diverse and complex nature of American society, with a focus on the everyday and the mundane, yet presented in a highly creative and often surreal manner.

2. Subject Matter

• Nagoya Hatakeyama: He frequently photographs urban landscapes, industrial sites, and natural settings. His works often feature the traces of human activity in these environments, such as abandoned buildings, water – filled industrial areas, or the coexistence of nature and architecture. His images can convey a sense of quietness and the passage of time in these spaces.
• Lee Friedlander: Friedlander’s subject matter is wide – ranging, including people, streets, storefronts, and various interior and exterior scenes. He is known for his use of reflections, multiple exposures, and self – portraits in his work. His photographs often capture the idiosyncrasies of American life, from the kitschy to the profound, and he has a particular interest in the relationship between the individual and the surrounding environment.

3. Style and Technique

• Nagoya Hatakeyama: His style is characterized by a certain stillness and a focus on composition. He often uses long exposures and careful framing to create images that are both detailed and evocative. His use of color and light can be quite subtle, yet it effectively conveys the mood and atmosphere of the scene.
• Lee Friedlander: Friedlander is renowned for his experimental and improvisational style. His use of multiple exposures and reflections gives his images a sense of depth and complexity. He often disrupts the traditional single – point perspective, creating a more dynamic and disorienting visual experience for the viewer. His black – and – white photography, in particular, is highly regarded for its masterful use of contrast and texture.

4. Impact and Legacy

• Nagoya Hatakeyama: His work has had a significant impact on Japanese and international photography, especially in the area of environmental and architectural photography. His ability to transform seemingly ordinary urban and industrial landscapes into visually stunning and thought – provoking images has inspired many photographers to look at their surroundings in a new way.
• Lee Friedlander: He is considered one of the most important American photographers of the 20th century. His innovative approach to photography has influenced generations of photographers, both in terms of subject matter and technique. His willingness to break the rules and explore new ways of seeing has left a lasting legacy in the world of photography.