Artist Analysis: Elliott Erwitt

Elliott Erwitt’s style of street photography is a cornucopia of techniques combining humor, irony, and keen observations of human interactions. He often captures moments that highlight the hilarious absurdities of everyday life. He is remarkable in recording humor in mundane routines, revealing unexpected relationships between people and their surroundings. A hallmark of Erwitt’s style is its candid disposition. He shoots scenes without staging, capturing only natural connections between the viewer and the subjects. This results in genuine moments and expressions that resonate with viewers because of its authenticity. This artist also includes thoughtful compositions, frequently using the rule of thirds and strategically framing to draw attention to key elements in his images. His composition often includes layers and depth, encouraging viewers to explore the entire scene rather than just the main point. Erwitt captures a miscellaneous combination of subjects, from children and pets to strangers on the street. His focus on everyday life emphasizes the universality of human experiences, making his images relatable to a wide audience. Erwitt adeptly uses natural light to enhance the mood of his photographs. He often shoots during the golden hour, capturing soft, ginger light that adds depth and texture to his images. His manipulation of light and shadow emphasizes the overall atmosphere. On the other hand, Erwitt is well-known for his black-and-white photography. In black and white, he emphasizes contrasts and textures; while in color, he utilizes a subdued palette that complements the subject matter without creating diversions from it. Furthermore, each of Erwitt’s photographs tells a story. Whether it’s a simple moment of connection or a more complex scene, his images provoke curiosity and induce viewers to imagine the narratives behind the captured moments. Through his lens, he encourages us to see the world with a sense of wonder and appreciation for the everyday.

“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place.” – Elliot Erwitt

 

Evaluate one photo: 

  • Line:
    The diagonal lines of the road and the vertical lines of the trees frame the central subjects, drawing the viewer’s eye towards the people on the bicycle. The curved lines of the bicycle’s handlebars and the subjects’ body shapes create a sense of movement and fluidity.
  • Shape:
    The repetitive shapes of the tree trunks and branches create a rhythmic pattern in the background, while the organic, rounded shapes of the two on the bicycle contrast with the geometric shapes of the road and bicycle.
  • Tone:
    The black and white tones of the image create a high-contrast, dramatic atmosphere. The fusionof light and shadow accentuates the textures and shapes within the frame.
  • Focus:
    The sharp focus on the couple on the bicycle draws the viewer’s attention to the central subject, while the slightly blurred background creates a sense of depth and separation.
  • Repetition:
    The repeating patterns of the tree trunks and the rhythmic motion of the bicycle wheels create a sense of visual harmony and flow throughout the image.
  • Texture:
    The rough, textured bark of the trees and the smooth surfaces of the bicycle and clothing create a tactile quality, adding depth and interest to the overall composition.

 

Contact Sheet All: 

 

 

Contact Sheet Yellow: 

The reason why I chose these photos are because they fit my statement of intent and is focusing on people and their interactions with he surroundings; while some of my other photos may be mistakenly taken for turns out to be overly exposed or not focused enough, these photos my intention and really focused on people and their behavior. According to the characteristics of my artist’s style, my photos should capture candid moments without staging scenes and should emphasize emotion, colors, and framing. These photos are all the ones that follow the foundation characteristics of my artist.

 

Contact Sheet Green: 

I chose these pictures out because I thought they really were interesting and captured cool moments in life. Following on to the techniques I decided to use, these pictures captured many moments to be decisive, interesting framing by using comparison, and mostly a lot of eye contact. In these pictures I can see that these people are enjoying their life just by being who they are and interacting with their surrounding people and environment. This causes these pictures to not only following my artist, my techniques, and my statement of intent.

 

Contact sheet red:

The reason I chose these pictures out of my green photos are because they strongly align with the characteristics of my chosen techniques and my statement of intent. They all use interesting framing, was taken in the decisive moment, captures dramatic and hilarious gestures,  and makes eye contact. They all convey the message of love in life by their interactions and connections to their surroundings. These pictures are also the most candid moments that are completely authentic and emotional relatable.

 

Evaluate one picture:

  • Composition: This image is composed in a dynamic, chaotic manner, capturing the hustle and bustle of the hutong environment. The diagonal lines of the building facade and the covering perspective create a sense of depth and movement, drawing the viewer’s eye towards the central scene.
  • Decisive Moment: This photo captured a pivotal moment. Right when the subject is creating eye contact with me and have this interesting expression.
  • Storytelling: While the exact details of the incident are not explicitly clear, this image encourages the viewer to piece together the narrative. The body language and positioning suggest an unfolding situation, sparking the imagination and prompting questions about the events leading up to this moment.
  • Authenticity: This picture is clearly raw and unfiltered which lends an authentic quality to the image. There is a sense of me being candid, capturing the spontaneity and unpredictability of real-life events as they unfold.
  • Technical Execution: This photo uses sharp focus, appropriate depth of field, and effective use of available light to create a visually striking and impactful image. The high-contrast black and white rendering further emphasizes the drama and intensity of the scene.