Thursday, February 18, 2016
Medium: Photography
Perhaps one of the greatest and most unique aspect of the photography medium is the ability to "pause time". When we think about it, a photo is nothing more than a fraction of a second taken from a much longer story. The purpose of my work was to first demonstrate such particularity, that photography has the ability to go beyond what our plain eyes usually experience. A still photo allows us to ponder and think more deeply. It gives us as much time as we want to contemplate and interpret. It is very particular because there is no right or wrong way to do it. In my work, we see a man performing a skateboard trick, frozen in the air. We are then left to speculate if the trick was successfully completed or not. We may wonder if the lady in the back has been watching him for a short or perhaps a long period of time. We may ask also if she is related to him or she just happened to be there. Photography has this power to make our minds curious because it gives us plenty of time to do it.
Seth Casthel use this powerful medium by taking underwater pictures of dogs diving in a pool while attempting to catch a ball. Each picture shows the very details of the dogs' facial expressions. Without a camera, it would be hardly possible to catch those moments and remember them as detailed. Since we live in a world of motion, we tend to remember things in motion. Photography on the other hand creates still detailed memories.
Another particularly of the photography medium is framing. All elements on a photo are carefully positioned to create an appealing result. In real life, this process happens all the time with our own eyes. It is quick and unconscious. Photography uses framing to simulate such process. Additionally, photography uses focus (deep of field) to make certain elements more evident than others. In my work, the framing and focus is primary on the skateboarder. It is not centered but slightly on the top left. Since we are used to read from left to right, positioning the main subject on the top left makes it easier to focus on it.
Photography allows also to present multiple elements simultaneously. While the subject is usually the main focus, a photo can incorporate many additional elements to create all together a unique piece of work. In the picture above, we can notice a bank in the background, additional buildings in the distance, a beautiful blue sky with small clouds, a distorted shadow, an unordinary fence, a flag on the top of the building, and many other subtle elements. Those secondary elements are particular to photography because they tell more about the picture's story. In my work, they clarify the simplicity of two young folks enjoying life on a beautiful day.
Lastly, lightning is very specific to the photography medium. Without lightning, there cannot be photography. My work uses the sun not only to lit the entire shot but more specifically to create a hard shadow under the skateboarder, revealing how high he jumped.
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