Photograph Analysis

Purpose

The purpose of the image was.... well, honestly?? Not a clue. I saw an opportunity and I took it. Inspiration for another blog post was scarce, but here I was, sat in front of a Mac at the University and suddenly I noticed just how obvious my reflection was in the monitor.

Production

The only piece of equipment available to me at this particular moment in time was my Samsung smartphone. This will, therefore, serve to provide demonstration to the belief that you don't need state-of-the-art photography equipment to create an attractive image. Though I suppose having a state-of-the-art Mac suite would be immensely beneficial in this instance.

Framing

The image is as close to centrally aligned as I could manage, bearing in mind certain factors; the desktop of the Mac I was using had a number of icons available along the right side and along the bottom. These reduced the space I could use if I wanted to ensure no icons made it onto the image.

Lighting

There are three sources of light within this image:

• The Window - Natural Light Source
• The Phone's Flash - Artificial Light Source
• The Mac Screen - Artificial Light Source

In short, the image contains a combination of both natural and artificial light sources.

Much to my disbelief, the only source of light I would say is most affecting the image directly is the natural light coming in through the window behind me. It helps to provide contrast to the rest of the image, making my figure stand out against the background. The Mac screen provides a much subtler source of light - most predominantly on the right-hand side of the image, whilst the flash of the phone served to create a (deliberate) lens flare. In reality, I was slightly out with regards to framing: I had hoped that the lens flare would have completely covered the mouth area. However, I am still happy with the location - rather than leaving out a body-part, there is the subtlest hint that it exists, and so viewers are aware that behind the camera is the mouth that would normally be there. It almost feels like a sneak-peak.

Signifiers & Signifieds

• The figure (aka ME!)
• The phone
• The glasses
• The stars

The figure is the main part of the image (and this isn't me being egotistic, so just work with me). In terms of photography, it should represent a memory that is to be saved, else there is no point of taking the photograph. In this case, because I'm the one who took the image, I will always associate the image with writing this blog entry. It was created specifically for a piece of work, and thus has little to no other significance in my life (although I really like the image, so might choose to make it my Facebook picture). But to someone who doesn't know me, it could signify something completely different.

From a subjective point of view, if I was looking at this as an outsider, I would see the figure and think; 'Student'. Mainly because of age. Also, the fact that the figure appears to be sitting at a desk (though this is not made obvious - you can partially see the chair but not the actual desk) helps to narrow down options to one of two - either a student, or somebody who has a desk-job. Thus, age and location make me think of a student.

Typically, glasses are associated with intelligence. I have no idea why this is, it could be a stereotype that just happens to have lasted world-wide. Nerds and geeks are often seen wearing them, and these types of people are stereotypically fairly smart in certain areas. It is widely assumed that those who wear glasses are generally 'smarter', or at least are trying to make themselves look more intelligent by wearing them. In my case, I wear glasses because I have to, not because I want to. Without them, I'm blind. But as an outsider thinking stereotypically, I would see the glasses and think the person in the image was intelligent; now, of course, I know myself and how untrue that statement is. So here is an example of 'inaccurate' stereotyping in action.

The stars are symbolic of space and the worlds beyond the one we know. I can see stars in the image, and I think of how life at University can be like living on a whole new planet. It really is an out-of-this-world experience; something that will only ever happen once and should be treasured: the tiny smile on my face and my neutral expression should represent my contentment, as well - another signifier!

The phone signifies communication. Or lack, thereof. On a way deeper level, it can represent the module I am working on - how images can communicate with viewers without words. But at the time, I was happy to settle for the idea of mobile communication overwriting physical human-interaction (which is why I deliberately tried to place the phone over the mouth area). After all, who needs a voice when you can email, text, Facebook and Tweet from your phone?

Funny. All those little representations. I'd never have thought so deeply into the image, were I not required to do so for my coursework. But it is interesting what you can come up with, even with the vaguest of images...

Kumi Yamashita - Shadow Art

I was looking for inspiration for another blog entry and recalled a seminar session during which the use of light and shadow was discussed.

The artist 'Caravaggio was given as the main subject of discussion', but to be honest, old painters and such artists (as remarkable as they were) are a little too.... traditional for my personal tastes.

And so, my thought process immediately turned towards a more modern and unusual style of art: Shadow Art.

To the left, and below, are a piece from an artist called Kumi Yamashita, who is well-known for creating artwork by placing unusual objects into a precise order and adding a light-source.

This light-source creates a shadow of the objects used, to in turn create a whole new image.

In terms of visual communication, it's a crazy notion.

To use one visual cue to create an entirely new and original graphic through which expression and discussion can be manifested is quite a remarkable feat.

There are two differing sources of discussion in Yamashita's artwork; the first being the unusual objects used to cast the shadows, and the second being the shadow itself. It is almost as though there are two conflicting images combined onto one canvas, and in a sense, they are fighting for attention: the mind wants to consider how the image has been created (by looking at the objects) but at the same time, the main focus of the image is the shadow (without which, the image would not be impressive enough to warrant such apt attention).

It leads me on to consider how the mind can be tricked with the addition or removal of a light source. For instance, it is stereotypically believed that to best experience a horror film, you should watch it in the dark. This is presumably because the film itself has dark overtones which compliment the viewer's surroundings to heighten the experience. The viewer becomes fully intergrated into the film, because in a sense, they are experiencing similar key elements themselves via the removal of a light source.

A further point brought up in the same seminar was how possible it is to still experience such feelings when in an industry that demands such depth of analysis. By looking so deeply into the image, it is sometimes the case that the 'magic' is lost, and you become so involved with how the image was produced, that you forget to take a step back and simply enjoy it. I, personally, find it quite an exhilarating thought to know I can deduce how something has happened and yet still marvel at the content of the image. In a way, it's almost as though I know something the rest of the world doesn't - even if that is through my own self-evaluation of the image. I can see the image from two different angles - as both a viewer, and also as a producer.

Two points of view through one pair of eyes. Which leads me neatly back to Shadow Art, with their two different images combined onto one canvas to create a whole product. Clever stuff.