Boy on bike, below Brooklyn Bridge- Ralph Steiner 1922
This photo was taken in the city of Brooklyn which is ironic as it is structured so that the focus is on the wide, empty space, suggesting isolation . Through the use of scale, Steiner emphasises the insignificance of people as the boy on the bike is miniature in comparison to the vast concrete. He comments on the hierarchical structure of the world- although humans appear to be 'in charge', we are just another organism wanting to survive. |
Nude- Edward Weston 1927
The model is illuminated by foreground lighting, highlighting the structure of her body and creating a stark contrast between the foreground and background. Although the image is posed, the model's position is natural and is complimented by the soft quality of the image. Nude also raises issues of how society is structured, in terms of attitudes towards women, who are sexualised despite the expectation of them to be modest, shown by the model covering herself up. |
Migrant Mother- Dorothea Lange 1936
Migrant Mother is a renowned image, displaying the struggle of the Great Depression. Lange has structured the image so that the focus is on the woman's face and as a result we are struck by the uncertainty and concern on her face. The structure of the family is also presented. The mother is centred and her children lean on her, a metaphor for the emotional support she provides. |
Wall Street, NY- Paul Strand 1915
The walking figures mirror the shapes of the building in the background, Strand conveys the idea that the two have become one by displaying them as similar. The angular structure of the building looms over the pedestrians, who mimic their gloom. The repeating long, dark shapes are a visual representation of the structure of life on Wall Street- repetitive and dull. Photographic Construction- Jaromir Funke 1923
Funke's composition allows a contrast to be seen between angular and spherical lines which is complimented by the contrasting black and white. Although the individual components have a structure, the overall configuration is random and disordered. As a result the objects appear suspended, emphasising the abstract elements of the photo. |
When producing my response for my second strand I tried to keep in mind Vivian Maier's use of framing in her opportunistic shots. I looked for naturally occurring compositions such as the ones in Maier's work. The artist's work below takes advantage of the linear lines of the barriers, framing the four women and raises questions as to who the women are as their identities are hidden. My photo is similar due to the fact that there are three anonymous figures, however I don't think I was able to frame them as successfully as Maier has in her image. Instead, I focused on the the idea of St Paul's Cathedral, in the background, being complimentary to the shape of the men. The building becomes somewhat personified, joining the men as they look at the view of London. I chose to edit my picture to make it black and white to increase the contrast between the different elements and ensure the men are defined against the background.
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