ASSIGNMENT 3: COMPOSITION - JOHN HEDGECOE

Definition:

Composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art, as distinct from the subject of a work. It can also be thought of as the organization of elements of art according to the principles of art. The term composition means "putting together," and can apply to any work of art, from music writing, that is arranged or put together using conscious thought. In the visual arts, composition is often used interchangeably with various terms such as design, form, visual ordering, or formal structure, depending on the context. In graphic design and desktop publishing, composition is commonly referred to as page layout.

Comment:

This picture is very interesting. There is quite a big contrast with the shade and makes it seem quite disheveled in a way. By using this black and white technique, it's as though the photographer, John Hedgecoe, is trying  make the subject look as old as possible also, the style of clothing he's wearing contributes to the old theme. My eyes are automatically drawn to this man's head. This is because not only is his head centered, but his hands look almost as if they're holding his head and the variation of size (having the head smaller than the hands) is odd and unnatural. His head is also highlighted whereas the rest of the image is atramentous.  

Context

This photograph is of the famous sculptor Henry Moore with his hands stretched out in front of him. This is representing what he does for a living. His hands which he used for making sculptures create a natural frame for his head, therefore making it more noticeable. 

composition in Photography from Mariamasfour

I thought this slideshare was good because it clearly states what composition is and what elements it should contain.

Help Site:

http://www.colorpilot.com/comp_rules.html

FIRST ANALYSIS - VEE SPEERS

Vee Speers

Factual

Vee Speers is an Australian photographer living in Paris. She studied fine art and photography in Brisbane which was followed by a five year career in Sydney with the ABC television as a stills photographer. A short stay in France in 1990 became a permanent move to Paris, which for Speers is a place with "unlimited potential and endless creative inspiration.

Speers first work was on a series of nudes which she photographed in Paris at former Bordellos. She photographed women as part of an extension of her learning ta school during art class. It was a way for her to interpret her meaning of the human form and how light and colour effect her work.
Another project that Speers worked on was a theme of birthday parties. She first shot this series on her daughter's 8th birthday where the children showed up dressed in costume as animals and other characters.

Context

These pictures are from a series called "Birthday Party" based on her child's 8th birthday party.

Technical

Speers used quite a high brightness level for the first girl whose skin, especially on the arm holding the bird, blends into the background. The other girls's brightness is also quite high as her collar blends in.

Aesthetic

The colours the girls are wearing are very natural colours that make her look quite innocent as it doesn't seem as though she stands out. Their hair is pulled back perfectly with both of them using a plait which also reinforces the theory of innocence as that so something I personally would associate with a young girl. I like how the girl on the right is very centered in the picture as if to make you look at her. The left girl seems more sweet and innocent than the girl on the right however-She is wearing a lighter colour suggesting she has a lighter personality and even though the bird she is holding is particularly light, she is holding an animal which makes me think she is trustworthy. 

First Post, Novum Spectaculi

This post is not a serious post. All I'm doing is checking I know how to use a laptop/computer.