Week 10-Color Contrast

My first impression of the photo is that it is very simple. The bottle definitely stands out from the stark black background. I like it though, because the bottle has a lot going on in its design. It's funky! It kind of carries the life of the photo all by itself without needing a lot of extra background.

In front of me is a Mountain Dew bottle with several shades of green in a geometric, graffiti pattern decorating it. The background behind it is a simple black piece of cloth, perhaps a blanket or a sweatshirt.

I like the composition because the bottle is not directly standing up in the center, but laying at an angle, not a normal position for a pop bottle. All of the lines in the design of the bottle stand out from each other because of the bold, bright colors. The different green colors on the bottle form a monochromatic color contrast because they are just different shades of green.

The photo may suggest that a person who takes a picture of a Mountain Dew bottle is a little odd, maybe eccentric, since the designs on the bottle are very funky and the bottle is a collector bottle. Who collects pop bottles right? :) Since I like the word, and it seems to fit, I will once again say this bottle picture should be named Funky.

This photo connects to Paul Cezanne's drawings because it is a simple still life. The bottle is sitting on a simple surface, yet pops out because of the color contrasts of the green and the brightness of the colors used. Cezanne's fruit do the same thing. They stand out from the background because of the quality colors used.

Landscape

The first thing I notice in this photo is the curving lines of the border around the bushes. The next thing my eye is drawn to is the bushes, and then the building in the background. The curve of the bushes, as well as the bright green color of them really stands out. The haziness of the building in the far background really creates the atmosphere.

In front of me is a photo of a bush with a wooden double trim around the base of it, on the light green and brown grass. At one time the border might have been a flower bed. The bushes are a bright green and yellow, with muted red tones mixed in. The curve of the trim leads the eye up a hill and in the background is a college dormitory with cars parked in front of it.

I like the composition of this photo because the bush is not right in the middle, and the atmospheric perspective of the building in the background adds depth to the photo. I really like the curving line. It draws the eye upward and around the photo. Your eyes feel like they are going up the hill. The contrast of the colors is nice. There is a light green, bright green, yellows, and some muted fall colors. There are really light blues and grays of the building and atmosphere surrounding it. Each part of this landscape is noticeable and stands out from the rest.

This photo tells a story of students who walk up that hill from their cars to go to the dorms and rest or eat, or even just to have fun. I would call this photo "the hill".

Joseph Mallord William Turner did many landscape paintings and drawings. Since my photo is of a landscape, they have that connection. However, many of his paintings were of bridges or the sea. My photo most connects with his work, "Buttermere Lake, with Part of Cromackwater, Cumberland, a Shower" because of all of the curving lines, the hills, and the atmospheric perspective used.

Figure Ground Relationship

My first impression of the photo is that it is very simple...not much going on in it. My eye is drawn to the black ring box first...then I am curious to see what is inside.

In front of me is a tiled floor where a black velvet ring box is placed. Inside the box is a beautiful engagement ring...with a medium sized pink stone and many smaller stones around it.

The whole photo is taken at a slight angle. The box with the ring inside is the focal point, however it is not in the center but off to the side and closer to the corner. The lines on the tiled floor lead the eye to look at the dark black box.

This photo tells a story of a new change in a person's life. Mine. A ring such as this speaks of commitment and love. Apparently the man she loves must know and love her well to get her such a personal ring. The noun I would use to describe this photo is commitment.

My photo doesn't relate to many of William Kentridge's drawings. Manyy of them have human subjects. However he has a couple of drawings that this photo could relate to. Ulissee: ECHO Scan Slide Bottle is one. It is a simple bottle on a black background. It compares to my photo in its simplicity of background and focal point of one object.

Self-Portrait

The first thing I notice about this photo is the deep color of the eyes and hair, as well as the dark background. I seem to be thinking about something sorrowful. Perhaps I have lost someone dear to me or have a lot on my mind. This photo affects me by its deep black values and the expression on my face. These elements show much about the mood the photo is implying.

In front of me is a black and white photo of myself with long dark hair and dark eyes. The centers of the eyes seem sparkly because of the contrast between the white of the center and the blackness of the outer part. I have somewhat of a frown on my face. A serious expression at least. The lips are a slightly darker color than the skin color. My skin is very pale, but the white shirt I am wearing is even paler. It is a t-shirt with a modest neckline. The background behind me is deep black with no details.

The composition of the photo is at an interesting angle, not simply straight up and down. The photo was shot close-up, a view of just my face and neckline. The shadows on my face create interesting lines, and the lines of my neck and shirt create angles against the dark background. I like how the values are very noticeable. The white, gray, and black are all distinguishable. Since the background is blank, it draws the eye to where the main point is, my face.

This photo tells a story of a girl who has been through a lot. She is struggling with some troubling thoughts, but hoping for the best. I would call this photo Eyes because her eyes tell her story.

My photo connects to Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres' portraits in that Ingres shows a lot of emotion in the eyes of his subjects. You can tell what the subject is feeling. Also, Ingres uses a lot of contrast of values in his paintings to make the subject stand out. They are usually in front of a very simple background like my photo is.

Perspective

I first notice how shiny the floor is. It really stands out. Then my eyes notice how the lights above are somewhat dim, creating shadows down the hallway. My eyes follow the line of the hallway all the way down to the door. It makes me think of how many times I have walked down this hallway in a hurry.

In front of me is a hallway with doors at the end. There are brightly colored paintings by students lining the halls on both sides. On the left side of the hallway is a cushioned bench to sit on and a janitor's cleaning supply cart. There is a dull orange trim around the top of the wall. The lights above are dim, the ceiling has white tiles with black trim around them. The floor is shiny and tiled, but scuffed. The doors at the end of the hallway are thick metal, but painted brown. Whoever took the photo was sitting in the middle of the hallway.

The compositon of this photo is very much placed in the center, however, it is angled a bit. The lines that the walls create lead the eye to the door in the distance-the vanishing point. The ceiling tiles have bold lines that create texture. The shadows created by the dimness of the lights add some interesting values to the photo. The colors of the paintings on the walls add some eye-catching interest, as well as the orange trim at the top of the walls.

This photo tells a story of students. How they wake up in the morning and rush to class. Hallways are not only where they travel, but where they catch up on some last minute studying, or even where they socialize with friends. So I would use the word student to describe this photo of this particular hallway.

This photo connects to Edward Ruscha's works in that it shows perspective with the lines used. However, most of his works are outside gas stations, while this is an interior hallway.

Textures

When I first look at this photo I think how comfy it would be to curl up in the soft blankets and hug that fuzzy pillow. I first notice the heart-shaped pillow because it is the most brightly colored object in the picture.

In front of me is a bunch of blankets on a bed and two pillows, one is long and barrel-shaped and the other is fuzzy and heart-shaped. Both look really soft. The barrel-shaped one is light blue and the heart-shaped on is hot pink, purple, and blue. The blankets are pink and brown, and the brown ones have pink and light brown flowers on them. It looks like a very comfy place to sleep.

The heart-shaped pillow is the focal point of the photo. It is brightly colored, almost neon, and stands out from the pastel pink and brown behind it. There are a lot of soft contour lines in this photo, because the subject is very soft. The composition definitely has a background and foreground.

This photo tells a story of many dreams spent on these blankets and pillows. The college student who owns these pillows and blankets may often be exhausted after a long day and run and jump onto this bed. The word I would use to describe this would be sleep.

Richard Serra's works are not soft at all, but made from metal. However, they compare to this photo in that the lines on his works are very contour and flowing. Other than that, I don't see much of a similarity.

Expression & Value

I see a girl who seems very bubbly and fun to be around. I feel admiration and maybe a little envy for her because she seems to be a very cheerful person whereas I am more of a serious person who gets depressed a lot. What stands out the most about this photo is the sparkle in her eyes and the darkness of her hair.

In front of me is a giggling girl with sparkling eyes sitting on a bed with pillows tossed about behind her. Her hands are folded in front of her face in line with her nose. She is wearing a white shirt. She has the comforter over the top of her. The photo is in black and white.

The focal point of this photo seems to be her face and hair. It stands out the most. I like how the subject is off-center, rather than in the middle. The photo is in black and white to show the values. The outline of her body and face have some nice contour lines. The pillows in the background add interest to the piece and suggest that she is on a bed.

The photo tells a story of a fun night with friends, perhaps a sleepover. She seems happy and comfortable. I would label this photo "Giggle" because she seems to be stifling one!

This photo connects to Degas' works in that its subject is a person who is showing expression. Most of Degas works were of women either performing ballet or doing daily tasks. On several, he showed facial expressions of his subjects. They are different in that my photo has a comedic expression, while most of Degas' works show serious expressions.

Chiaroscuro-Week 3

The first thing I notice about this photo is the dress the subject is wearing. It is very dark in contrast with the clothes on the racks in the background. I also notice the pouty expression on the woman's face and how she is being playful. I wonder why she is wearing what she is wearing. She is obviously a fun-loving person. The picture makes me wonder more about her personality.

Here is a black and white photo taken at an angle that shows a woman in sunglasses pouting for the camera. She seems to be modeling a long, flowing, but simple dress. The dress she is wearing is a deep black in contrast with the ligher gray and white background. The background shows that she is in some kind of store. There is a sign showing something is for sale for only 99 cents. There are racks of clothes and blankets around her, most noticeably a pair of pants and some sheets. The background gets smaller and less focused towards the back of the store where the photo forms a point.

I like the composition of this photo because it has an interesting angle and the subject is off-center a little bit, creating interest. There is some good variation of values in the photo, the strongest value being the black of the dress. It has an interesting perspective creating a vanishing point in the background. The focal point is clearly the woman in the dress. There are some interesting lines in this piece, many of them creating the texture of the clothes on the racks, as well as the texture of the woman's hair. The lines up close are very clear and get blurry as your eyes move to the vanishing point.

This photo tells a story of a fun day shopping with a friend. The woman in the picture is enjoying modeling for the camera. Her expression shows confidence with a little bit of mystery. I would name this photo "Confidence".

Albrecht Durer's drawings are very detailed and his use of line varies from hardly noticeable to very bold. I would say that the lines in this photo are very similar but our perspectives are quite different. The perspective of this photo is very angled with a vanishing point and Durer's were upfront. Also he used more detail in his drawings than I have in the photo.

Week 2-Line & Rhythm

The first thing I see when I look at this picture is the hand rail. It is very dark in contrast with the other lines in the picture. Secondly, I notice all of the lines making up the photo. Seeing the stairs at this angle makes me think of running down them.

In front of me is the second landing of the stairs in Agnew from the point of view of the landing in between 2nd and 3rd floor. The stairs are made up of copper colored tiles with a black handrail going diagonally through the photo. There is a white wall in the background. As your eyes follow the stairs down the landing and past, you can see the darkness when the stairs begin heading toward the bottom floor.

This photo was taken at an angle so both the stairs that I'm standing on, the landing, and part of the stairs heading to the first floor are visible. The upper stairs and handrail form a diagonal line through the photo and the spaces between the tiles also form diagonal lines. The stairs are copper colored, the handrail is black, and the wall is white. The handrail ends directly in the middle of the photo.

The photo tells how I begin each morning, rushing down these stairs, always in a hurry. One word I would use to describe this photo would be movement because there are always people using these stairs, plus the diagonal lines give a feeling of movement as they turn the corner.

Even though he drew mainly people in courthouses, this photo connects to Honore Daumier's in that he drew a lot of interiors and exteriors of buildings, usually in the background of his subjects, sometimes as the subject. As he did so, he used a lot of line for the structure of the buildings, walls, and even some furniture.

Week 1-Skye, the Bird with Attitude

My impression of the photo is that Skye is a bird with quite a character and that he looks puffed up and proud, and a bit irritated. I notice the bright color of his feathers first because they stand out against the blank wall. I am affected by Skye's beauty, it makes me look in admiration.

In front of me is a brightly colored teal bird on it's masters' hand. He has a white head with blue markings by his beak and black and white markings on his wings. The bird has his head back and his chest puffed out with an irritated look on his face. There is a white wall in the background.

Skye is perched on a hand in the center of the photo.You can see the outline of the bird easily because of the plain wall behind him. The most colorful object is the subject, making it stand out.

The story of Skye: My friend says the photo shows exactly the attitude her bird has always had. He is quite old, about 10 years or so, and he makes this face a lot when you play with him. noun to describe the photo: personality.

This photo connects with Kathe Kollowitz's work in that it shows how the subject is feeling.