Mini Blog Post 1

I chose this picture of Christine Blasey Ford as she is sworn in before testifying in front of Senate Judiciary Committee. The use of spatial organization in this photo is important to the social context in which the photo was taken. The focus of this picture is on Dr. Ford, and because most of her testimony was personal, the intent of this picture makes sense. Ford accused the then–Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her during a party in 1982 when they were high-school students Understanding the expressive context of this picture helps make the picture and the moment a monumental event in 2018.

Mini blog 1

The ideology of “The Good Eye,” as described by Rose, expects that the viewer accesses an image based upon compositional interpretation – describing an image as it is, without attaching much abstract thought or embedding philosophical interpretation. An understanding of artistic terminology as well as a bit of contextual information is important to understand an image in this way.
With Rose’s theory in mind, I have chosen to look at the above image. We can see that this image depicts three figures undergoing some kind of interaction. The larger figure on the far right, likely male based on size and height in comparison to the much smaller adult female in the center, appears to have the authority. The female character in the center is submitting to being pat down, with her back to the larger figure, while her hands are placed against a vehicle marked with a word beginning with the letters “US.” It could be assumed that this vehicle, as well as the authoritative figure, belong to the U.S. government. The third figure is a small female child. She is focal point that demands attention in this image. Her face is the only one that is actually visible, as the other figures are cut off of the hip.
The photographer of this image clearly wanted the viewer to see this image through the perspective of the child, whose facial expression is one of extreme fear, terror, or sadness. The child stands closest to the vehicle, beneath the arms of the woman which are extended to the vehicle. The little girl is facing toward the adult female in the center, who is likely her mother, but the mother who is being frisked is unable to console her. The expression on the young girls face emphasizes how helpless she is, but the arrangement of the figure suggests that the mother is trying to keep her body between the authoritative figure and the girl, so as to protect her. The photographer strategically managed to arrange the photo so that the brightest light in the image provided a focal point right in the center of the image where the young girl is. The only light in the image appears to be coming from a vehicle as the quality of light is white like a headlight. It is clearly night time and the dirt on the ground suggests that whatever road they are on is not highly traveled or trafficked.
The composition of this image makes us feel as though we are on the level of the child. We can clearly see and understand her emotion, even with a lack of other clues in the image.

-Sarah Bergin 01/24/19

Blog Post #1

This picture is captivating for many reasons. The first being that these two men, former “enemies” in North and South Korea are coming together to become one. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un meet at the boarder to make a peace treaty between the two nations. The blue hue seen in the background indicates a sense of trust and peace. The saturation is bold and bright giving the scene a lively appearance with high value. The geometrical perspective plays a big role in this picture as we see a cement block directly split the image down the middle.  This physical division gives us a visual of the relational division going on, and makes the two coming together even more impactful. There is a medium and average eye level that makes us, the viewer, feel as if they are there watching this exchange occur. The men are wearing dark business wear, indicating that this is a serious matter, and causes them to stand out amidst the bright color and lighting surrounding them. Lastly the smiles on their faces show the genuineness of their truce and their hands in an outstretched motion makes us wait eager exception to what will come next.

Mini Blog Post #1: Meghan Markle

TOPSHOT-BRITAIN-US-ROYALS-WEDDING-CEREMONYI chose this image of Meghan Markle walking down the aisle to marry Prince Harry simply because when I saw it, it drew me in. At first glance I thought this picture was in black and white, but when I looked closer, I discovered this it is in color. This initial misjudgment is based heavily on what Rose describes about the lighting in a picture. The room in which the ceremony is taking place appears to be fairly dark. However, the windows on the side of the building let just enough natural light in to highlight the blushing bride. This contrast of dark and light helps to add significance to what colors can be picked out in the image, for example, the orange hat. In addition to the source of light being significant for the image (sunlight is typically more flattering than fluorescent), the light also manages to highlight the focal point in this image: the bride herself. This highlight is what is so striking about the image; Meghan Markle practically glows.

Photo of the Year

Flooding Inundates South Carolina Nearly 2 Weeks After Hurricane Florence Struck

The Atlantic recently ran an article on the top 25 photos of 2018 

This image in particular caught my eye. This photo was taken in South Carolina shortly after Hurricane Florence. Pictured in this photo, we can see a car parked in front of house being perfectly reflected by the water that submerges a little less than half the vehicle. The technological production is the first thing to be noticed, the resolution is very high making it easy to notice small details like the dirt on the brick wall, the rust on the fence, and the subtle dark mildew growth on the trunk of the car where it meets the water. The colors in this image are typically muted, there is a light gray hue present in the image that is likely due to the overcast setting and the saturation in general is low; however, the blue car has a decently high value which makes it stand out in contrast to the more muted picture. The most interesting part of this image is the reflective part of it. The reflection gives the viewer a unique perspective on the image, being able to see the same image reflected in an almost perfect natural recreation. As mentioned earlier, the day this photo was taken on was likely overcast, because the light present is muted and only serves to give a light gray hue to the image. However, the light also shines directly onto the centerpiece of the image, the car, making it stand out even more than it did. Finally, this image delivers a very mesmerizing feeling, almost like one could look at the picture for hours on end and feel content trying to spot any subtle difference between the reflection and the real thing.

Mini Blog Post #1

This picture shows the moment when the impassioned father of three victims of Team USA gymnastics doctor, Larry Nassar. The picture has a sense of movement to it due to the angle of the officers’ bodies and the motion blur. Nassar is obscured by the officers and his lawyer, and although they show worry on their faces, there is a sense that what this man is doing is to some degree expected by the attorney and the officers. The most interesting part about this picture is that it is all conveyed through the officers and Nassar’s lawyer, rather than Nassar or the father, who are interestingly obscured, despite the use of the camera angle to show how imposing the father is size-wise in comparison to the person he is rushing, Nassar, who is seated.

Mini Blog Post #1: Kilauea Volcano

This picture I chose shows the ash that lifted from the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii last year. In terms of composition, this photo has very distinct hues and values. The photo mostly uses hues of grey and green throughout the picture. The green colors in the photo have a very high value, as they are brighter and closer to the “near-white form.” The giant dark grey plume of ash however, has a low value, as the color is closer to black. The use of the hues and values really draw our eye to the dark clouds, making the scene ominous despite the bright green colors of the grass. The photo also uses a lower eye level, forcing you to look up to the giant clouds. This perspective suggests a sense of power, danger and doom.

Mini Blog Post #1

South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, South Korea, April 27, 2018. Korea Summit Press Pool/Pool via Reuters TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY – RC1BC18094E0

The photograph above is a historical and memorable moment for Koreans and people across the world. South Korea’s President, Moon Jae-in meets with North Korea’s supreme dictator, Kim Jong Un. They are approaching one another with amiability and geniality. Knowing the histories of these two nations, this event marked a significant moment for both countries. The photograph was taken in the demilitarized zone, but the picture works to separate the demilitarized zone into two different sides. The picture is interesting because the angle at which the picture was taken is not level with the ground. There are sharp, vibrant shades of blue that stand out above the bland blacks, grays, and browns. Also, there is an obstacle between the two leaders. It is as if it is marking South and North Korea from each other, and succeeds in drawing that line between the differing cultures and politics. On one side, there is a gravel-like ground and on the other side of the barrier is a more flat-like ground. The difference in the ground plays a part in separating the two leaders as being different, of having different views, or just coming from different territories.

Mini Blog Post 1

I chose this photo of the French President, Emmanuel Macron, expressing his reaction during the world cup final between France and Croatia. I watched this event and I understand his emotions and why he is acting the way that he is. He is filled with joy and excitement, and its overflowing to the point he has to stand up and display his joy through actions. The composition of this photo displays that some man is extremely excited about the outcome of the team he is rooting for on the pitch. The expressive content gives us a feel to this image, as Rose describes in the text. I feel his joy and satisfaction and I feel as though I want to stand and jump and cheer along side of him as happy as he is about the events unfolding in front of him.