Colors!

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/03/10/35-fantastic-hdr-pictures/

For this masterpiece the photographer utilizes a method known as HDR photography or High dynamic range photography.  This method allows for photographers to bring out more colors in their pictures.  So obviously a very visually striking part of this photo is the color that they are able to capture such as the wonderful blues and yellows.  Also just the impact the sun has the photo is astonishing as it lightens up the whole environment.  Another necessary piece to this amazing picture is that of the reflection on the water that shows another view of the incredible skyline.  The artist does an incredible job of capturing this beautiful scene with the perfect reflection underneath.

Eiffel tower

https://media1.biola.edu/modernlanguages/photos/2010/Oct/20/cache/3305640-Moon-light-Eiffel-Tower-0_large.jpg

When it comes to this photo, one can already acknowledge that the sight of the Eiffel Tower already makes it a beautiful photo.  However, what makes this picture special is what the artist captures around the tower.  When looked at more closely one sees the full moon, another beautiful object to behold.  Also included in this pic is the splitting of the sky with clouds and then the clear skies where the moon can be viewed and if one looks closely you can see the light from the top of the tower streaming across the photo.  This to me is a very desirable effect in the photo and only adds to the skill of the photographer to include it here.  Finally, the artist includes a view into the nightlife of Paris at the very bottom of the picture where you can see the various lights and some buildings of the bustling city.  Overall, I see this as an amazing picture that the artist put together very well by including the various things I mentioned above.

Amazing

http://www.chilloutpoint.com/images/2010/04/amazing-non-photoshopped-pictures/amazing-non-photoshopped-photos-04.jpg

What really amazes me about this photo is the overall beauty that the artist is able to capture.  When first looked at one is immediately drawn to the beautiful sky, but then you notice how the sand acts as a natural mirror with the water above it; a truly remarkable sight.  In addition, the photographer makes sure to capture what I assume to be one of their friends as well as what appears to be a fence in the distance to take advantage of the grounds reflective nature and add to the beauty of the photograph.  Furthermore, the lighting of the photograph draws ones eyes to the center of the picture and then when you look out to the corners the picture gradually darkens which I see as an admirable effect as it draws one to the beauty of the sky and reflective sand/water below.  I think this is an amazing picture and hope to have this skill when it comes to taking photographs in the future.

2 photo posts from Atticus Graven

1.

From Smashingmagazine.com artist: Alin Ciortea

What I really really love about this photo is the focus. The textures in the brick are recognizable, if not distinct all the way up the street and walls. There is a patch of dryness right around the subject, giving him even more weight. The contrast is very intense, and the trees just feet away from the foreground are simply silhouettes. The vantage point makes the street huge and the child tiny in comparison. The icing on the cake is the girl's expression. She is tiny, but she is crisp and clear and in focus, and where we see an unoccupied cobbled street, she sees the entire world. She is curious, even a bit afraid, but she is about to step into the world she has been told so much about.

2.

http://knarfinthecity.blogspot.com/ Title: Progress Artist: Unlisted

Another image of striking contrast, which is important, because it is basically a photo of shadows. It very clearly delineates what light passes though and what it cannot. There is very little grey in this at all. The title is "Progress" which implies a relationship, though framing, between the endless body of water and the zigguranic skyline, and its clear-white emissions. I think what is most powerful is the stark color difference between the water and the machines, and then the similarity between the water and the steam. Upon enlargement, the photo gets a little blurry, but it think the focus would actually benefit from being pushed even more towards silhouette than it is now, more than it would benefit from better content focus.

Mapping

This image stood out to me because of its strong suggestions of time. The photographer, Kim Boske, was interested in time and space, and in her work, Mapping, she blends moments of time together. I think this a fascinating image because it is not one moment frozen in time like most photographs but several; this adds an element of passage of time to an otherwise static picture. It also falls into our categories of the thing itself and frame because the photographer chose to frame the tree in the center of the picture making it the obvious subject.

http://foam.org/foam-editions/portfolios/boske,-kim

Quatorze Juillet

This picture was striking to me for its detail. Everything from the cracks in the wall to the lines in sidewalk to the chains hanging from the beams above the people is clearly visible. This great detail and contrast helps to bring you into the photo. It also has strong elements of time. It captures this singular moment in time where two people are dancing in the middle of the street. The woman's hair is caught in the action of swinging as they dance. All of these aspects of the image are instrumental in making the viewer feel like they are part of the scene.

Johan van der Keuken, 1958
http://foam.org/foam-editions/portfolios/keuken,-johan-van-der

On Scale

The Dutch photographer Raimond Wouda explores human relationships in his work On Scale. Specifically, in On Scale, he examines how tourists affect a landscape. In my opinion, the presence of the tourists, as well as the flocks of birds, significantly detracts from the potential beauty of this image. The architecture is very interesting, and the building in the center of the picture is particularly magnificent. However, the crowds of people distract from the overall splendor of the scene.

Less Than One

This photograph, by Alexander Gronsky, is from a collection called Less Than One. The purpose of the work was to document regions of Russia where the average population density is less than one person per square kilometer. I think this a fascinating area for photographic exploration because it deals with one of the few places left in the world largely untouched by human beings. 

Despite the buildings in the background, evidence of civilization, the image here feels void of life. The vantage point chosen by the photographer lends to the lifelessness of the picture; a wall of tall, white, dead-looking trees stands obstructing the view of the structures behind it. The buildings themselves seem old and beaten down.


Upon closer inspection, two people can be seen near the center of the picture walking in different directions. This brings an element of life to the image, but it is so difficult to spot if you are not looking for it that it doesn't significantly change the  overall feeling of emptiness that I get from the picture.


http://foam.org/foam-editions/portfolios/gronsky,-alexander

Atlantic Ocean Waves

I am from the shore and love the beach and the ocean so it is obvious why I like this picture. The way the photographer was able to still capture a wide contrast in the photo is incredible since it seems to be a gloomy day with little beams of light making their way though the clouds. This image is obviously time. That is the thing I like most about ocean photography. It is absolutely impossible to catch the waves of the ocean the same. I also like how the storm is making the mist blow off the top of the waves. The title of the photo is "Atlantic Ocean Waves" so the fact that it is 'my' ocean makes me like it even more.

-Scottie

I like this image because of how the photographer chose to focus it. The telescope (or whatever you call it) is the only image in focus and the skyline, which is clearly what you look at when using the telescope, is out of focus. It makes you wish you were in the picture so you could look through the telescope and see the skyline.

-Scottie

War Vet

I like this picture for a few reasons. First I like the contrast. All the white chairs really make the man pop out in the picture because he is really the only thing in the picture with any dark colors. I think the picture really plays to the idea of the item itself and also time. Image itself because the image you are supposed to be most focused on is the old man and time because you don’t know if he is waiting for more people to come, he is the only one still there or if no one showed up. One can build quite a story from this picture, too.

-Scottie

Niagara Falls

This photograph was made by Barbara Bosworth in 1986 and is titled Niagara Falls.  The image was obtained from the Smithsonian American Art Museum.  I am really impressed by the contrast in this photo but more so by the soft lines of the cliff in the forefront of the photo.  The mist from Niagara Falls is also effectively shown and I like how it appears as light mist in the middle and gets heavier to the left side of the photo to the point that the waterfall can no longer be seen behind the mist.  Despite the heavy mist, the photographer was still able to portray that it was a clear day at Niagara Falls.  

Untitled (stationwagon)

The image above is called “Untitled (stationwagon)” and it was taken by Rita Hammond.  I chose this image because I think that it is a really good example of contrast, detail, and perspective. There is a girl wearing black and grey standing next to a white car. To add to the contrast, the pavement and concrete display different shades of grey while the car seats and tires are as black as the woman’s jacket.

                The perspective is very important here because the photographer chose an angle that reveals the most detail. Hammond is most likely inside a building looking at the sidewalk from a window. The subject probably knew that her picture was going to be taken because she is looking back at the photographer. She may also be posing because she is at an angle where the viewer of the image can see the whole side of her body. If she were really getting into the car, she would be facing the door. Overall, I think that Hammond asked the woman to pose for her in a specific way which would reveal the most detail.

                The detail in this image stands out. I can kind of see myself sitting inside this car that people drove around in 1967 and that surprises me. The viewer can see all of the car parts clearly. The white car body with silver handles and a silver rack on top with black tires and silver and white rims that sit on a grey pavement. Looking inside the car, the leather interior is made up of two colors and the car itself can seat six people, which is typical of the time period. There seems to be a reflection in the windshield. One thing that is odd is the position of the car’s side mirrors. The woman, who is posing, looks a bit confused. Maybe she is not sure if she angled her feet enough or placed her right hand properly on the door handle. She could also be confused about the weather because she is wearing sandals with long pants and a jacket. Due to the position and angle of the subject, one can see her two bags. I cannot seem to determine where the confused woman is going.

love from abroad

an old guy fell down on the road, and there was nobody who was willing to help. however, there was one American reporter who has worked for ESPN for 4 years went the old man and got him the drimks. according to this picture, i have only one sentence to say, CHINESE SUCKS!!!!!

love for a dog

based on the situation in China right now, it seems that there is a kind of virus which can be only carried by dogs, and the government decides that kill all of the dogs which have no owners. the dog just hides in a hole for around 2 years, and this old man notices it, and keeps feeding the dog for 2 years.

you gonna be old like this,too

according to picture, we can clearly see that a 75-year-old woman does not have the right to ask for a seat on a bus. accoding to the facial expression, it seems the woman was tired and she really wanted a seat. howver, the girl who just sited beside her seemed that she even did not notice the old woman, even though she noticed the old woman, it seemed that she thought the seat was hers.

can i get more?

it is the most impressing photo in China in 2009. the man was on a building which is around 200 floors high, however, it is a highly dangerous work, but he was paid for even less than the floors of the building per month, which means his monthly payment is around 35usd. this picture reflects that the situation in China, poor man could be much poorer and rich man could richer and richer.

Grand Piano by suzi9mm

I

I have been a member on this art website called deviantart.com for about 3 years now. On this website I collect some of my favorite pictures that are submitted by internet users across the world. This picture has been a long time favorite from a longtime member of deviantart who goes by the username of suzi9mm. The title of this work is "Grand Piano."

Upon first viewing this, I was immediatly drawn to the dominant soul source of light that is presented in this photograph: the naked girl sitting on the pianist's lap. Upon further inspection I was able to make out the subtlest hues of gray and shadows that dance along her skin which convey the contours on specific parts of her body: the muscles in her arms, the protrusion of her shoulder blade, the swell of her breast, and the shadows along her back.

What facinates me is that the prominant dark tones in this photograph do not overwhelm the contrast of light reflecting on the girl's body. This also brings up the fact that there is a full range of contrast throughout this photograph.

The balance in this appears to be flawless, almost as if the photographer strategically positioned herself to capture an angle that allows unity in this photo which makes the subjects of the pianist, the girl, and the grand piano to be focused in the center of the picture.

I personally find all the marks

            What first drew me to this image entitled “Dog Training” by William Vander Weyde is the fact that this images does not appear to be a photograph, but rather a painting or a drawing. The glass covering the image gives it this feel because it makes it look glossy and possibly brings out the light captured in the image. Besides this glossy glass, this image has many other aspects that make it good art.

            The first aspect of this image that makes it great is the subject or the white dog in the right corner of the image. He is sitting on the ground while the man in the black suit is pulling his mouth open exposing his white teeth. This position shows a different side of the subject that many people probably do not see all the time as the dog seems angry and uncomfortable. The details, which include the moon shaped eyes of the dog and his pulled back ears, also show that the dog is uncomfortable.

            The frame is very interesting because the person and dog are all the way to the right. The man’s face is not revealed, only his hands which for a “c” shape over the dog’s mouth. To me, this frame shows that the center of focus is not the man, but the dog. Therefore the image reflects the dog’s emotions and not the man.

            The frame also reveals a shadow on the left side of the image. This is because the contrast of colors from black to white is lighter on the left.  At first glance, I thought the shadow was a reflection of the dog in a silver mirror. Maybe it is the reflection of both the man and the dog because the shape does not seem to fit just the dog alone. For example, there is a shadow under the dog’s body that makes him seem more three-dimensional.

Due to its unique feel and the fact that it represents many different aspects of photography, I feel that this image is indeed an interesting work of art.

Fence Posts

I know this picture seems really plain to look at at first glace, but for some reason it caught my eye more than any of the others I was looking at.  To me it gives off the sense of time, not only how the sky is blurry while everything else is crisp and clear, but just the fence itself looks like it's been there a long time.  I like how the subject is not only one object but many and even though there is one main fence post you're looking at, the photo would not be complete with out the rest.  I like how the wire running between the fence posts is barely visable except when the light hits it or you can see the shadow on the  underside.  It almost gives off an eery, yet calm feeling to me.  I think the darkness around all of the edges and going into the whites in the middle gives it a feeling of being framed which looks cool; and the hills or mountains in the back add a little bit to the story without over-powering the rest of the picture. 

test #2

Guadeloupe Women

This photograph particularly caught my eye because I was curious to know what the story is behind it. First I noticed the dresses they were wearing, then the background of the building, then their facial expressions and where they were looking, and then the position of their hands. Lastly I looked at their shoes. As I kept staring at the picture my eyes kept focusing on the middle woman's facial expression because it seems like she is looking right at the viewer, and the architecture of the building. The extravagant dresses the women are wearing, in front of a large castle-like building imply that the women might be wealthy. When I looked into it online though, I saw this picture on a website for pictures of immigrants at Ellis Island. Obviously these women came to the United States from Guadeloupe, as the title suggests, "Guadeloupe Women." The background information is extremely important in this case because you might think something completely different by basing an analysis solely on how it looks. When examining the photograph, it does not look particularly mysterious, but the mystery seems to lie in the reason for the immigration. The women look angry but not poor, or in any sort of distress, as many immigrants may have been. Another mysterious aspect is the cause of their irritation, and the stare they are exhibiting. 

It is difficult to view on the computer, but each women looks very serious and mad, and definitely a little bit condescending. The middle woman is looking at the camera, while the woman on the right seems to be looking so far to her right that we cannot see her eyes. The woman to the left is also looking to the right. 

The picture definitely conveys a feeling of forced respect through the hard face each woman has on, the overpowering image of the building behind them, the position of their arms, and the clothes they are wearing. They are somewhat authoritative because they are also standing up and in a way looking down; they seem to be saying, "just because I am an immigrant does not mean I will be treated like one" when going through customs and other necessary processes. 

As for the frame, the photo seems pretty balanced and symmetrical, with the shortest woman in the middle and a woman on either side of her. In terms of perspective, the shot seems like it was taken from lower down, which may also convey that feeling of forced respect, the viewer looking up to them. The diagonal line of the building may convey motion, in their case, moving through Ellis Island. The photographer used the rule of thirds because the subject(s) are in the first and second third of the photo. Also, the emphasis seems to be on the woman's face in the middle.