Shreya - October 28

This wonderfully colour filled image by Chicago based photographer Brian Ulrich is from his series tittled Retail. The colours of this image appear to be overly saturated however considering the location the picture was shot in, they are actually quite realistic. The focus of the photograph is on a transgendered individual seated in the foreground. There is an immediate contrast between the familiar setting of a fast food chain restaurant and this intriguing overdressed character, which generates interesting tension within the photograph. Despite this tension the photograph appears to be balanced to a certain degree through certain parallel colours. The blue in the clothing that he/she is wearing is subtly reflected in the blue of the painting in the left. Also the red of his lips seem to be talking to the red of the soda dispenser and the male figure in the background. In this way the image seems to play with the idea of belonging. Despite the fact that main character of the photograph seems out of place, through colour there is harmony created between him and the environment.

Jessica Jokhi- Oct. 28th

This is one of Nan Goldin's photographs of Cookie Mueller. This photo was taken at the time in Nan's life when she was photographing many of her friends with AIDS. This photograph is a portrait taken at night. The figure is relatively centered and taken in motion. It could be said that this photo has mostly allied colors because the lights in the background along with her scarf are mostly yellows and oranges. The overall cast of the photo is cool. The colors seem to be reproduced realistically. The steam from the man hole trails into the background and forces the viewer's eye through the photo. The flash on the subjects face is rather bright as a contrast to the ambient steam coming from the foreground and trailing into the recesses of the photo.

Michelle Anderson - October 28

This is a photograph called Another Exceptionally Iceless Year by Finnish artist Riitta Ikonen. Ikonen is known for her mail art projects but also creates sculptural costumes for her photography. Like this one, from the series Baltic Sea, much of her work deals with environmental issues, particularly climate change. This series also deals with oil leaks and pollution, but here Ikonen poses as a small (and therefore nearly completely melted) ice cap in a vast blue plane. The darkness of the water, particularly in the bottom portion of the frame, emphasizes the seriousness of the problem while also creating high contrast around the ice. The literal fading gives the image a feeling of fading away. From the bottom of the image, the black/dark blue water fades to an extremely blue sky, drawing the viewer in with allied color and creating a complex mood.

Jennifer Swanson - October 28

In this photo, Joel Meyerowitz shot a diner in early evening. The color overall is warm: yellows, pinks and reds dominate the photograph, with some bits of blues and greens. The expressive photo provides the viewer a glimpse of Americana, with a dominant Coca-Cola sign above a listing of the various meat options (steak, beef, lobster, shrimp) that one can consume inside. The contrast of this list of meats with the name of the diner - "Dairy Land" - is amusing. Electric wires strung overhead lead the eye to the center of the photo effectively, to the glowing yellow light of the diner. This yellow light is set against a complementary darkening blue sky that appears to have just seen a sunset. The photo captures the fleeting moment right before the sky turns too dark to see the clouds, when the street lamps and business lights have just come on.

posts for nov 3rd viewing

saic color!

this blog is a place for you to check in once a week and discuss one color photo of your choosing, as well as survey the images posted and discussed by your peers.

be sure to quickly describe, interpret, evaluate the image in its use of color, composition, and lighting.  when discussing color, categorize the image as realistic, expressive, or symbolic color.  point out any color harmony strategies it employs.  We've discussed seven so far:

 

title your posts "your name - nov3rd".......the date your submissions are due by each week

so my first post would be 'jason lazarus - nov 3rd'

 here's a sample post for you to follow:

This image is called "Ocean" by Aaron Louis Fowler (.com).  The conch shell lays on the blue bedspread, which doubles as an 'ocean.'  The photograph uses a realistic color strategy...the bedspread/shell utilizing an almost split complementary (blue/pink).  The cell phone inserted in the shell reads as a secret, romantic message from the cell phone owner to some distant receiver on the other end.  The lighting, which I imagine as coming from a bedroom window, emphasizes the texture of the blanket ripples, giving them depth and furthering the visual double play.  The sliver of the mattress that peeks through on top reminds us of the ordinary setting we are in, and also echoes the colors of the blue bedspread and pinkish conch shell.  The shell itself is striking because of the sharp value and color contrast between it and the bedspread.  The composition is shell 'front and center' with the bed itself asymmetrically balance.  Our vantage point is 'lingering over this ocean' and feels like a human height encounter with this playful sculpture for the camera...