Although people in these days prefer to use iPhone camera instead of bringing a big and heavy one, it is unchangeable truth that people want to capture their daily lives in photographs. So, there is no exaggeration that photograph is still everlasting a work of art, furthermore people who love artistic photographs enjoy to compare several images which contain similar subject or interesting points to compare. Here are two photographs of similar subject: children. First photograph is "Village School" by Margaret Bourke-White, and the other one is "Children's Puppet Theater" by Alfred Eisentadt. Both images contain similarities and dissimilarities in three criteria: characters, texture and composition, which can bring some specific atmosphere to viewers, as a result.
First of all, as we can find it easily, the main objects of two photographs are boys and girls. So, both images share similarities in terms of main characters. However, at the same time, two images have differences as well. Although the main characters of the two pictures are both children, each composition is little bit different. For example, when you look at "Village School", there is no girl with a long hair rather all boys and girls have very short hair, which create truly monotonous feeling, but girls in another picture have long hair and wear hair-band or scarf, moreover, we can fine one boy is wearing a cute hat, which make a vivid and free atmosphere.
The second point we need to consider is the texture of objects. This texture does not mean the surface of photograph itself. It means the texture of clothes that people in the photographs are wearing or color of furniture, buildings or something in the images. In terms of textures, those two pictures have totally different traits. For example, the overall atmosphere that texture of "Village School" gives is strict,boring and somewhat fearful. Children's clothes are generally all black. On the other hand, as we can find from children's clothes and hats, the texture of those elements are really soft, cozy and warm, and their colors are little bit more bright even though the picture was taken in black-and-white. Of course these elements produce more comfortable atmosphere.
Lastly, the painter of "Village School" chose very strict and strong composition style such as triangular composition. So it makes us think of children's heads as the figure of bowling pins. They are seating on the chairs in perfect order, but this figure creates very strict atmosphere. On the other hand, Alfred Eisentadt, the painter of "Children's Puppet Theater" did not choose an absolute structure. So he captured children's disorder ,in positive meaning, which gives us very exciting expression. For this reason, we can assume each picture's atmosphere and painter's intension with each image's composition.
To sum up, there are many elements that determine the overall mood of photographs, and three parts of those elements, characters, texture of objects and composition were mentioned above. Even those three elements are not the absolute things to create a certain feeling that a photograph expresses, but it is true that we need to focus on those parts at least when we analyze an image or try to understand photographer's intension. However, the most important thing to concern when we analyze photographs is the photograph itself rather than small details and elements.
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I found it very interesting that you actually found GIRLS in “Village School”! Maybe it’s because my prejudice, but I never thought about seeing some of them as girls because they all have short hair. That was the most interesting part!!
ReplyDeleteYour main point seems to be comparing two photographs, “Village School” and “Children’s Puppet Theatre”.
In the first body paragraph, you described the boy’s hat as “cute,” and that struck me powerfully because I really thought so, too! Also, the words like “comfortable atmosphere”, “vivid”, and “monotonous” were very strong.
Everything was crystal clear.
For just one thing, in the intro, you picked the word "dissimilarities". I don't know whether you intended a specific meaning with it or not, but for me, the word "differences" seems a lot better.
Other than this, I just can’t find anything to point out, since I really enjoyed your writing!
Your hook is quite interesting. But i do not think it matches with the rest of your introduction. I think it would be okay if you don't have the first sentence.
ReplyDeleteI like how you divided you main points into 3 parts. They were easy to understand.
In the first body paragraph, I like that you used monotonous and vivid to contrast each other. I think you did good job comparing the two photographs.
Also your conclusion sums up well about your main points.