Newseum Photograph

"Two Men With a Problem" by Paul Vathis

This photo of Kennedy and Eisenhower has a background story behind it that is depicted in this moment captured on film. This photo was taken after the Bay of Pigs invasion had failed and Kennedy was seeking advice from Eisenhower. Their bent heads, rigid postures, and contemplative figures express the mood of the photograph and of the moment in history. This photograph really draws in the viewer with the angle at which the photographer captured the subjects. The photographer could have easily placed Kennedy and Eisenhower in the center of the image but by setting them more to the left of the image, the audience gets a view of the cottage. The pathway that Kennedy and Eisenhower are walking on directs the viewer’s eyes to the cottage. The framing of the pathway keeps the viewer’s eye on the image’s main points of interest, which are Kennedy and Eisenhower and the cottage. The pathway directs the viewer’s eyes and keeps them from straying away from the images’ center points.

The photographer used a deep depth of field when capturing this image because the background of this photograph is kept in focus. If the photographer used a shallow depth of field then all that would be in focus would be Kennedy and Eisenhower. Although that might have been a decent photograph, the deep depth of field captures more than just the Presidents, but also the feel of the entire environment surrounding them. There is a sense of loneliness, peace, and quiet contemplation that would not have been captured as well if the background was not in focus.

What makes this image so powerful is the story behind the photograph and the honest feel that the photograph gives off to the viewers. Kennedy and Eisenhower did not pose for this image and that is what makes this photograph more real. In my opinion, this photographer managed to capture a compelling scene in history in an amazing photograph. I think the photographer managed to capture a story rather than just a moment in history and whatever their initial message was, they succeeded in relaying several messages through this image. I was initially attracted to this photograph because although it may not be as dramatic or compelling as some of the other images in the gallery, it has a story and a feel that is present even if we only see the backs of two men. 

Self-Portrait

Stocking Photo

 

Business Card

Contact Sheet

Object Assignment

There is a lot going on visually in this photo and that is partly the reason why I chose it. There is a cropped feel to the photo because the image is not capturing the entirety of the structure. Also, this object that I chose to photograph establishes a "natural" or almost rugged feeling or environment. This is especially because with the tennis courts in the background, the structure almost seems out of place. The structure that I chose to photograph is a collection of wood that is now built into a structure for a garden. The industrial feel results from the materials that are going to be built into something but are not yet.

This photo captures the shape of the wooden rectangle well. There are no unequal spaces in this photo. The rectangle almost dominates the entire image but other wooden structures make up the background. There is also a sense of unity among the different wooden structures because they are all piled on top of each other. The 5 lines behind the wooden structures draws the viewer's eyes downwards.

This image has some contrast in it between the industrial feel of the fence and wooden structures and the purple, green, and yellow paint that make the words "eggplant" and "herbs". The fence also acts as a transparent object because we are viewing the other wooden structures through the fence. The dead looking grass adds to the environment of the photograph. The point of view of this photograph is from the ground looking upward at the structure.






I decided on these wooden structures as my object for this photography assignment because these structures almost seemed misplaced compared to the scenery around it. I really liked the paint that listed things that will be growing in this structure but as of right now, there is nothing growing. The shapes created by the wooden structure also had a visual appeal that really draws the viewer into the photograph.

Playing with Shadows

                 This image immediately grabs the viewer’s interest because of the shadow created from the reflection in the water but the lack of a person creating the shadow. The shoes added to the photo play with your imagination and make the shadow appear as if it is wearing the shoes. This is an interesting point of view that the photographer has captured. They could have easily taken a picture of a shadow with a person, but instead they played with their imagination and chose a different tactic. The shoes add to the overall theme of the shadow portrayed in the water. This juxtaposition of the shadow combined with grayscale and the shoes creates a bold image and makes for an interesting image. Juxtaposition is when colors, shapes, or ideas are combined in unexpected ways and I think that this image contains ideas that are not average or expected. This image is also symmetrical in a subtle way. If I divided the picture in half the two images would be about the same except for a few shadows of trees that appear on the left side. The image contains aspects of symmetry because it conveys notes of strength and order and it is easy for the eye to navigate to what the photographer wants you to see. The photographer also follows the rule about avoiding the middle ground or the horizon line. The shoes are not placed in the middle of the image but rather farther up in the image. This creates a better feel to the image and that it makes the shadow more centered. 

http://lolskeets.tumblr.com/post/16117327655/dyslecix-ju-das-cool-this-is-so-legit-wow