This photograph is called Man on girders, mooring mast, Empire State Building. It was taken around 1931 by Lewis Hine. I chose this photo for many reasons. First, the setting is New York City, which is a place we can all relate to. Next, the man in the image is an everyday construction worker doing his job, which happens to place him atop one of New York’s most famous buildings. I was drawn to this photo because it evokes a feeling of being high above the city. Seeing the man on the Empire State Building makes me feel somewhat worried that he will fall off. The image also makes me think about what it would feel like if I was sitting on the top of the building like that. Compositionally, this photo is strong because it makes use of many of the elements we discussed in class. The rule of thirds is exhibited in the photo because many important elements are placed on these lines. The man himself is on the first third line, and another girder is on the next third. Horizontally, the man is on the third line at the bottom of the image. This photograph also plays with lighting. The man and the Empire State Building are darker, whereas, the background of the city is lighter. This draws your attention to the man. The photo also uses curves and diagonals to focus your attention. The Empire State Building has curves that make you look at the man and then at the background as well.
I plan on utilizing the techniques spoken about by Professor Grimaldi in my photograph on Snapshot Day. I will use the rule of thirds by visually placing some of the important aspects of my photo on the imaginary gridlines. I may also try to use diagonals and curves to direct attention to different parts of my image. I can use other framing techniques to help viewers focus on the main part of the picture. I can also experiment with lighting techniques and the golden ratio. Overall, I will try to make my picture intriguing and representative of New York City.
-Lisa
http://www.masters-of-photography.com/images/full/evans/evans_girl_in_fulton_street.jpg
I gravitated towards this Lewis Hine photograph that Lisa chose because like her, I love that the photograph has a New York setting. My photograph I chose takes place in NYC as well. It is called Girl in Fulton Street taken by Walker Evans in 1929 (link above). Girl in Fulton Street like Man on girders, mooring, mast, Empire State Building has this blurred background and foreground helping the viewer to focus on the person of interest, in my case it would be the woman in the hat. Both photos incorporate elements of the city (Empire State building or Fulton Street) but show people going about their daily routine. In my photograph, the men in the foreground have their backs to the viewer. These men along with the man in the back of the girl’s head and the buildings in the background creates dimension to the photo. The girl’s face is the most clear and definite part of the photograph. The photograph follows the rule of thirds with her head being on the horizontal first third line from the bottom. She is in the middle of all these men but still looks like she rightfully belongs there.
For my picture for Snapshot Day, I hope to be able to capture elements of the city in a new perspective like these photographs do. The rule of thirds, diagonals, and the golden ratio will hopefully help me to have an overall good composition. I would like to try to take on a big and familiar place in New York City and help the viewer focus on a particular aspect with the use of one of the techniques and rules that Professor Grimaldi taught us.
http://www.masters-of-photography.com/images/full/hine/hine_icarus.jpg
Like Lisa and Sayeeda, I was drawn towards the photography of Lewis Hine because all of his photography had a New York setting. The photograph I chose, called Icarus atop Empire State Building (New York, 1931). This photograph was very interesting to me because of the way it depicted height. The background which consists of the city gives the photograph depth and makes a 2D image seem more 3D. This photograph follows the asymmetry rule and it also follows the diagonal rule. The wire the person is holding is a diagonal and it gives the photograph its depth. Everything in the photograph is not focused on other than the person and the wire. I found it interesting that one part of the construction site parts is also in focus as well.
For my snapshot day photograph, I hope to capture New York City in an interesting way. I hope to follow the rule of thirds, the golden ratio and the diagonal rule to give my photograph depth and life. I want to try focusing on the parts of New York that people do not consider to picture.