Wednesday, 31 October 2012

In-Depth Critique Of A Photographers Work

My tutor set us a task to be able to critique a famous or non-famous photographers photograph. She  gave us a sheet which gave us an in-depth guide on how to construct an in-depth critique. From doing this, me as an individual I would gain knowledge and get used to the fact that we are going to have to get used to critiquing other photographers photographs.


Ralf Weinbrecher

8th December 2008

This photograph doesn't have a specific title, but it is part of a project that this photographer was undertaking called ' Famous Photographers Quotations'.

I think that the purpose of this photograph is to document personal pictures that he has taken himself, not just self-portraits of himself but object images as well. He added famous quotes from famous photographers to give the picture some meaning. Through looking at this picture, I personally feel that the subject of this photograph is a personal reason for the photographer who has taken and created this photograph. By the text that he has created to place on this image, it brings a feel of a personal statement as if the photographer of this image has written it himself.

The first thing that stands out and draws my eyes towards this photograph is the Praktica film camera and the depth of field between the camera and the photographer. I think this is because the Black and White effect makes the depth of field more deeper and mysterious, due to the only objects that are in place which are the photographers two hands and the camera. I feel that the artwork for this image is trying to put a message across to the viewer that he is trying to portray the words of the quote as his own. I feel that he is trying to bring his emotions through the quote by as he was saying it himself, but he doesn't have the nerve to say it out loud as a quote for himself. So for this he has had to get someone else's words to portray his emotions for him. I also feel that the artist is trying to say within this image is that the self-portrait that he is taking of himself, have a more greater meaning than the images that he has and is taking pictures of other people. Also that the self-portrait is representing more about himself than he thinks himself than through photographs of other people.

The techniques that have been used to help the message from the text and the image together, are the depth of field and the lighting within the whole frame. I feel that the depth of field has been used to help the message because the way that the face of the photographer is very close to the camera, but also this shows the personal, however if the photographer had his head further back from the camera, the photographer will feel distant towards the viewer. I feel that the lighting also helps hugely to get the personal meaning of the photographers emotions. I also feel that the lighting helps due to all you can see is the photographers hands and face all lit up, due to the photographer photographing this image in a mirror. The background is very dark so I find that this makes the image more meaningful because of the personal aspect behind the text. The formal elements helped me to understand the photograph, due to the pose and shape that the photographer is making because it creates the emotion of the image more greater, due to the way that it is just a natural pose and it is not uncomfortable to view. I find that the typography of this image is effective in the way that the font isn't fancy, it is easy to read and it gives great effect that the colour of it is white because it stands out and you can't miss it.

Overall I think that this photograph is very successful on my topic of text and image, by the way that the text really compliments and helps the viewer to understand why they have taken the image and to understand the emotion behind it as well. I also found that by having the quote from Richard Avedon, really creates the sense of mystery because you instantly feel like the photographer Ralf Weinbrecher is saying himself. I also feel that this photograph is successful because it just makes the viewer question about the image more, these are the sort of questions people might of thought of:

  • How is he feeling?
  • Why doesn't he have his own quote?
  • Why is it in black and white?
  • What is this image really about?

Questions like this I asked myself because this is what a successful image does, it makes people question the image and think more in-depth about it.

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