The light source coming from the upper left side of this photograph highlights only some parts of the figure’s expression. You can see the angle of her nose and other curves of her facial features on the left side, but the other half of her face is hidden as she looks down with a melancholy expression. Her hand, which holds a cigarette, is emphasized as the light falls on it very brightly. The cup is also clearly lit. I think the fact that this light source comes from only one direction makes this image seem darker and sadder, as this small light is the only point of clarity in the image. Most of her body and expression is in the shadows, which gives this image a sorrowful and shady quality, almost like a Film Noir still.
Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/24/lens/dave-heath-dialogues-with-solitudes.html
I like that the light in this photo lands on the lighter parts, such as the cup, and hides dark parts like her sweater in the shadows, further emphasizing the contrast between light and dark. The light highlights the more delicate details of the photo, like her fingers holding the cigarette and her facial expression. The way the light is cast draws your eye throughout the photo.
ReplyDeleteThis image reminds me of many of the Old Masters' paintings, in which light is used to create visible lines in the picture to direct the viewer's gaze to important narrative details. In this photo, the stark, downward-sloping line (created by the light shining through what I imagine to be a window) quite literally draws your eye to the downcast eyes of the girl.
ReplyDeleteThis image reminds me of many of the Old Masters' paintings, in which light is used to create visible lines in the picture to direct the viewer's gaze to important narrative details. In this photo, the stark, downward-sloping line (created by the light shining through what I imagine to be a window) quite literally draws your eye to the downcast eyes of the girl.
ReplyDeleteSorry I don't know why Blogger initially posted that comment from my personal gmail account (and won't let me delete it)
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