Theme: Openings
Image: Shizuka Yokomizo ‘Stranger No.1, 1998’
The image has reflected a single man who stands in the middle of a room, being disturbed. It seems like the man is surrounded by a red aura or light, on the phone while being photographed. The man can be described being in two separate openings, being the door and the window. The tone of the image is darker than light. The light reflects off from the red wallpaper giving the room and the man a red tint on every surface. The different textures that have been used can give us the impression that the image has been taken from an earlier era. Linking back to the tone of the image, the atmosphere can be seen as dark and eerie. This image belongs to the genre of self-portraiture, but it is seen as an unusual portrait. When people think of self-portraiture, they assume or have an expectation of just a face or a clear full body imagery. However, this image is still considered as a self-portrait despite the background and the slight block from the window panels.
Analysing the image, I can tell you that the photographer has used different techniques in each small portion of the photo. The two middle panels make the focus shift from the surroundings to the man. This skill is called ‘The Rule of Third,’ which is used to draw our attention to the centre. Another skill or technique she uses to create this image is lighting. Lighting plays a significant role in photography. In this case, it sets the tone for the whole image.
If I were to recreate this image, I would use two light boxes and cover it with red plastic sheets which will create the effect of ominous and fill the surroundings with dark red. However, I would use a clear window without the lines going through. If possible, I would recreate the image when it is raining, so my subjects’ reflection will be captured on the raindrops and the puddles outside.
As I look at this image, I can say that my feelings towards it is neutral. It does not typically make me feel anything, but it does reflect the feeling of being uncomfortable. This is because of his expression and the background. His face is looking directly at the camera and with the background being red, it unsettles me to a certain extent. As you can see, he is on the phone, from the other side of the screen, we do not know what he is talking about. However, it does have its funny aspects. For example, his pose. It looks like he had just come into his room with his night clothes on. With his hand behind his back, it creates a picture in our heads and makes us wonder. Questions I would ask the artist:
The image heavily comes under the title ‘Openings.’ The word ‘Openings,’ in this case, has meanings of open doors, holes, and windows; or it is where the subject has been exposed to a camera. Referring to the image, you can clearly see that he has been exposed one way or another, with both the door and window exposing him to the camera.
Image: Shizuka Yokomizo ‘Stranger No.1, 1998’
The image has reflected a single man who stands in the middle of a room, being disturbed. It seems like the man is surrounded by a red aura or light, on the phone while being photographed. The man can be described being in two separate openings, being the door and the window. The tone of the image is darker than light. The light reflects off from the red wallpaper giving the room and the man a red tint on every surface. The different textures that have been used can give us the impression that the image has been taken from an earlier era. Linking back to the tone of the image, the atmosphere can be seen as dark and eerie. This image belongs to the genre of self-portraiture, but it is seen as an unusual portrait. When people think of self-portraiture, they assume or have an expectation of just a face or a clear full body imagery. However, this image is still considered as a self-portrait despite the background and the slight block from the window panels.
Analysing the image, I can tell you that the photographer has used different techniques in each small portion of the photo. The two middle panels make the focus shift from the surroundings to the man. This skill is called ‘The Rule of Third,’ which is used to draw our attention to the centre. Another skill or technique she uses to create this image is lighting. Lighting plays a significant role in photography. In this case, it sets the tone for the whole image.
If I were to recreate this image, I would use two light boxes and cover it with red plastic sheets which will create the effect of ominous and fill the surroundings with dark red. However, I would use a clear window without the lines going through. If possible, I would recreate the image when it is raining, so my subjects’ reflection will be captured on the raindrops and the puddles outside.
As I look at this image, I can say that my feelings towards it is neutral. It does not typically make me feel anything, but it does reflect the feeling of being uncomfortable. This is because of his expression and the background. His face is looking directly at the camera and with the background being red, it unsettles me to a certain extent. As you can see, he is on the phone, from the other side of the screen, we do not know what he is talking about. However, it does have its funny aspects. For example, his pose. It looks like he had just come into his room with his night clothes on. With his hand behind his back, it creates a picture in our heads and makes us wonder. Questions I would ask the artist:
- What made you take this picture?
- What inspired you to take this image?
- If you were to retake this image, what would you do differently?
The image heavily comes under the title ‘Openings.’ The word ‘Openings,’ in this case, has meanings of open doors, holes, and windows; or it is where the subject has been exposed to a camera. Referring to the image, you can clearly see that he has been exposed one way or another, with both the door and window exposing him to the camera.