Trestles and Rock

More of a relationship between the subject and its shared partner would allow me to feel emotion here. The diagonal IMO is creating a boundery that doesn't let the two subjects (shadow and rock) play together. They are too seperate entities that don't talk because of a barrier.

 

This image by Fokos immediately came to mind when I saw this POW image (http://www.johnclearygallery.com/artists/fokos/2rocks2.html). The composition here allows me to feel the relationship that the two rocks have. For me, it is almost a bonding between the two. In the POW image there is a rock, a wall (the diagonal) and a shadow. No relationship.

Thanks again for all of the interesting comments. Since I admire both Fokos and Kenna, I'm flattered to have this compared to either of their work. Both of them are masters at making very meditative photos from simplified subject matter. To be more like there work, I'd need a longer exposure and to make the composition less busy. Thanks again for your comments.

I'm not clear how "more of a relationship" can be achieved here. Presumably the best way would be to break down barriers. Are we sure that removing the boundary promotes relationship? Put it this way, I take the view that there is a visible relationship (between rock and trestles). First, an enforced relationship by reason of their appearing together in the one frame, and secondly that they share the same background of glazed over water. Above all there is a third relationship in their lack of commonality, whether it be fluid vs rigid and so on. I accept the top right to bottom left diagonal presents as a separator, but I would argue that it is this separation that reinforces the distinctions. Imagine a photograph of two people for example, one outwardly rich and on one side of the road, the second on the other side, desperately poor, and shot in a way which accentuated their lifestyles, may be nearside a bloke getting out of a chauffeur driven limousine, and far side, some old geezer checking the bins for a half drunk banana milkshake. That they are brought together within the one frame and on the same stretch of road but either side of the street, compels the viewer to make distinctions and comparisons of the kind we are invited to make in this picture. That they are poles apart is the relationship. But it's negative, anti-relationship. Admittedly my example is an exaggerated analogy for rock and trestles, but I'd be surprised if, in my example, there was a complaint that the shot of the rich man needed another millionnaire and had been spoiled by the presence of a beggar.

Bobby Hasty wrote of his objections to that "The one line that comes down to the top of the rock".

 

Marc G. wrote, "For me, this picture is about natural harmony between what moves and what's stable."

 

Carl Root summed up, "Having two equally distinctive subjects should be avoided because it sets up a tension between the two, but in this case, the many comparisons - lines/shape, rhythm/dominance, hard/soft, motion/stationary, natural/manmade - are so compelling that they become the subject.

 

All of those aspects of this image that prompted the above remarks, together with the autumnal season now upon us, combined to make me wonder as I passed puzzled by the Photo of the Week on several occasions, if Robert Brown had really in fact managed taken a picture of the essentials of the game of conkers. Every fall, as soon as the first horse chestnuts start falling, my husband always talks about playing conkers as a child:

 

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/conkers.html

 

The island on a string looks like a kid's chestnut conker to me. But it's the same idea as everyone else already said too.

Yeah Phil, I think comparing animate to inanimate is tough when talking about emotion in images. Animate object inherently convey emotion. A lot more than a rock for sure. I think putting a barrier between inanimate objects like this just seperates the image too much and creates two subjects fighting for attention.

 

I am not sure how much more of a relationship can be created here either. In my mind I don't think there can be.

making an emotional image of a rock--That sounds like a worthy challenge.

This is one of the best photographs I have yet to see on this site. Spectacular...i'm insanely

jealous!

Dave, this wasn't meant to be an "emotional" image, though one could certainly argue in a tautalogical vein that we all have an emotional, as well as intellectual response (we could argue this is a political photo, a Marxist photo, and any other number of contrived responses, ad nauseum, but to what end?) to all photos. However, I will agree that I usually don't have a strong emotional response to photos such as these.

 

For me, the two "subjects" here are crucial, just as with a haiku. To put it simply, this a compare and contrast photo. You have the object permanence of the rock versus blurred water and the very transient nature of the reflections on the time blurred water. The shadows themselves represent another permanent object--the bridge. One reason I liked the little line that connected the reflection to the rocks was because it made a figurative connection literal. However, in retrospect, I like the photo better without the little line.

 

Thanks again for all the interesting commentary. I've enjoyed hearing everyone's opinions as well as all of you who have popped in and commented on photos in my portfolio.

As a new member of this site, I'm impressed by the insightful comments posted for this photo. If this is an example of the quality of the images posted to this site I know I'll benefit tremendously from participating in this on-line photo community!.

 

Terrific photo!

I liked this image the first time I saw it and had a hunch that it could be picked as a POW. Everything about it works for me. When viewing other peoples photos, I give it this test -- "did I wish that I took that shot?" In this case, as in most of your photos that I have seen in your portfolio, a resounding "yes".

Best picture I have seen as the POW in ages. For once I think they got it right.

A belated congratulations on a very deserving POW. Lots of excellent stuff in your portfolio.