Period 3 -- Critical Analysis #1

9/14/2018

Today you will be writing about this photograph by artist Joel Sternfeld. Your analysis must be 4 paragraphs, 5 sentences minimum per paragraph. Remember to post your analysis as a comment to the blog post that corresponds to your class. If you post your analysis to the wrong class post, it will not be graded.

If you do not finish your analysis in class, you must finish and post your writing by midnight tonight, 9/14/18.

Refer to your "How to See" handout for analyzing a photograph--

Describe specifics.
Describe form.
Describe the content.
Evaluate the image

Your analyses will be graded on:

meeting minimum length requirements
depth of organization
evaluation of the content
grammar/punctuation

Hasan Ehsan

9/14/2018 08:43:19 am

This image depicts an individual separated from the rest of the group of humans staring at a shuttle with the NASA logo on it, which presumably indicates that the shuttle is headed off to space. There’s different fields of grass in the back, but the foreground and midground is all concrete and industrial. It’s a clear sunny day, which allows natural light to capture this moment in time. A large portion of the image is a neutral gray, which highlights the industrial and urbanized aspect of this photo. The green field in the back may have the intended effect of retaining a small ounce of nature and vegetation in this photo, so that it doesn’t look completely artificial. The focus is mainly on the single man staring at the plane/shuttle, and the plane/shuttle itself. All other individuals are solely background information.

This image is indeed pleasing to look at because of the geometric simplicity. There’s a line separating the one man from the crowd, and there’s another line separating the crowd from the grass in the back. This image does follow the rule of thirds because the foreground depicts the individual, the midground depicts the crowd and the plan, and the background displays a field. They’re all three images that conglomerate into one visual art piece. The depth of field is shallow in that there’s only two places in the image that are extensively in focus. There’s a little bit of extra space on the left, and the picture seems to get cut off on the right side, but it still encompasses the entirety of the plane and the crowd.

age is that this man is an astronaut who was actually previously in this aircraft and solemnly stares at it as the shuttle goes back into space. Another idea is that this man was an engineer who actually built the plane and is now ready to see the extent of his designing and building. There’s definitely a story, but without any more given context, I feel that it’s up to the reader’s interpretation. It reminds me of those pre-climax movies where an individual is reminiscing and staring off into the horizon as he anticipates one of the biggest moments of his life. The music starts getting more dramatic (or mellow) and then the climax appears in the next scene. I find it to be an interesting image.

Overall, I do enjoy this photo. The way I interpret it as a man who is about to witness the culmination of his work is something I find relatable to my own position in life. I can totally imagine myself staring off at the Corps of Cadets as they get inspected by real army soldiers in an attempt to retain the honor unit with distinction award. The photograph is successful because it tells a story. One could imagine the chills and anticipation that this one individual feels as these next few moments occur. It’s just one picture, but you can feel that something’s about to happen that might change the entire world.

Farouk

9/14/2018 08:45:31 am

The image contains a standard commercial airplane that has the prominent and iconic NASA logo printed on the rudder in blue. The airplane has a silver shine to it, something that would be relevant in the 70’s. Also the three red, white, and blue stripes cut through the middle of the plane all the way. There is a space shuttle attached to the top of the plane. There is a mass of people standing on both sides of the craft. The people seem scattered. There is natural light being used and the sky seems clear and blue. The man that is standing close to the camera has a distinct shadow.
The photograph is pleasing to look at because of the depth of field and lighting. The depth of field gives the point of view, which is from a person standing on a elevated surface, more character and looks realistic. Showing the people on the ground compared the plane gives us an idea of how big the plane really is and at the same time we receive a true to size person standing on the right to ultimately help us understand the relative size. The three lines that run down the plane are prominent and brings style to the dull and plain colors in the photo. The yellow crane also brings life to the image.
This image reminds me of 70’s diners. The image is definitely interesting. I feel like the photograph is telling a story, something about the future and how all these people seem dependent on it.
I do like this image a lot because it’s nostalgic to me (even though i'm not from the era) and I love the lighting and the filter used (if any was used.)

Mariah Podwika

9/14/2018 08:49:07 am

The image is of a man looking out over a crowd of people that are looking at a model of a spaceship. It has bright natural lighting. There is a large crowd of people in the middle ground and a single man in the foreground. The man is either looking at the group of people or the model. It’s using bright colors rather than dark.
The point of view in the image is the photographer’s point of view. The photo is balanced and taken to highlight the man standing in the foreground and the spaceship. It has a deep depth of field because everything is in focus. There is a line dividing the photo in almost half and it really makes the man in the foreground stand out over anything else in the background. There is a lot of extra space in the foreground surrounding the man but as you move back in the photo it gets more full with the crowd of people and spaceship.
The idea of this image was to show that there are different ways to look at things. There is a huge crowd of people all looking at the spaceship up close and then one man in the foreground that is further away and still admiring it. The story being told is that you don’t have to be close to something to admire it, and maybe sometimes it’s better to look at things from afar. This reminds me of a time when I was little and I went to the S.S. Lexington and I just wanted to touch all of the tools and shiny objects, but I was told they were better to look at than to touch. The image is very interesting because it challenges our nature to see something if it is called important .
I really like this photo. I like it because it has a peaceful color scheme, it’s not cluttered, and it presents a strong message. This photo was extremely successful in telling its story just because of how calm everything is. The image also has a weird vintage vibe to it, the natural lighting makes it look a little bit older than other photos would be. It kind of looks like it was from the mid-80’s or 90s.

Sergio link

9/14/2018 08:49:48 am

The sunlight lighted photograph is of a almost bald man with a white T-shirt and gray pants observing a rocket ship connected to a NASA 905 airplane unready to take off because of the crowds of people in the airport . For some reason the almost bald man is more far away than most of the people observing the rocket ship on top of the plane.

The photograph is composed with the rule of thirds, it has every thing in focus, made from the point of view of the half bald man and the image is balanced. The negative spaces are in the top corners and the left down corner and the positive spaces are in the half-bald man and the rocket ship on top of the air plane.

I did not really like the image even though it had good lighting and focus but I just think its not pleasing to see , it was a successfful photograph though I did not really like it.

Matthw Sutherland

9/14/2018 08:54:42 am

This image is of a man standing on a platform in the foreground looking at a space shuttle on top of an airplane in the background. There are also many people in the background looking at the plane on top of the space shuttle. The scene appears to be at an airport. The shuttle is attached to the plane instead of just being put on top of it. Both the plane and the shuttle are from NASA. The image is using mostly tan, grey, and white, with a decent amount of green in the very back of the image. The picture was taken in bright sunlight. There are also buildings in the very back of the picture. There’s a building to the right of the plane too. There are also cones around the plane to prevent people from getting too close. In the image, it looks like many people are watching a plane with a space shuttle on it take off. This could imply that the shuttle might launch from the plane when the plane is high enough.

The image is pleasing to look to look at. The photographer took the picture from behind the man on the platform. The photographer took a picture of the man watching the plane. The picture has a low depth of point. It seems to be focusing on the man on the platform. There is a line of cones and a line of people surrounding the plane. There is also a line between the platform and the ground with the rest of people. The lines direct your eye to the man on the platform. The image is asymmetrical because the sides of the image don’t reflect each other. The edges of the image are the sky, the platform, and the runway that the plane is sitting on.

The image’s story looks like a man on a platform, along with hundreds of other people are about to watch a plane with a space shuttle on it take off. The space shuttle might then launch from the plane once the plane gets high enough. This image challenges my assumption that space shuttles don’t go on top of airplanes. The image is interesting. It also looks a bit dangerous because of the shuttle on top of the airplane.

I like the photo. I think it is interesting. The photo generates many intriguing thoughts in my brain. An example is that to me it looks dangerous. It also seems like the space shuttle doesn’t belong there. I think the photograph is successful because it captures a strange image and I like it.

Eden

9/14/2018 08:56:38 am

There is an airplane and a rocket. It looks like the plane says NASA on it, there are also a lot of people in the background and one man in front. It looks like it definitely has a filter on it. The lighting to me looks dark maybe a bit gray. It looks like an old image, so I think what’s happening is that the people are watching a rocket launch.

To me the photo is pleasing to look at because of the colors it is using. The photographer took the image from their point of view. The one line that just directs my attention to is the in where the platform meets the edge. There is some extra space in front where the man is standing. Everything is well within the frame.

I think the theme the photographer went for was an old looking type of image that looks like it was taken in the 60’s maybe 70’s. The image just reminds me of one time in class we learned about the first rocket launch. The image is very interesting like why is a man standing over people. It does not question my beliefs or anything but when you first see it does look questioning.

I do like this image, I like the colors he or she were using in this. The way everything is placed and framed I really like the way they did it. I think that this photograph was successful because it questions what you see in it.

Claire Rollwitz

9/14/2018 08:58:06 am

NASA, space shuttles, crowds of people-- all compiled into this one photo. My eyes are immediately drawn to a man and the space shuttle in the distance he is admiring. Crowds of people are gathered on the ground looking and anticipating to see what the shuttle will do. The photo has good, even lighting which makes it easy to see what is happening in the picture. No colors in the photo are harsh and stick out, rather they are all similar and blend together nicely.

The two most significant objects in the photo are the man standing on a platform and the space shuttle he is looking at. The point of view for this picture is eye level for a person standing on the platform behind the man. I think the image has a nice balance because the man in focus fills up the right third, while the space shuttle occupies the left and middle third. The framing is also nice because the action takes place in the middle of the photo and the ground and sky take up the same amount of room on the top and bottom. Some lines in this photo include the line of people standing by the space shuttle and the lines that divide the road from grass and sky from trees.

This image makes me think that the guy standing on the platform took part in creating the space orbiter and is admiring his work. I believe that the artist made the image to show off the NASA 005 orbiter and inform people about NASA’s new mission. I think the image is interesting to look at because you don't usually see space shuttles every day. I think it is noteworthy because it marks the time in 2005 when this spacecraft was launched when technology and space exploration were growing. The picture reminds me of the memories I made on a field trip in 7th grade when we went to NASA.

I enjoy looking at this photo because it is interesting to see the space shuttle and its details. It makes me wonder what the man in this photo was thinking at the time. I think the photographer was successful because all of the areas of this photo are pleasing to look at. The photograph captures the time in history when the aircraft launched. I think it is essential to read about history, but looking at photos from history really help to bring the time period alive.

Clara Blume

9/14/2018 09:00:06 am

This image is seemingly of a spaceship getting ready to launch. There is a man in the foreground who looks like he’s standing on the roof of a building. In the middle ground There is a crowd watching the spaceship and the plane. In the background, you can see the runways. There is a variety of color used in the photo, but the ones most used are grays and whites. The lighting is natural, and it looks to be about midday.

I think this picture is pleasing to look at because the grays and whites of the taxiing area make the different colors of clothes in the crowd stand out. You can also better see the yellow of the taxiing and maintenance vehicles. The photographer is looking down onto the scene. I think the focal point is split between the man on the roof and the plane with the spaceship. The man is closest to the camera and is also looking down on the scene, while the plane and spaceship are the main part of the scene, even being in the middle ground. I think there is extra space in the foreground of the photo. It’s only rooftop. The frame crops off the white building on the right side of the photo in the middle ground, and some of the crowd on both the right and left sides of the middle ground.

In this photo, the spaceship isn’t actively launching. It looks like it’s being moved, possibly to the launch location, which would explain the crowd. I think the intention of this photo was to capture a “behind the scenes” moment. The spaceship actually has to get there before it can launch. This image reminds me of watching planes take off from airport windows before you get on your flight.

I really like this photo because it shows what goes down before the launch ever happens. The big launch is always the most televised moment of the process, and is seen as the biggest success. This shows that there are many more steps than just those that take place on the launchpad. I think this photo is successful because it does show at least a small part of the process. It’s not focusing on the launch.

EmmaKate

9/14/2018 09:05:37 am

This image is of a guy at an airport looking at people and two planes. One plane is a normal passenger plane and the other looks like a small military plane. The background of the image is of airport runways. Joel Sternfeld used the colors blue for the sky indicating that the image was taken sometime during the day. Gray for the place he is standing and it could be a building at the airport, or a road at the airport. The lighting is probably natural light because it looks like it could be outside because of the airport runway and planes. There are several objects used in the image, a bunch of crowds of people, a couple of buildings, and a lift that looks to be attaching a wing to the plane on the top.

The image composition function is well organized because of the different layers to the picture. The first layer is of a guy looking a crowds of people which is the second layer. The crowds of people might have just gotten off of the plane and are walking to the inside of the airport. The third layer is of the planes’ they’re stacked on top of each other and it looks like the smaller one is getting repaired. The final layer is of the runways and sky which is not clustered like the crowd of people. The photo is pleasing to look at because it’s happy and there are a lot of bright and happy colors. The point of view is from the guy standing looking at everything that is going on. There is a wide depth of field and the lines direct your eyes to the planes’ they go through the crowd of people straight to the planes’. The image is symmetrical because everything is even on both sides and there is a even feel to the way the image was taken. The subject fills the frame completely.

The image is interesting because it’s how people travel and why they want to go different places. The story being told is that people travel in clusters and not one person alone will travel alone. I think it challenges the assumptions that we need to do everything together. Some people are standing alone instead of in a large group to be individuals and not to follow the crowds. The image is telling us that it’s ok to be an individual and not do what society tells us to do.

I like the image because it is bright and happy and there are a lot of busy people and they are traveling and enjoying life. I think that this photograph is successful because of the way it was taken. The photographer wanted to get the background and the amount of people in their busy lives.

Troy Githinji

9/14/2018 05:20:54 pm

In this photo, we are introduced to a very large NASA aircraft carrying a space shuttle with the printed words, United States. Near the foreground, we see a what looks like an older man, maybe in his late 50s or mid-60s looking out at the aircraft. Looking further we see a group of many people standing and observing the craft as well. This implies that this aircraft launch is a special event. On the rudder of the airplane, we see a large NASA logo with the number 905 right under it. A quick google search tells us that the airplane was modified Boeing 747 that was used by NASA to transport Space Shuttle orbiters. The plane’s introduction in 1977 gives us a timeframe for which this picture must have been taken. The picture was probably taken during noon, which is evident seeing the sunlight reflected on the aircraft. In the background, we can also see some buildings nearby. From the looks of things, this NASA aircraft is probably getting ready to lift off, and the people crowding around it are waiting to see it.

The major focal point in the picture is the airplane. It takes up a lot of the canvas and it the first thing my eyes are brought to. The foreground is very sharp and the man closest to the camera is defined and clear. The people closer to the airplane are also moderately clear and I can differentiate one person from the other. The overall warmth of the photo makes it pleasing to look at and the image feels balanced. The photo does a good job of filling up free space, with the airplane covering up the left of the photo, the man closest to the camera covers up the right, and the crowd covering up the midsection.

Whenever I think of NASA, I always think of the major achievements that the organization has done, like putting the first man on the moon. I think of putting satellites in space that assist us in our daily lives in ways we don't even realize or acknowledge. When I look at this photo, I get the same feeling of pride and accomplishment, the same feeling of fulfillment. This picture vaguely reminds me of the Apollo 11 mission and how many people were there to see it launch.

I personally enjoy thinking about this picture, especially about how dangerous the airplane looks. It really makes me think about the great examples of human ingenuity. It also has a sort of old vintage shading to it that makes it very pleasing to look at. You can almost see the anticipation in the air as the crowds take their places to be a part of history. The photo is definitely successful because of how it really shows that something monumental is about to happen.

Henry Cool link

9/14/2018 09:53:31 pm

In this mage there is a man watching a NASA space shuttle either being transported or delivered. This man appears to be separated away from the giant group of visitors in business pants and shoes on his lower half, but just an undershirt on his upper half. While the man looks he is shown on a rooftop of a building on a large runway with grass and buildings surrounding it. It looks as if it is around midday establishing a brighter picture which really highlights the white of the space shuttle. The photographer also uses light grays and browns with darker green to really make the white objects stand out. For example the undershirt and the space shuttle which focuses the picture on the two objects.

Next the picture is shown in the photographer's point of view at an angle a little off to the side to show what the man is looking at and to give the viewer a good perspective of what’s going on. I believe the picture is pretty pleasing to look at due to the less bright colors. The function of the composition lets the viewer see everything including buildings far away in the background with moving people which means he used a small aperture with a faster shutter speed. It also lets you focus on two subjects even though a lot is going on in the picture allowing the viewer to get ideas or make stories. This using of a deeper depth of field to establish everything around the two focal points, the shuttle and Man, which includes the multiple viewers and the facility in the background really strengthens the picture.

Furthermore I believe the theme of this piece is; After hard work the more satisfying the result. The reason I believe this is because I feel the story of the image is that the Man was the director of this operation, and after all the work he is finally able to relax and admire what he did. I believe the artist made this image to show the result of hard work because of all the people showing up and admiring the shuttle on the plane as he admires his work and the people that came. His intention was to inspire others to work hard and to show what hardork feels and looks like. I believe the image is beautiful because of the perspective and what can be shown in the picture like the story.

In conclusion I really liked the picture. This is because it told a story with emotion and showed the brilliance of accomplishment. The picture is also very successful with portraying a thing that can appeal to most people. This is the satisfaction of hard work which can be felt throughout one's life, and the picture does it perfectly with the composition making it just right to magnify this feeling. Finally it was everything I hoped for even though most probably don’t see it as pretty I see it as a masterpiece which can appeal to everyone

Xinyu Lei

9/17/2018 03:02:18 am

The image was shot in an airport in a bright sunny morning. There are two planes in sight. One is parked above the other. They both locate far away from the photographer. Large numbers of people gather below the airplanes, swarm on the tarmac. Most of them are staring at the airplane. It’s an unusual scene, because they lack the suitcases and other accessories, so instead of coming off the airplane, they look like if they are watching an exhibition. Take a closer look to the plane on top. It can be inferred that it was a mechanism from NASA, which turns the idea of an exhibition into a ceremony for a scientific exploration, and it is possibly related to the astro engineering. In the closer lane a man stands straight and faces the crowd. He’s bald and old, both hands tuck inside his pockets. His face is unseen but the The sun shines above on the left side of the picture. The color in the photo is bright, but the chroma was relatively low. It’s not shoot under a natural light, therefore a classical feeling was given into the picture.

The one third portion on the above was the blue sky and two third below was the ground. It is very pleasant due to the distinctions between the colors. There is a transition between the yellow ground and the blue sky, which is the green grass with a slightly high saturation. It makes the upper and the lower portion more compatible with each other. The contrasts between the crowded people in the middle and the barren lane the man stood on include: the size and the population between the people. The old man stands in the closer lane appear to be a lot bigger than the crowd, also the crowd is much more dense and darker than the man. This contrasts between them depict a sense of space in the picture, at the same time emphasizing the importance of the old man, which it can be inferred the man display an important idea in the photo. The picture possibly uses a small shutter speed and a small aperture, and a relatively higher ISO, clear and with grain. My eyes was attracted by the man, then transfer to the white plane, finally the crowd gather below the airplanes. Skyline directs the visual to the airplane and then the dark color below it attract the eyes. The focus is on every objects in the image.

As previously said before this picture is possibly something related to one of NASA’s astro projects and a memorial moment in the history. The crowd below are those who are gathered to see what has happened or witnessed some important moments in the history. The man stands closer to the photographer can possibly be a random old passenger or somebody related to the project (highly unlikely). He may have never seen something like this ever in his entire life. The image brings a sense of excitement. Because it is unseen, the old man’s face can be portrayed as anything and trigger the imagination of the viewers. Expectation and hope are the main emotions the photo wants to give, and also the pride of the technological accomplishment. The picture is something national.

I like this picture better than the photo that shot by the same photographer that we previously analyzed. The contrasts between the objects in the scenes make the photo interesting and the sense of space add more to that. Furthermore, the color is brighter and the energy it gives is more easy to detect and understand. It’s also an interesting scene to think about and imagine about. It’s a successful picture. It depicted a memorial moment in the history and add author’s perspective/give a perspective toward this specific event/issue. It is quite interesting as well as a good photo.

Sofia Galindo

9/20/2018 09:50:00 am

This image is of a man looking out at a NASA space shuttle that is in the background. The man is standing in the foreground, and there is a crowd of people also standing in the background near the shuttle. The scene is a little dull looking with not many vibrant colors, which suggests that it isn’t a modern picture. The sky is clear and blue, but because of the dullness of the colors, the sky doesn’t look as bright as a normal blue, sunny day would be. The shuttle is attached onto a NASA airplane with a yellow crane positioning it on the airplane.

The image is pleasing to look at because of its simplicity in colors. There are no bright colors distracting from the whole image, so you get to pay attention to the little details. The photographer took the image from the platform that the man is standing on. This is a good point of view because it is overlooking the whole scene, allowing you to see everything that’s going on. The focal point is the man because he is closest to the camera and he is also isolated, which draws your eye to him first.

The man could have worked on the shuttle and wants to see a clear view of his work, instead of standing with the crowd. At first, I thought the shuttle on top of the airplane was a trick of the eye and it was actually behind the airplane but further back so it looked like it was on top. Then I realized that the shuttle was actually connected to the plane, which surprised me because I didn’t know that that is how it works.

I enjoyed this photo because the colors were very simplistic and the image was overall very calming. There was a vintage/old quality to this image because of the colors, and it looks like it has a filter on it. The photo is a little strange because the shuttle looks out of place and the man is isolated and staring out at the shuttle, which is a little odd. Overall, the image was very pleasing and interesting to look at.

Samantha Meldner link

9/21/2018 08:52:23 am

The image looks like it was shot in natural light but almost looks overexposed. The number of light color mixtures in this image makes it look like the artist was taking the image around midday. Color-wise, the image is very subtle and there is not much bright color. In addition, the photographer made the image look as though the colors that the people are wearing are specific to the scene. As the person looking at the image, I can not tell whether or not that was planned.

Joel Sternfeld shot this image from his own perspective. However, because in the foreground of the image we see a man standing looking out over the crowd, we can even link the perspective to him and instead interpret the image to be in the perspective of the man. I think that the man in the front of the image is supposed to represent a higher power. I believe that the artist wants us to look for a deeper meaning in the image.

The artist in this image is shooting what seems to be a scene that takes place awhile ago in a NASA airplane runway. There seems to be something very important going on in this photograph because there is a large number of people that are crowded around what looks like a NASA airplane or rocket. It looks like there is going to be something big that is going to happen with NASA and that this is the first time something like this has ever happened before.

In my personal opinion, I do not like this image because it is too chaotic. There is way too much going on in the image all at once and it is hard to follow the scene. In addition, I think that if the artist took the picture from a different angle or perspective I would have a better understanding of what the artist was trying to convey to us as we see the image.

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