Period 3 -- Critical Analysis #2

9/21/2018

Today you will be writing about this image by artist Cig Harvey. 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's post, it will not be graded.

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

Sofia Galindo

9/21/2018 08:35:38 am

This image is of a girl standing on a big buoy out in the deep ocean. She is holding onto it while leaning towards the ocean and looking down. The buoy is a bright red that attracts your eye immediately. The ocean is a deep blue and the girl is wearing a purple dress with no shoes. The lighting is bright because the sky is clear, but the buoy is casting a big shadow over some of the ocean, causing it to look dark.

The buoy and the girl are on the left side of the frame and are tilting towards the right. The photographer is taking the picture from his point of view, looking at the side of the girl. The focal point is the buoy because the vibrant red color of it attracts the eye, then you see the girl on it. The subject does not fill the space, instead it is filled with the ocean water and the sky. All the frame crops of is just more of the ocean because the only subject in the photograph is the buoy and the girl.

This image could be of a a girl who just wants to be free, which is why she goes to the ocean because it is wild and cannot be tamed. So she is hanging off of it, deciding whether or not to jump into the mysterious and wild ocean, or stay where things are safe on land. This photograph could have many depictions on what is really going on, which is why it is so noteworthy. Everyone has their own opinions on what the girl is doing and what the image as a whole really symbolizes/means.

I like this photo a lot because there are so many questions and it’s unclear about what is going on, so everyone can relate to it. It is very pleasing to look at because of the buoy’s bright red color that is very pleasing to the eye and the simplicity of the whole image. It tells a whole story with just the ocean, a red buoy, and a girl, which is pretty amazing.

Samantha Meldner link

9/21/2018 08:37:00 am

In this image, we see what looks like a woman standing on a bob that is in the water to let boats know where they are when they are out at sea. She seems to be looking down at the water and leaning over it. This then makes the bob in the water lean over as well and she looks like she could fall in. In addition, she is wearing a dress and is not wearing a bathing suit at all, which is very strange because she is in the middle of the ocean. I think that Cig Harvey wants us to see this past the literal and notice the deeper meaning to the dress.

Cig Harvey took this photo with a lot of blue tones and it makes the image look almost overexposed because the colors are so light and soft. He took this image in his own perspective and we can see exactly what he does. Based on the lighting, the picture looked like it was taken in the middle of an overcast day where it was slightly cloudy. He does, however, use the color red to add some brightness to the image. This little bit of color makes the image light up and stand out to us.

I think that when we look at this image we are supposed to see the woman’s pain. She looks like she wants to fall into the ocean and let go. However, life wants her to stay and hold on represented by the bob that keeps her above water. The way I can interpret the image, I think that the more problems life throws at us we begin to lean deeper and deeper into the water. I believe that the artist wants us to see her pain in the image and relate it to our own lives.

I really love this image because it reminds me that no matter how bad things get I can always hold on and I don’t need to let go. The colors in the image make me want to look at it because of the way that they compliment each other so perfectly. The way that the scene is staged makes it very appealing to the eye. Overall, I think that this image is beautiful in every way. It also makes me more interested in the story of Cig Harvey and his style of photography.

Hasan Ehsan

9/21/2018 08:40:20 am

This image depicts a female looking down into the water while holding on to a water buoy in what appears to be the middle of the ocean. There’s varying shades of blue, which indicate the sky and water. The sharp red of the buoy is a stark contrast to the majority of the picture, and the woman is in a purple/pink outfit, which is unusual given the context of location. Natural light is being used, and it appears to be mid-morning or late afternoon. The only objects are clouds, the sky, the buoy, the woman, and the water. The buoy has two #3’s on different sides of it.

Although the situation isn’t pleasing itself, this image is aesthetically satisfying. The horizon is encompassed by a clear geometric line, and everything has a distinct shape. You can see the detail in the water through the waves. Although there is a deep depth of field, the image appears to be focusing on the buoy and woman in the mid ground. The woman and buoy aren’t centered themselves, but the spot where she’s looking can be classified as the center of the image, so I would say it still has some symmetric aspects to it. The edges of the image leave no information out and imply that there’s still miles of water surrounding the focal point.

There’s a couple different interpretations I’m imagining as I view this image. The first is that this picture tries to convey the author’s loneliness. They feel as though no one is there to help, and as they hold on to this buoy for dear life, they’re still leaning towards and inevitably sinking in the water. The second analysis I can comprehend is that we as humans don’t know what we’re in for. We’re on this platform to help support us, which would represent our childhood. But as we lean in and look into the real world, we don’t know what’s ahead of us, resembling the depths of the ocean. It doesn’t really question my beliefs socially on human nature through either interpretation.

I like this image for aesthetic purposes, but I’m not so content with the context of this image. It’s true that we’re given some details, but if the author wants to delve into some kind of message, it needs more. There’s countless different scenarios that I could contrive from this one moment in time. If the author’s intent was just to make you think about anything, however, then it’s an extremely successful image. If he or she wants to narrow the interpretation to get you to think about a specific idea, it’s too open-ended and unsatisfying.

Matthew Sutherland

9/21/2018 08:41:32 am

The image is of a woman holding onto a buoy in the middle of the ocean. The buoy is red with the number 33 on it. The woman is wearing a purple dress. The picture is using a lot of red and blue. The blue is for the ocean and the sky. The red is for a contrast. The image is taken in bright sunlight.

The image is pleasing to look at. The point of view is from the photographer on a boat or another buoy looking at the woman. The image has a shallow depth of field. The waves in the ocean are lines in this picture. They direct the viewer’s eye to the buoy. The image is asymmetrical. The subject doesn’t fill the entire frame. There is a lot of space for the ocean and the sky. The image’s edges are the ocean and the sky.

There is a story being told within the image. It could be a woman got stuck on buoy after a boat crash or the image could symbolize something. The artist could’ve made this image to symbolize a soul or a person trapped that wants to be freed. This image is interesting. It also makes me think about if there is a deeper meaning to it.

I like the image. I like it because it looks nice. The picture also makes me think about what it means. I believe the photograph is successful. I believe this because I like the image, and I’m sure other people do too.

sergio link

9/21/2018 08:45:29 am

The photograph by Cig harvey of a girl on a bright red floaty thing with a white arial fonted number three on it in the sea of which looks a bit like a combination of turquoise and Dark blue, and there is no sign of any land or ships nearby besides the red floaty thing to show a feeling of loneliness in the photograph. The lighting is very bright with the sun to the right side of the photographer seeming like it is about a half hour after sunrise seeing it is not too bright.
I think that the photograph is pleasing to look at because of the bright color red on the the red floaty thing and the satisfying blue sea color. the point of view is from the 3rd person view. The depth of field is very deep in the photo with the big blue sea and the red floaty thingy in focus.
I really liked the photograph because of how the sea is blue and in focus with the bright red floaty thing with the image being very successful in my opinion. :)

mariah podwika

9/21/2018 08:47:20 am

The image is of a girl on a buoy looking into the depths of the ocean. The main colors that the image uses is red and different blues. The lighting is either at a sunrise or a sunset giving it a very natural light. Things that are in this image are a sea buoy and a girl. The girl is holding onto the edges of the buoy and hanging over the edge to look into the ocean.

The image is very pleasing to look at because the sunlight gives it a nice peaceful look to it and the light color scheme is just overall pleasing to look at. The point of view is the photographer's own and he/she is looking at the girl. It has a very wide depth of field because everything in the image is in focus from the water in the foreground to the buoy and girl in the middle, and the sky in the background. The majority of the image is filled by the water and the buoy and the sky has a few clouds in it so I wouldn’t say that there is a lot of empty space. The edge of the image is the waves in the water and the sky. The image is shot from a balanced angle and it is taken from an eye level point of view.

The story being told here is that the girl is not being afraid to look beyond the safety of the buoy. If she would just stay in the middle of the buoy and never look over the edge she would be a lot safer, but instead, she is living life on the edge(literally) and tilting the buoy over to look closer at the unknown ocean. The photographer made this image to inspire people to live on the edge and to take risks. The image is trying to get you to move out of your comfort zone and do something you wouldn’t normally do. It challenges your desire to stay with what you know rather than move past that and learn something new. The image is very beautiful not just because the color scheme is nice, but because of the message that it is trying to tell.

I really like this image because it is a very peaceful and calming image. I also like it because I can see the greater meaning behind it. This image is a beautiful image because it is trying to inspire people. The image is very successful, at least for me. The photographer wants you to see this image and be inspired to step outside what you know and do things that may be new for you.

Clara Blume

9/21/2018 08:47:33 am

In this image, there is a girl in a purple dress standing on a red buoy, labeled with a white number 3. The girl is looking down into the ocean. The buoy is tilting to the side under the girl’s weight. The main color used in the photo is the blue of the ocean and the sky. The buoy is red, causing it to stand out. The lighting is natural, and it looks to be late afternoonish, judging by the shadow cast onto the girl by the buoy.

I think the picture is pleasing to look at because of the colors. I also like how still the ocean looks. It seems like you could see for miles. I also like that you can see the red of the buoy in the reflection of the water. I think the point of view is from a boat or a dock, looking out to the girl. There is a deep depth of field, but but the waves at the back do seem to be a little out of focus. The focal point is the girl on the buoy. It is framed by the ocean. I do not think this image is balanced. The buoy with the girl is too far to the left of the photo to be balanced. I do however like the placement because it looks like the girl is looking down at something in the middle of the picture that we can’t see.

I think the idea of this photo is to show that there is life above and below the surface of the water, whether we can see it or not. I think it also shows the beauty on the surface of the water as well. I think it also looks like the girl wants to jump into the water. I think another idea might be to sort of join another world, one that we don’t see as often as our own. This picture reminds me of the Corpus Christi bay area because of the buoy to direct ships under the bridge or into the bay. I think this image is especially beautiful simply because of the colors and the not so clear reflection of the buoy on the water.

I really like this photo because the red of the buoy contrasts well with the blue of the water and the sky. I also like it because the girl is leaning towards the water, and the buoy is the only thing keeping her from falling or jumping in. I think this photo is successful because it shows that we can watch what goes on under the water, but we can’t entirely be a part of it. I also think it is successful because it implies that there is something that the girl is looking at under the water, something that we can’t see. I like how that makes the picture mysterious in its own way.

Claire Rollwitz

9/21/2018 08:50:37 am

When I first looked at the photo, I thought about what the girl is the image is thinking. What would it be like to sand on a buoy in the middle of an ocean and look down upon the vast sea that lies underneath you? I love how the red float stands out against the blues in the sky and ocean. This photograph has good, natural lighting. It looks like the photo was taken in the evening as the sun was setting because of the golden tones that reflect off of the buoy and water.
I think the image is pleasing to look at because of its uniqueness. The rule of thirds is being used because the main point of focus in the picture is in the left third. The photo has a more shallow depth of field, with the girl and the red buoy having a sharp focus, and the ocean and sky being slightly blurred. The point of view for this picture would be eye level if you were standing at a distance from her. My eyes are drawn to the line where the sky meets the ocean and the number three that stands out on the buoy.
I think of two themes when I look at this photo. The theme I thought of instantly is freedom. It reminds me of being free and taking a step back from the world and your personal problems to just breath in the crisp ocean air and admire God’s creation around you. The opposite theme to the first one is that the girl is terrified because she is trapped on a buoy in the ocean. I think the artist created this photo to express themselves and the way they are feeling. Perhaps the artist is feeling stranded in life or wants to remind others to step back every once and awhile.
I like this photograph a lot. I think it's interesting to look at and very unique. I think the photographer was successful because he created a beautiful picture with meaning. The photographer can inspire people through the hidden themes in his work. I think the artist took a unique approach to express himself through this photograph.

EmmaKate Spies

9/21/2018 08:53:08 am

In the photo there is a girl on a floating buoy lighthouse in the ocean. The buoy has the number 3 on it and is red. The bouy is red because it’s easier to see red and the bouy is in the middle of the ocean because there is a higher area of rocks there. The lighting is bright and it looks like it could be outside. The girl is looking down with her arms reached behind her grabing onto the buoy.

The composition function is well organized and the image is pleasing to look at because there are a small amount of colors and they all work very well together. The point of view is from someone on a boat, looking at the buoy and the girl. Shallow depth of field is being used in this photo. The lines are on the buoy and they direct your eyes to the buoy with the girl on it. The image is asymmetrical because the buoy is not in the center of the frame. There is extra space on the right side of the photo but that extra space doesn’t look bad it goes well with the image.

I think the idea is that you don’t want to fall off the buoy so you have to hold on and keep looking forward. Yes there is a story being told here and it is that the girl doesn’t want to fall in the ocean so she has to hold on. The image reminds me of going to the beach or lake and seeing the buoy’s and wanting to stand on them. I believe that the photo doesn’t question or challenge any beliefs or assumptions. The image is beautiful because of the colors used and it’s interesting because of the way the person being photographed is standing.

I like the photograph because the colors that are in the image work well together and compliment each other well. I also like the image because the buoy stands out because of its color. I think the number 3 on it could mean that it’s the third place in the mass of water that high rocks could be. It could also mean that the girl is looking in the water for the Holy Trinity. I believe the photograph is successful because of the positioning of the camera, the objects in the photo, and the small but well chosen of colors used.

Eden Vogelsang

9/21/2018 08:53:55 am

In this image I see a woman standing on a buoy in the middle of the ocean. There is a lot of blue from the sky and the water but a little red from the buoy and purple from her dress. I would assume that it is using bright natural light. There is a girl, a buoy, the number 3 on it, and some clouds. The woman on the buoy is leaning forward it kind of looks like she might fall in by the way she is standing.

It’s pleasing to me because I like how the blue sky fades to a blue-gray and then you see the big blue ocean and just a red buoy. It would be from the photographer's point of view. There is a like from the end of the sky to the start of the ocean and that is the first line that my eye goes to, then there is a line in between the buoy that splits the 3’s. The water of the ocean fills up most of the space but out in front, there is some empty space. It just crops off more ocean.

I think the idea of this image was to make you want to explore and try new things. The photographer could’ve made it for a cover of something, like a book or maybe a movie. This image reminds me of when I was little and my family would go to Galveston, and sometimes I would see the buoys out in the middle of the ocean. To me, it doesn't challenge anything but it does puzzle me of why she's out there on a buoy. The image is very interesting, the way it was photographed is very beautiful.

I do really like this image it was beautiful and different, it sparked an interest in me. I think the photo is very successful because it's not what you see every day, it's not a generic image.

Farouk Ramzan

9/21/2018 08:54:24 am

The image includes a distinct small red beacon which is constructed of metal and a light on the top. The woman is holding on to the edges of the beacon. She is wearing a lavender color dress which seems to be wet along with her hair. The red is a contrast to the blue of the ocean, and the purple seems to be a complementary color to the red. The lighting is natural and looks like the photo was taken during sunrise as the refreshing, egg yolk-like, yellow is lighting half of the women and ¾ of the beacon. The clouds in the background are very subtle with a hint of blue.
The image is very satisfying to look at since the horizon line is very straight and the photo is simple with only a few subjects. The edges of the image are plain, clean, smooth, and blue. The subject does not fill the space giving us an idea of how the deep and detailed the background is. The focal point is the women’s dress or the beacon.
I think the story of the image is metaphorical as this woman holding on to the beacon represents hope, and the water represents fear of something. She is drenched in water, thus drenched in fear. She is afraid of going back to whatever the water represents to her personally, and this beacon is her escape, and it is keeping her afloat, afloat from drowning in her despair. The emptiness of the photo represents her feeling of loneliness, and the beacon is a cry for help. The image is deep, thought-provoking, and meditative in a way. It does an excellent job of conveying the message.
I love the image, it is very pleasing to look at and has a deeper meaning that makes me feel connected and fully aware of the photo and myself, that is the ultimate goal for any artist making this photo successful.

teresa lei

9/22/2018 11:25:06 am

The image is photoed in the middle of the ocean under the daylight. It’s a bright image and the sun shone from the back of the camera. A woman, in the left part of the picture, stood on a red buoy. She gripped strongly at the right side of buoy. Her body tilted and she’s staring into the water. The blue in the background contrasts with the bright red buoy by using the complementary colors. The woman’s dress has balanced the main color theme of the picture. Many guesses of her stories can be made based on the woman’s action.

The picture is visually pleasing since it has very simple colors. The simplicity of the background allows the main character in the picture stands out easily. ⅔ of the background above is the sky with a whiter blue, and ⅓ below is the darker waves with patterns and shades. The woman and her buoy have been cut in two from the distinction between the sky and the sea, so it created a sense of space between the distance of her head and the surface of the water, which makes the image looks stronger. The point of view of the author is undetermined, but the author do wants to appeal the vastness of the sky and the sea to the viewer, that’s also the reason why she uses deep depth of field to accomplish the goal.

The main theme of the image can be related to struggles. The author uses complementary colors and let the viewers focus on the red buoy and the main character of the picture. The color distinguishes the character, but at the same time also isolates it. The disconnection between the buoy and background create a sense of loneliness. The woman, who tightly clenches her fist to the buoy, body tilts to the right, gives a feeling of intensity. It seems like she could fell into the ocean any second. Her face faced the surface of the sea, the direction contrasts with the hands that grip the buoy, which suggests that she is struggling. Ocean, as the ensemble of millions of drops, embodies everything, but also becomes the representative of the public and mediocracy. The strong distinctions between the subject and the background implies the purpose of the author is to appeal the idea of the struggle to the mediocracy.

The photo is successful due to the colors and the composition. It’s very pleasing to look at. The general tone is bright and calming. The idea of the struggling also brings the viewers to think. However, one thing that I think the author may improve is that the picture is not striking. It doesn’t bring a strong emotion to the viewers. Instead of being shown in an exhibition, it’s more likely to be a desktop background of a computer.

Troy Githinji

9/23/2018 07:40:07 pm

In this photo we are introduced to lady floating on a buoy in what looks like the ocean. The sky is clear and the reflection of sunlight on the buoy indicates that it is mid afternoon. There are no ships or sailboats in the background, leaving the background to be only ocean and sky. There are very few clouds in the sky and there is not much going on there either. If we look closely, we can see that the lady is holding on the buoy very tightly and staring at the ocean, her hair flowing in front of her face.

The obvious focal point in this photo is the buoy and my eyes are drawn right to it. The horizon line of the ocean is also a line that directs my eyes to the buoy. The colors used in this photo are very pleasing to look at and the entire image flows nicely together. The picture does a good job of keeping the focal point in focus and the rest of the photo somewhat blurred, but what it does not do a good job of is filling up the empty space in the canvas. But honestly, I think this is a nice touch and seems to go with the overall theme of the image.

This photo seems to be sending many different ideas all at once. At first glance, the ocean might bring memories of summer and the ocean. But when we look at the buoy and the woman standing on it, it seems to convey feelings of depression and sadness. It looks like she is all alone in the ocean with no one is around to help her. As she hangs from the buoy, it seems as though she is about to fall into the deep ocean. But it also shows a different side of loneliness, independence. The photo shows that although the woman seems like she is about to fall into the water, she is holding herself above the water.

I personally like this picture because it bring me memories of the ocean, but also because it hides a deeper meaning behind the mask of happiness that is wears. But it also paints the picture of independence, strength, and endurance. The picture is an encouragement to keep going, even when no one else is there with you. The many meanings that can be derived from this photo really makes you stop and think about what you are looking at, which definitely shows that the author was successful. When you look at this photo, it asks more questions than it answers, which I think is a good thing in this case.

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Period 3 -- Critical Analysis #2

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