Period 5 -- Critical Analysis #6

12/6/2019

Today you will be writing about this photograph by artist Bryan Schutmaat. This image is from his series called Grays The Mountain Sends, a series of portraits, still life, and landscapes Schutmaat made of mining towns in the contemporary American West and the people who inhabit them.

As you write, consider what this portrait says about the person being photographed. What can you infer about the subject's identity? Who are they? Does the environment they are being photographed in tell you anything about the subject?

Your analysis must be 5 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.

If you do not complete your analysis in class, you must finish it for homework by midnight.

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

Tomas Espejo

12/6/2019 11:35:15 am

The colors that are being displayed include of white, brown, black, green, and silver. Black is being used for the steering wheel and the color leather for the seats of the car. It is also being used for the seatbelt and the border of the car. Brown is being used for the inside color of the car. White is being used in the background of the photograph. It is also being used for the old man's skin color. Green is being used for the little tree in the background, out of the window of the car. SIlver i being used for the clip of the seatbelt.

The edge of the photograph is cutting off a lot of important things in the image. At the bottom of the photo it cuts off the rest of the man's lower body. The bottom of the photo also cuts off the left side of the car seats. The right side and the left cut off the remainder of what the car looks like on the outside. The top of the image cut of some of the background, when you look through the window.

This image I think is beautiful, interesting and noteworthy. This image is beautiful because you would wonder where the setting is in the photograph, and also who the old man is. I also like how the image is focused on the mans face and not something else. This image is also noteworthy because of the idea of the setting and the main idea of it. This photo is interesting because I would wonder what the man is looking at in the picture.

This image is unsuccessful and successful at the same time. This image is successful because of the main idea of it. Also because of the setting of the photograph. I like how the photographer focused on the mans face and not anything else. This image is unsuccessful because of how there is no spark to the photo. It is all bland and no spark or pazzaz. That is why the image is both good and bad.

In my Last paragraph I would like to answer the question of “Who is the man in the photo.” That question is what makes the photo somewhat good, because it is a mystery. The old man can be anyone. The setting of the photo is also good the setting i think is in the middle of nowhere. I enjoy observing that the photographer focused on the main point of the photograph and that was the old man and nothing else.

Jacob PErez

12/6/2019 11:36:40 am

This is an image of an older man staring into the camera, and at us. I can see out of the window an open field so this image was taken most likely west in the US. But i also know it isn't in the middle of nowhere because i can see an electricity pole. The lighting is natural, the evening sun light peers onto the old man's face, thus complementing his facial features in a flattering way. The colors in this image are a light blue shirt and dark blue jeans, which are very common in the south west area, and in the background I can see a orange-yellow field also representing the south west.

I wouldn't say this image is pleasing to look at because it has a real creepy vibe to it. The rule of thirds isn't applied here, and the image is pretty much centered. The point of view is a 1st person view, the audience is in the place of the passenger. He took this image from the angle of centered person. The focal point is without a doubt the old man staring at the audience.

I think the theme of this image is we all have people or a single person who will listen to us with their undefying attention. I think the story behind this image is the passenger of this image is the son or daughter of the old man, and he or she tells him something that they have been holding in for a long time and is now coming out. And by his expression it is something very serious and alerting. I think the artist made this image to tell the audience that it is ok to tell people something serious and you usually wouldn't tell them. This image reminds me of many movie scenes where the protagonist tells their guardian something serious, usually that they are getting bullied or harassed.

I kinda like this image, because it just reminds me of so many other movies and shows. I also love the natural lighting in the image, and how the photographer opened the window to get that perfect lighting. But one reason I don't like this image is how eerie it makes me feel. I think this image is successful in the idea of generalizing many scenes in shows, movies, and other media. But it takes several minutes to understand that this could be one of the meanings of this image.

I can infer subjects identity as from the southwest and driving with their father of grandfather. I could think that he or she is a student, and by the way the dad is dressed and parked, helps his or her father on the field or plantation. The environment definitely helps me identify what they do and who they are. In this image I can infer he is a farmer from the environment.

Kate McDaniel

12/6/2019 04:38:29 pm

This is an image of an old man, sitting in an old car, looking at the camera. This man looks sad because he isn’t smiling. Some colors in this image are red, blue, gray, and beige. The red is the color of the truck and the blue is the color of the sky and the man’s shirt. The gray is the color of the car seats, and the beige is the color of the fields in the background.

The edges of the image are cutting off somethings. Like the car seats and his legs. The depth of field is very shallow. Which means only the subject of the photo is in focus. The photographer took the image from a standing perspective. So about eye level.

This image could have some themes or ideas embedded in it. Some ideas could be a farmer or a grandpa. Some themes could be farming or old times, because of the old truck. I think the artist’s intention was to make the viewer think of a family memory or something that hits home for people. This image is also interesting because the background looks like they are in the middle of nowhere.

I think this image is successful and unsuccessful at the same time. I think this image is successful because it can make someone think of an old memory. I think it is also successful because I like the background of the old truck. I think this image is also unsuccessful because it did not make me think of a family memory or something of that sort. Overall, I think this was a cool picture.

The question I would like to answer is “Who do you think the subject is?”. I think the subject could be a stranger on the side of the road that approved of the artist taking his picture. I also think this man could be a friend of the artist. Or maybe even a family member. Even though I don’t know who this person is, I still think that the artist was successful.

Gabby Beck

12/6/2019 08:58:57 pm

The photo shows an older man sitting inside his truck, but I can’t make out the background. The colors looked faded like its been worn away over time. Bryan Schutmaat uses natural lighting that comes in from the windows of the truck. The main object in the photo is the man because he is in the middle and more in focus. He looks to be doing what he would normally do everyday in the photo.

I like how the colors make the image more pleasing to look at because they aren’t too bright or bold. The focal point is the old man and he is framed by the truck’s walls. The face of the man draws my attention first and then I follow down his body and around the truck’s frame. There is some empty space and that’s where the windows are because you can’t really tell what’s back there. The photograph cuts off the man’s legs and most of his truck.

The image has a calmer tone about it. The photo came from a series called Grays The Mountain Sends and they are about the American West mining towns and the people that now live in them. The “Greys” probably stand for the older people who live in this area and contain memories of the past mining. The photograph reminds me of going out to a friend’s ranch and driving around their property and seeing all of their deer. I wouldn’t say that the man himself is exactly beautiful, but he does seem to hold many memories inside it.

I like this photo, but I also dislike it a little. I like how the colors are more soothing to the eye and that the man’s eyes seem calm and peaceful. Not to be mean or anything, but the man isn’t very handsome and needs a haircut. Overall, I would think that the photograph was pretty successful. The lighting, colors, and depth of field play a large role and the story behind it does too.

Because this was taken in a mining town, I think that the man mines or used to mine. He has probably experienced a lot from his time in mining and has a lot of memories to share. He is an older man and has most likely lived in that area for a while because he looks comfortable at what he is doing. From what I can see, he seems to be in a more isolated place and he is wearing work clothes so he might live on a ranch. I don’t know much about this man but just the photograph can show a lot.

Alissa Welsh

12/7/2019 07:52:40 pm

This image was taken by Bryan Schutmaat it’s from his series called Grays The Mountain Sends, a series of portraits, still life, and landscapes Schutmaat made of mining towns in the contemporary American West and the people who inhabit them. It looks like it was taken in the countryside of a city since the background looks calm. There is a man sitting inside a pickup truck and is staring at the camera. The colors that are shown in this image are red, brown, black, grey, white, green, blond, light skin, cream, and light blue. Schutmaat used these colors to make it a natural, calm, peaceful image to look at. The light that is being used is the sun during the day without a studio set-up.

It’s pleasing to look at since the lighting makes the picture calm to look at. Schutmaat took this picture from an eye point of view. The focal point is the man inside the truck looking straight at the camera while one side of his face has the reflection from the sun rays and the other a light shadow. The lines that guide me around the picture are the ones from the truck starting right then going up then left then down then right. There is a blank space on the right top and behind the head of the man. The image crops off the rest of the truck, the sky, the man's legs, the background, and the sky.

The theme of this image is man with nature. Its man with nature since the man is in a place that has crops or plants on the background that’s outside in nature. There is probably a story behind this image but I don’t know it. This picture reminds me of the movie Superman since his dad had a truck and they lived on a ranch. This image at first questioned my belief in stopping in the middle of the road since it looked like in the background you can see the continuous road.

Looking at the image I think that Schutmaat is a person who likes to be in quieter, peaceful places. Though he looks lonely and either sad or like something is bothering him. He is dressed comfortably so he doesn’t look like a typical businessman who works in the city. The environment he is in just made me think that he likes the quiet. This image was successful since it attracts the viewer's eye to a warm, cozy, and calm image.

Suly Welsh

12/8/2019 09:36:51 pm

BLOG #6 | 12/06/19

A piece from Bryan Schutmaat's series: Grays The Mountain Sends.

The picture is of an old man in his truck. He is sitting in the driver's seat and is looking at the passenger driver in the image. He has a hand on the wheel but it looks as if the truck is stopped. Outside, the window is blurred but you can make out the colors of the land: a yellowish-brown. The colors feel very warm but aren't harsh. It looks as if it were taken right as the sun is going down because there is natural light hitting the man's face through the front window. The truck is a brownish-orange inside, so it isn't a very bright color. This looks nice when combined with the man's outfit which is a light blue flannel with his blue denim jeans.

I think this composition is pleasing to look at because the man is centered and is the main focus, and then the rest of the image is mostly blurred. The rule of thirds is being used because the man is in the left part of the image and his face is in the top left part. The point of view is really interesting because it's as if we, the audience, are the ones in the truck next to the man. Using a shallow depth of field, the photographer was able to capture the moment with a blurred area for most of the image. Only the full man and the wheel of the truck are crystal clear. The rest of the surroundings are blurred. The image is symmetrical but the lines aren't really big in the picture. There are lines, but they are mostly blurred. The lines framing the window next to the man, the lines from the car seat (which are white and black), the seatbelt, etc. I didn't pay much attention to the lines because the man is so captivating. He is just sitting in his truck and is looking intently at the camera.

Judging by the information that I read about this series on the book blog page. I'd infer that this man is probably the owner or helper of a ranch or farm. The background and the truck show that the man must be in some sort of ranch (mountains, desert, some hills, etc) or rural location. I think the artist made this series in appreciation of this lifestyle. It is so different to be living in a city than on a farm and having to work it. I believe the photographer might have a deep respect for the man in this image. It is such a simplistic scene, but it shows the man in such a genuine pose.

I like the colors and overall theme of this photograph, but I definitely feel a little uncomfortable when I observe it. I think the man's expression is unnerving. I'm not sure what he is feeling or trying to express. He looks mad because his lips are tightly together and his left (right to the viewer) brow is scrunched. His gaze seems calm. He also looks pensive and observant. I don't really know what to think about how he is feeling which perplexes and annoys me... I want to know what he's THINKG. But, this image has an overall great composition which I really enjoyed.

Andy Cubriel

12/10/2019 02:32:26 pm

This photo shows an older looking man sitting in a car in the driver's seat. The man has grey hair, and his face is the main focal point. The man has his right hand on the steering wheel, and his left hand is out of view of the camera. The car keys are in the ignition, but the keys are not turned. The lighting is sunlight, because the light that is illuminating the man's face is coming from the window.

This image is very pleasing to look at. It has a lot of midtones, so it does not bother your eyes. The rule of thirds is being used by having the man on the left side, and the steering wheel on the right side. The point of view is eye level, to make you feel like you are a fellow passenger in the car. The artist is using a very shallow depth of field, because the man is what is mainly in the frame. The main lines that I notice in the photo are from the window, which direct your view towards the man’s head.

The theme that I notice in this image is that you can’t always pay attention. The old man is behind the wheel, but instead of looking at the road and paying attention, he is looking at the passenger in the car. This image reminds me of my grandpa, and my grandpa’s old truck. It reminds me of this because my grandfather would make a very similar face when we would drive, and I would whistle an annoying tune. The photo is quite beautiful, in that the image captured the man not posing for the photo, while he gets ready to drive.

I really like this image. It doesn’t hurt my eyes, and it has a really good exposure. I think this image is successful. The man is doing something he normally would do, so it gives us a clue to his identity. He also isn’t smiling, and he doesn’t seem that tense, which means the artist managed not to make the subject feel uncomfortable.

With this image, this is what I infer. The old man is clinging to things from his past, hence him driving an old truck. The old man also drives a lot, which is why he is wearing a long sleeve shirt while he is driving. The environment looks like it is in the middle of nowhere, which also tells me that the subject drives a lot. I believe the old man is a truck driver, who was approached by a random photographer.

Note: sorry Mrs. Cooper, I forgot to turn this in.

ahmad al-hakeem

12/12/2019 11:26:09 am

This image, by Bryan Shutmaat, shows a man sitting in his car. The lighting has a little dark shadows on the bottom of the frame, while on the outside of the car, it looks like natural sunshine bright lighting. We don’t know who the artist is taking a photo of but I can infer that it maybe a local man in his town. For the upper part of the photo, it has a little bit of light colors while the bottom has a lot of shadow and black, with the shirt and jeans with different shades of blue. The image, according to my opinion, looks like the man probably had a bad day, because there is no smile, and was just tired.

The image is a little not pleasing to look at because ,in my interpretation, the man looks tired and just needs a big nap. The main focal point is the man’s face because it is basically right in the center of the frame. When looking at the focal point’s position in the image, the rule of thirds acts upon it. I can come up with two types of perspective: in a third person perspective or a first person perspective. The lines of the window make a dark box in which then the focal point is inside the box. The man, being the subject, covers partly of the frame while other parts of the car are filling in for the extra space.

You can confer ideas that maybe this man is tired and wants to go home or maybe that is just how he is. You can also infer that maybe that is what their town is like. At the moment, I don’t see any story or any idea except the ones I listed above. This image does remind me of one of my friend’s grandparents's trucks. This image may infer some political problems we have that some cities have great things while society forgets about the others.

I, personally, like this image for what it could represent. You can come up with many ideas based on just what the mind can see. It makes you feel something for the people whether they are in pain or in joy.

The man is probably a local in their town. As you look in the blurs of the image, you can see tanish bright brown, which makes me infer that they live in a desert type environment. This can tell me that they don't have the best life. The truck shows another sign that it isn't the newest model. Therefore, I can infer that the man doesn't have the best life.

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Period 5 -- Critical Analysis #6

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