Period 6 -- Critical Analysis #6

10/26/2017

Today you will be writing about this self-portrait image by artist Alex Stoddard. Now that you have made your own self-portraits, think about the great difficulty the artist must have gone through to get this shot. What equipment might he have used? What do you think the lighting scenario was? Where was this photograph made?

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 before your next class on MONDAY, 10/30/17.

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

Parker Brown

10/26/2017 12:26:00 pm

The image is a picture of a man with smoke coming off his back. It looks like the man is trying to take off his jacket. The colors are kind of dark colors because of the dark trees in the background and the gray sky. He might have accidentally caught on fire somehow. Since he is taking his jacket off, which has the smoke on it, he might be taking it off because it is really hot.

It is pleasing to look at because of the smoke. The smoke makes him look like he’s got some weird condition where everything he touches starts to burn. The rule of thirds is being used because he is on the left line, and some of his body goes in the intersecting lines. The point of view looks like it was from someone who was witnessing the man coming towards him, and so he decided to take a picture of him because it was weird. Some of the smoke is cut off of the image, so there might be even more smoke than what we can see.

The man also could have stuck a bunch of dry ice in his shirt, so a bunch of smoke is coming off. He could be running because the ice is so cold, and he is trying to make himself warm. I think the artist wanted to make us think about what happened to the man to make him have smoke coming off his body. I think the photo is pretty interesting. It’s a weird photo with a lot of unanswered questions, so it gets me thinking.

I think I like the image. I like almost any image that has unanswered questions to make me think. The smoke coming off his body is also in a way beautiful. I think the image is successful. The image is successfully strange and at the same time beautiful.

I think the artist might have put a small fogger in the back of his jacket to make the smoke. Maybe he fogged the whole place beforehand, and he just ran through it. I think he could have also put on some protective gear, then put dry ice in his jacket to make the fog. He would have to have something to protect his back though if he was using dry ice because he could get frostbite. Maybe he actually did light his jacket on fire, and he just had a stash of jackets just in case if he had to retake the picture a couple of times.

Payton Down

10/26/2017 12:27:46 pm

The image is of a young man with smoke coming out of him. It looks like he is in a desert place that doesn't have that much color. The colors are more dark and dead, the grass isn't green. The lighting seems to be dark and mysterious. There are dark shadows and this photo looks staged it isn't a photo in the moment. The object does include a man and half of his face you can see. Looks like he is running or walking somewhere. His shirt is coming off it kinda looks like a survivor in the woods.

It nice to look at because you are intrigued at what the young man is doing. The rule of thirds is being used. The subject of the main guy is standing off to the left and isn't centered. They took it at the human eye level nothing from the top or the bottom. You can see most of everything clearly so that would be deep depth of field. The boy is framed by the plants and landscape around him. The smoke can direct your eyes to the boy and the slope of the mountain behind him goes down a little. The photo is asymmetrical because the man isn't in the center. There is extra space that fills the photo, the subject does not fill the frame. It cuts of the landscape and the yellow grass and bushes. There is a lot of negative space it is a darker photo.

The theme or idea is that maybe he caught on fire and he is symbolizing the fire himself or he is coming from the woods and is lost somehow because we get the impression that he is walking off. Yes but the image can be interpreted in different ways. There isn't one clear story that can be told depending on your perspective. The artist could of made this image because of the mystery in the photo itself. It is a photo that really makes you think about what's happening. This photo reminds be of a scary movie where you don't really know what's going to happen next. I think the smoke bomb helps give off the impression of mystery and mourning. I don't think it challenges any political, ethical, or even social aspects. Except he does look lonely. The image is beautiful and interesting to look at because of the landscape of the photo and how it all comes together is really nice. Very noteworthy to me because you could look at this photo forever and just wonder all these qualities.

I do like the photo. It is interesting and unique to look at. It does tell a story which I think is a great thing to have in a photo, a deeper meaning. I didn't hate it, it was really interesting and mysterious. The photo is successful and a great photo that really makes you think. The photo can make a relationship with the person who is looking at the photo. Each person can think differently towards this one photo which is cool.

He might of used a tripod or someone could of pushed the shutter down for him or did a self timer. The lighting scenario was probably natural and or later in the day the photo was taken. This is because the lighting wasn't very bright more dull, therefore the sun would of been down a bit. The clouds are out to which can help with the vibe of the photo. It could of been taken in the morning too.

Bradon Collins

10/26/2017 12:29:45 pm

The image is of a guy running down a hill with smoke coming out of his back. He is using dark colors with white smoke. The time of day is unclear because it is cloudy. There are big dark green shrubs, with a boy short hair blue shirt unzipped and blue pants, brown grass or weeds on the ground, and white smoke.The action the boy is doing is that he is running at an angle down a hill with smoke coming out of his back.
The rule of thirds is being used because the boy is the main subject. The point of view is third person like someone is looking at him. The angle of the camera looks like it is down hill pointing up while the subject is running at an angle down hill. He is using a shallow depth of field with him and the smoke in focus. The image looks asymmetrical because the hill in the background is going upwards. The top left corner is just sky and it looks empty.
The theme of this image could be like the aftermath of fire or fire. It looks like there is either a drought in the area he is in because of the background the brown weeds and dark green shrubs. Or it could be right after a fire. The one thing that sticks out to me is the smoke it reminds me of fire its like one of those things where you think sugar you think of desert. The image is interesting because it makes you think how did he get the smoke in back of him.
I like the image because it makes me think. What I really want to know is how he made the smoke behind him as he ran. I also want to know what compelled him to make this image. Also why did he make this image. I feel like this image is successful because it is different.
I think he took this image when there was a drought like no rain for months type drought.That or it could have just rained for the first time in months. He set up the camera at the bottom of the hill looking up. While he ran at an angle down the hill. I also think that he has a small smoke machine on his back cause if you look the smoke seems to originate from his back, making his back covered by the smoke.

elizabeh wray

10/26/2017 12:30:35 pm

This image was taken somewhere in some hills in an rural area. There is smoke coming out of his back or maybe it's following him just it's right behind him. He is caucasian with black hair. He is wearing a denim jacket with the buttons unbuttoned, showing his chest. He is also wearing jeans, a little darker than the jacket. The colors are very dull, not vibrant. The only color that really stands out is the white of the smoke. The time of day this was probably taken was either early in the morning or towards the evening. The sky is grey and the lighting isn't very bright.

The point of view is third person. This image is a self portrait, which are very hard to perfect. The depth of field is shallow so everything is in focus. The grass is yellow and the shrubs are dark green. The guy in the image is young, around seventeen years old. In the image, he seems to be in a mid-running stance. The subject does not fill the entire picture so there is extra space in the background, room for trees and bushes.

I think this image represents some kind of rebellious phase. He has smoke bombs that he is making follow him as he is by himself probably far enough away from his house. He looks rebellious in the image. To me, the image is interesting because of how the image was taken. He may have photoshopped it or maybe he actually did it. Since i have made a self-portrait, i know that it is hard to make them.

The image to me is very well thought out. I think it took time for him to make this, whether it is an alter ego image or his true self. I like images that are in shallow depth of field mainly because they look more focused but also they just look cleaner. This image is pleasing to the eye because it is very subtle and calm, yet the action occurring in the image is very crazy in a way. I do like this image.

This image is successful. We are doing a critical analysis on it so clearly people like this image. I definitely like this image and i assume most people do. The guy is very young for a photographer but is definitely a good one. I do like the image a lot because of all the reasons above.

boyd meltzer link

10/26/2017 12:31:41 pm

The photographer’s desolate setting could represent his feelings at that specific time. In addition, him “running away” from the smoke could very well represent him “running away” from his negative situation or problems. However, the smoke continues to generate behind him, creating no escape. This could be the purpose for which the artist created the image. This image interests me due to the effort that the artist dedicated to this shot. A setup was surely required.

I enjoy looking at this image because it causes me to contemplate the situation. The colors go well together, and the smoke behind the man matches the color of the sky. This photograph is successful due to the time and effort required to create it. The artist must have pride in his work, because this is a successful image, especially with the time it took. The artist may have had to travel a distance just for the setting. This image features a younger person, perhaps younger than 18, running through what appears to be a desolate field. Smoke is following this person somehow. This field could even have burned due to the color of the grass and shrubs. The colors used are browns. The lighting is darker due to the overcast nature of the day. The main subject included in the image is the man. The rest of the image is occupied only by shrubbery. Again, this person has mysteriously deciphered a way to get smoke to follow him. Perhaps he has a smoke bomb.

This composition is pleasing to look at due to its puzzling nature. The mystery of how this person was able to capture this image is captivating. The rule of thirds is being used on the left side. Smoke fills the frame until the frame crops off on the right. The photographer captured the photo from a downhill angle. The focal point of this image is the man in the frame.

The noticeable line in this image is the line that the smoke creates directed towards the man. This smoke directs your eye directly towards the man. This image is balanced due to the lines being horizontal to each other. The edges of the image contain nothing but simply either the sky or the shrubbery. The positive space of the image is the plane at which the man is, because he intended for himself to be the main focal point of the image.

Claire Williams

10/26/2017 12:36:11 pm

The image is of the photographer, Alex Stoddard, running through a field with white powder flowing through the air behind him. The main colors being used are white, teal, and a light brown. The teal is on his shirt which is unbuttoned and flowing behind him, and the light brown is all of the ground. The lighting has a more dark element to it, I think the reasoning behind that was to make the white powder pop and possibly show the mood. It looks like there are little hills around and to the back of the photo.

This exposure is interesting to look at because of how the curves of the long line of white powder resemble the curves of the hills behind. The rule of thirds is being used, and Alex is in the left third. From looking at the point of view, I think that the tripod was set up just a bit taller than the subject is. It as back and to the left side of Alex to get a side view of him running. A deep depth of field is being used which I think works well because I want to be able to see the whole landscape. It doesn’t look like anything was cut off except for possibly the end of the white powder trail off to the right side of the image.

I think the main theme is running away from something venial. The story to me seems like he has been training to get away from this poisonous thing that is following it. The dust following him could possibly represent someone else in his life who he feels like is chasing him down. The main top and bottom lines of the dust cloud lead you to look at the main subject who is Alex. This image is interesting to me because I wonder what this cloud is representing of something that he might be running away from in his life.

I like this image mainly because of the way that is was composed. I like that I can see the whole background because of the deep depth of field and I can compare the hills to the curves of the white cloud. It is also interesting to me because of how I wonder what the photographer was thinking when he decided to make this exposure. I also wonder if this depiction had something to do with what he was dealing with in his life at the time. This photo is successful to me because of how I enjoy looking at it.

I think that this was taken somewhere out in a rural area. It also seems like it was taken around October or November during the year because of the colors being used. The photographer also may have just edited it, but it looks like a colder temperature. He most likely used a tripod and either used a remote or had a friend press the shutter. I also wonder though how he got it to be such a good quality and clear image with the hard prop of the white cloud. I think that he used a bag of flour or something that he dragged with him as he ran to create the cloud.

Annie Mosis

10/26/2017 12:38:04 pm

In this image there's a man walking in the middle of nowhere. He's walking in brown dead grass, the sky is a dark grey with clouds. The man is wearing blue jeans a jacket yet no shirt. He has dark hair. There is smoke behind him made probably by a fog machine. The tones in this picture are darker and earthy. The lighting in this picture is creating dark shadows that make this picture look even more dramatic. In this image it looks as if the man is running away from something.

I believe this picture is pleasing to look at. It is an interesting picture that makes you think. This image is using the rule of thirds by him being on the first third on the left. The point of view on this picture is taken from if a person was looking at them. This picture is using a deep depth of field because the picture is sharp and focused. This image is not framed by anything. There's a line however pointing your attention towards the man by the fog. I think the artist fills the space well there's not much extra space. Nothing important was cut off from this image.

I do not think this image has a specific message. I think the artist had an idea and went with it. I think his intentions of this image was to try something new that hasn't been done before. Though I have never seen anything like this image before it does remind me of a like a color run race. Or like the holy week in india. This image also kind of sends off a twilight vibe with the colors and how dramatic this image is. I find this image interesting to look at and makes you think how he made it.

I enjoy this image because the colors are soft and aren't too harsh. I believe he was successful in his image by the viewer enjoying this image. I like the image because it is a sharp image and the light sets the mood of this image.I also respect this artist for coming up with a new idea that no one has ever seen before or at least I have seen. Overall I think this image is very well composed.

I also respect this artist for that these images are self portrait. I know this image was probably very difficult to make. With the setting up the lighting, taking the picture and even getting all the supplies needed for this image. I also like a lot of his other pictures and their is a theme of darkness and dramatic. But I do respect all the setting up and getting it just right.

Natalia Orquin

10/26/2017 12:45:41 pm

Specifics
The image consists of a tall, brunette, guy with his denim shirt opened exposing his chest at an angle. The man also seems to be running from the “fog” or the smoke bomb. The grey smoke bomb takes up the majority of the image as it is part of the focal point of the image. The image also includes the environment such as dark green trees or bushes in the background, The ground looks a light brownish color which makes it look dry and dead.The image is very dark and mysterious looking meaning all the colors are pretty much neutral which makes the smoke bomb and the young man in the jean shirt stand out. The sky also contrasts with the light of the dark green bushes. Even though all the colors are mostly neutral they are complement each other nicely.

Form
The images is pleasing to look it, but it sort of feels off with the man face. The rule of thirds is applied with the smoke bomb. It looks cool because the smoke bomb makes the eye look around to see where it is coming from. The photographer took it straight onto the frame. He took it from a third person point of view but photographs the action. This image is in shallow depth of field with no particular focus.

The image is framed by the background of the image. The focal point of the image is the smoke bomb and the guy. The lines of the photo are more horizontal than vertical. The only vertical line is the young man. The rest of the lines in the image such as the bushes outline with the sky are horizontal, the grass is horizontal, and the sky is horizontal with the barely visible clouds. The image does not feel balance with the lines, but the dispersion of the young man and the smoke bomb does seem symmetrical. The subject of the image fills up most of the frame, but there is extra space filling the image, which gives the image a nice contrast. The frame crops out the rest of the smoke bomb fog.

Conent
The theme of the image to my understand is to shoot a fire that may have happened represented through the fog, dead grass, and the empty field surrounded by trees. I think the story is being told in the image, which is very clear to me. The artist made this image to show awareness for what is happening with our environment. I am not sure if it was their intention, but I really hope it was. The reminds me of when I was at camp a couple years ago and we weren’t allowed to have a fire because it could burn down the whole forest so we a stove and set up the smoke machines to pretend we had a fire. I think this image is very interesting and inspires me to go out and create images like this.
Evaluate
I loved this photo because it had a meaning and clearly represented it. The images colors were neutral so that is something I love seeing in images and I loved dark backgrounds that make a contrast. The smoke bomb was my favorite part because it adds a different element to the image that I have not seen before.

Jordan Bell

10/26/2017 12:57:36 pm

This image is a self portrait of Alex Stoddard. Alex is standing on a dry, grassy hill, surrounded by smoke. The colors in this image are tans, browns, blacks, bluish greys, and whites. The image seems to flow and blend well because of the similarity of the colors used. The lighting is natural light, however, you cannot tell what time of day it is because of the cloudy sky. The only thing in this image besides the mountains is Alex Stoddard. Alex appears to have a serious face and is walking out of the smoke.

This photograph is pleasing to look at because of the melding of the colors. There are all differents shades of brown and bluish greys and whites. The rule of thirds is being used because the subject is centered on the left side of the photograph. The point of view is third person and the angle at which the photograph was taken is eye level. Somewhere between a deep and shallow depth of field is being used because the subject and most of the photograph is in focus, however, parts of the mountain in the background are in focus and other parts are not. The focal point of the image is the subject and lines such as the smoke and the edge between the grass and the rocks lead the viewer’s eye towards the subject. The image is is not framed nor is it balanced. The subject does not fill the frame and the image crops off parts of the mountain.

The theme/ideas of this image is unclear, it just looks like a cool, slightly edgy photograph that the artist took. This image does not give the viewer a lot of information about what he is feeling or what his is trying to say. A story that could be told through this image is that of a struggling artist/teen because it looks like the subject is fighting against some force. The subject reminds me of someone who would be in the Outsiders. This image does not challenge or question any beliefs or assumptions. The photograph is interesting because it makes the viewer question what is going on and what the artist is feeling.

I like this image because of the colors and the lighting. Most of the colors used this photograph are lighter however the image gives off a darker, shadowed effect. The subject kind of blends in with the background and there is nothing that makes the subject jump out to the viewer. I think as a photograph, this picture is successful because it has good composition, lighting, and color palate. As for the content, I think this image is unsuccessful because it does not convey a specific message and does not make the viewer question many things other than what the artist is doing on the hill.

There are many ways in which the artist could have made this photograph. It looks as if this image was tilted somehow because everything except for the grass in the foreground is tilted down towards the left. The other interesting thing about this image is where the smoke is coming from. The smoke appears to be coming from the subjects jacket, being blown by a slight wind. It would be very hard to make the smoke come from the jacket and it is more probable that he set up a smoke machine out of frame.

Matthew Weiss

10/28/2017 08:48:48 pm

In Alex Stoddard’s self portrait, the image he took was of him running on a hill or mountain with smoke coming out from behind him. In the photo, he is running through some of the dense area of tall, dry plants, leaving the trail of smoke behind him. The image uses warm, earthy tones in the plants. They are the color wheat but darker, as they are thick and dry, grass in the image. The sky can be seen over the hill in the top left of the image, however it is gray and the combination of the darker and more neutral and nature tones in the image make so that Alex, in the break in pattern for the photo, and he adds some variety. In addition the photo is timed well, showing him in the middle of his stride, which adds motion to the image.

In the image, there were a few subtle aspects of composition that add to the image. One of which is the use of leading lines. In this image, the line of trees above the hill direct him into the direction he is running. In addition to that, the smoke coming from behind him doesn’t look like it is stationary, and just there and dissipating in the image, but rather the smoke has direction and this gives the image the illusion that it seeks to achieve, by not only giving him motion, but motion in the smoke as well. Also, his placement in the image suggests the rule of thirds in play.

I don’t think the image was created to tell a story or convey a message. I think that it was rather just to display artistic creativity in a new and imaginative way. I also think that the image did this very effectively. With that said, the image can be interpreted in many different ways, one of which being that the smoke is something he is trying to escape, but yet it still haunts him. However, I find it more likely that the image was an amazing attempt at a photo that is very original and artistic, which it does both of which extraordinarily well.

I like the image. I think that it is interesting to think about the behind the scenes aspects of the image. Looking into the background, an almost desolate landscape is created and I think that this adds to the overall mood of the image. Looking at Alex, he creates the aspect of motion in the image, with the smoke effect that he has created behind him. I think the amount of setup in order the get the perfect image is extremely impressive in this image.

There are so many aspects of this image that set it apart. Firstly, the background is perfectly chosen to set the mood of the image. Next, the timing of the image is perfection, as the photo has caught him mid stride giving the image more motion, and making it more dynamic. In addition to just Alex’s motion, the smoke dissipating gives the image another source of motion, making it even more dynamic. To readdress the composition, there is a subtle leading-line in play, in the horizon, which leads him into the direction that he is running. In addition to that, there is the rule of thirds helping to balance the image and position Alex in the photo.

Kylie Bruehler

10/29/2017 11:44:28 am

This is a self-portrait done by Alex Stoddard. In the image, the photographer appears to be running down a hillside. The area is surrounded by dead grass and bushes and above is a gray and clouded sky which makes the image mostly neutral or dull tones. Though the image consists mostly of dull colors, the image is still very vibrant and nicely displays the colors. As the photographer is running down the hill, he has his shirt buttoned down and looks very free. Behind him, he is trailing a cloud of fog or smoke. The smoke is the lightest part of the image but looks very subtle and is fading out behind the photographer. The smoke or fog that is creating the cloud adds a nice interest to the photo and draws in attention.

The photographer’s choice of the background in the image might indicate a feeling of wild nature. Because the photographer has his shirt open and is running down the hill, he might want to indicate that he is feeling free. The background, though dull and neutral, adds to the story and the feeling that the image is expressing. The smoke cloud trailing behind the photographer also adds to the emotion that the picture is expressing by showing liberation of the photographer literally and figuratively, which leads me to think that the photographer wants to express an emotion of feeling wild or free.

The lighting in this image seems kind of dark which would have made it hard for the photographer to get the image to a good quality, but the image does appear to look nicely done. The image might have been taken with a faster shutter speed because almost everything in the image looks still and slowed down. The fog appears to be fading out but still in its motion. The photographer also seems to be running but is still and his motion has been slowed down and frozen still. Most of the background is in focus just as much as the front is in focus. Though the photographer is the main subject of the image, the smoke catches the most attention and looks like the main subject of the image at first glance.

I think that this image is very successful because it must have been very hard to create a good image in this certain background and with this lighting, but still appears very vibrant and came out as a very successful image. The colors used in the image are very neutral but somehow still look very nice. The image overall is set to a good temperature and possibly could have had a lot of edits but looks very natural. The fog/smoke in the image must have been hard to create and look well, but the photographer slowed it down to a frozen speed. The photographer might have faced some challenges in creating this image due to the background and the lighting, but overcame the differences and created an extremely successful image in my opinion.

The photographer of this image must have had to work extremely hard to perfectly capture this image. One of the challenges in creating in this image is the lighting. The sky appears to be gray and cloudy which means that not very much light is being let into the area of which this picture is taken. Another challenge in this image is the background. Though the background for this image is perfect for telling the story, there aren’t many bright colors to focus on. The photographer somehow still makes the colors in the image very vibrant and clear. Finally, the photographer must have had to get the timing just right when running and letting the fog diffuse over the area. Everything in this image is slowed down to the second and allows for the story of the image to be successfully told.

Lucas Prado

10/29/2017 07:32:31 pm

This image is of a teenage guy running on a hill. The guy is shirtless, with an unzipped jacket and some tight blue jeans with sneakers. The hill has lots of yellow, dying grass and some brown shrubs and rocks. The sky is overcast, and looks as if it's about to rain. Most notably, the guy has a trail of smoke or fog coming from behind him.

So now the question becomes, ”how did he manage to get a trail of smoke behind him?” Most likely is that it’s actually dry ice or something similar, and he has some stored in his jacket. Or maybe he actually did use something to produce smoke, such as a smoke machine, hid it in the jacket, and ran. To get the shot of him running without any blur while also getting the smoke in focus is fairly impressive, as it would require a pretty fast shutter speed while also being able to get enough light in the photo to see the smoke clearly.

This image does utilize the rule of thirds, with the guy on one side with the landscape and the smoke on the opposite side. Because of this, there isn’t one main focal point, just the guy and the smoke. There aren’t any lines, but the smoke acts as a pseudo-line by leading the focus to the source: the guy. There is still lots of extra space for the expanse of the landscape. There is a deep depth of field with the landscape, as a decent amount of it is in focus.

There doesn’t seem to be a story behind this image, it just looks really cool to me. While fire and smoke can certainly represent aspects of how people behave, it doesn’t seem as apparent to me in this photo. This image in a way reminds me of the old cartoons that I used to watch as a kid. Cartoons like speedy Gonzales and Roadrunner, where they ran so fast that they left a trail of fire or smoke wherever they were. It is a pretty notable photo because of how it could’ve been taken.

I do like this photo, as it looks cool. I can appreciate this image just from the sheer amount of effort that he put into being able to run with the smoke trail. Additionally, there is the effort that went into getting the timing, not only with the smoke but also the weather. If there were a story told behind this photo, I think that it would make a good story. Even if there isn’t one, the image is still successful in that it looks pleasing to the viewer.

Gilly Thompson

11/1/2017 07:02:31 am

In Alex Stoddard’s self portrait he chose to wear a light blue jean jacket with a darker and deeper blue jeans. The jacket is sliding off of his body showing his bare chest. You can see his buzzed haircut on the side of his head. The background is hills. It looks like a dry, desert area. Lots of dead weeds and grass. Trailing behind him is a bunch of fog or smoke. This photograph seems to have a very serious story behind it. Alex’s facial expression looks very serious, almost to the point where he looks angry. The colors also add to this effect. Using many browns, white from the fog, and the blue on him. His skin tone is pleasing with the surrounding, as well , the lighting is also pleasing. He's outside so i'm guessing he used natural lighting from the sun.

This image looks like their could be a deeper story to it. In the image he actually seems to be running or about to run away from something. Possibly running away from the smoke. This image is pleasing and can lead people in that it seems mysterious . The rule of thirds is not being used in this image because the focal point is a little off to the left. This image however does have a deep depth of field.

The focal point of this image is Alex and who Alex is and what the story is behind it. This is a self portrait . Although there aren't any lines directed you to the focal point the moke does direct your attention and eyes to Alex. The focal point doesn't fully fill the image. It shows the dead desert area all around him. There also doesn't seem to be anything cropped out. Unless you were to make assumptions that the smoke machine might be in the far right out of the image, with the smoke blowing into the camera shot. This image is simple but complex in what is the meaning behind it. It's a very beautiful Image.

A theme i can think of for this image may be that he's getting away from something. He created this self portrait and many others to tell a story and intrigue the viewers. This image is very interesting and there are many questions that come to mind when seeing it. Questions having to do with the meaning behind the photograph and the story. Also questions about how he got the fog in the image and how he perfectly got the shot with him running from the smoke.

I believe this image is successful. His goal of the image was to tell a story and he definitely has a story behind it with a meaning. I like this photograph a lot because of the mystery it has added to it. It causes you to think and ask questions to yourself. I think this image is beautiful and Alex is very hardworking and talented to be able to do these self portraits.

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