Period 7 -- Critical Analysis #18

4/8/2019

Today you will be writing about an image from artist McNair Evans' series Confessions For A Son.

Write 5 paragraphs, 5 sentences minimum per paragraph. Remember, refer to your "How to See" handout for analyzing a photograph--Your analyses will be graded on:

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

Read the Project Statement before you write:

Summary
Confessions for a Son juxtaposes photographs I made in 2010 and 2011 concerning the lasting psychological landscape of my fathers legacy with images taken by him roughly 40 years ago to explore a complex relationship between father and son and the disappearance of an American, agrarian way of life.

Statement
There was no man that my father admired more than his father, and no one his father admired more than the man who raised him. With tenderness of heart and warm humor my father met everyone as his equal.

Upon his death in November 2000, I was exposed to our family businesses insolvency. Dad faced a series of devastating fires, bad crops, perpetual over-extension and high-interest loans. Five generations of familial and financial stability fractured. While the economic effects were immediately obvious, the emotional implications lingered beneath the surface for nine years.

In 2010 I returned home to photograph the lasting psychological landscape of Dad’s legacy. Retracing my father’s life, I used photography to comprehend its events. Visiting the farms where we hunted, his college dorm rooms, and his oldest friends, I photographed his family members and businesses while researching his character and actions. I could not equate these.

These photographs narrate my journey between isolation and acceptance. Initially confused and angry, I grew to know him as a teenager, college student, co-worker, life-long friend, and father who lovingly withheld business realities. I witnessed shortcomings and successes and found empathy with a man who faced so much in his life. His sacrifices cost the ultimate price, and accepting that some questions may never be answered, I grew to love him again.

These works share my emotions after his death, my search to learn more abut him in recent years, and a journey of acceptance and forgiveness. These pictures are my way of saying its OK. Everything that happened is done and it’s OK. They are my way of taking ownership of everything that I felt, and all the anger and all the shame, and saying, “Yes, I felt that, and it’s OK to feel that, and I still love you.”

Hannah Growney

4/8/2019 01:08:16 pm

This is an image of a shattered car windshield. It is uses dark colors. It appears to be have been taken inside a wrecked car. In this image there is a little bit of sunlight. There is a book and a car’s dashboard. In this the windshield seems to have been shattered in a wreck.

I don’t think that this is pleasing to look at. It makes me kind of uncomfortable.The rule of thirds isn’t being used because the book is in the middle of the frame. This seems to be taken in a car. This is using a deep depth of field. I can see all the cracks in glass. The image isn’t balanced because of the cracks and holes in the glass .

The subject does not fill the frame. The glass seems to take up the majority of the frame, but not all. The edges of the image cut off the rest of the car. The positive space is the window and the book. The negative space is the rest of the car’s dashboard.

A theme in this image could be brokenness. I believe that there is a story being told in this image. I think it could’ve had to be with how his dad wasn’t perfect. Even though the car is old, what we can see is still in decent condition. I think it could display how his father was old and broken.

This image difficult to make. It makes me uncomfortable. I do like how the artist took the time and effort to make this. It must have felt weird to get into a car like this. I think this image is good, but I don’t like how it makes me feel.

Shayna Bolton

4/8/2019 01:09:20 pm

The image is of the inside of a car, from the passenger seat in the front. It seems to be an older car based on the interior of wood and old fashioned air conditioning and radio. The windshield is cracked and basically destroyed with holes. There is a single book called “Church of God General Assembly” sitting on the dashboard. It uses a bright blue in the book to make it pop against the brown colors of the rest of the interior.

The lighting makes the image seem as if it was taken during the day. All of the light is coming from a natural source, the sun. There are shadows on the lower half of the screen only, but it seems to fade darker at the top of the windshield. Other than the book on the dashboard, no other objects or props are used in the image. It seems that in front of the car there is a rather large brick building.

In the image, the car may have just been crashed. The picture is taken from the point of view of someone sitting on the passenger side in the front of the car. This may be taken like this to imply that this person was involved in the car crash. I do not think that this image is not pleasing to look at because it has a dark idea behind it. A tragic car crash seems to have just happened and when an unfortunate event like this is portrayed it usually does not seem pleasing.

The rule of thirds is being used, even though it is not the traditional way and may not seem like it. While all of the big items, like the book, are centered in the center of the picture, other parts are separated. The windshield takes up about the top third of the photo while the wood and other interior of the car takes up the bottom half. The book is right in the center of the photo both on the up and down scale, and right to left scale. This may be like this to draw attention to that specifically and emphasize how important it is.

The point of view is from some point inside the car, rather than outside. The angle of the photo is more from a lower part of the picture, this could indicate that the person in that position is a child. A shorter depth of field is being used in the taking of this photo. While all of the insides of the car is in focus, all of that is close and everything outside of the car is so blurry that it's hard to even tell what is it. There are many lines all over the windshield, it directs the eye of the viewer to the larger holes and cracks in the windshield, showing that they are more important.

Andrea Gonzalez

4/8/2019 01:12:27 pm

Critical Analysis #18

This is an image of the inside of a car. What is interesting about the car though is that it has a broken windshield. There are dark shadows in the corners of the image. The windshield is colored brightly with hues of blue and green. I believe that it looks like that because of how the sun is bouncing off the glass.

Everything in this picture is out of focus. I would say that the focal point of this image is the light blue book on the dash. Also, there are some leading lines on either side of the book, which lead your eye to it. The photographer took this image from the view of the passenger’s seat. Yes, this image is balanced because of how the line between the dash and the windshield is in the middle of the picture.

It is hard for me to say what the photographer was thinking when he took this picture. However, I’m thinking that the shattered glass represents how his perception of his father was skewed. He thought his father had it all together, but in reality, he didn’t. This image reminds me of my own father and his truck. The colors and composition remind me of when I was younger, and would sit by my dad on roadtrips.

I think that this image is beautiful. It brings me nostalgia, and I love it for that. Anything that brings me back to a simpler time is something to be recognized. This image also questions many people’s beliefs of their parents. For me, I always knew that my parents were just people, but I know that other may have their parents on a pedestal.

Yes, I like this image. I also believe it is successful because of how easy it was for me to think back to when I was little. The artist probably made this image to remind people that nobody has everything together. Everyone has their cross to bear, and most people don’t show that to everyone. That is why I believe this image is beautiful.

Anson Adamek

4/8/2019 01:16:00 pm

xThis Image is of a Buick with the windshield cracked from what looks like a bullet shot. It's using brown, black, grey and other small colors. Dark lighting on the dashboard but the light is coming from the windshield. The object in the image is the glovebox, the AC, the stereo, a religious book, and the cracked windshield. What's happening in the image is its an image of the inside of the cabin.

It's not very pleasing to look at because there is no symmetry. The rule of thirds is not being used because the windshield is the main subject and it pans through the whole image. There is a first person point of view. There is a slightly shallow depth of view. The focal point is the windshield.

The lines are the ac vents, the book, and all of the cracks in the glass. This image is not balanced in a symmetrical nature. The subject doesn't fill the whole frame, there is extra room. The image cuts off on the side of the dash and halfway through the dash. There is lots of negative space.

There is a distinct theme of brokenness. There is a story being told in the image I think, the sudden realization of trouble, when I think of this I think like driving with your friends and you suddenly get into a wreck, like 2 mins ago it was normal, just like someone passing. I think the intention was to bring focus to the brokenness in her life. This reminds me of when I flipped my golf cart and realizing the trouble I was going to get into when I get home. It might challenge some beliefs because of the book but I think that's nothing. I think this image is noteworthy because it brings back some bad memories.

I like the image because its unique in the not so typical just taking a picture of a sunset and you are done, there is more to the image than just beauty. There is a story to be told and a message for people to find out. I believe this photograph is successful because it made me think and reminisce on the past times. I do like this image but its nothing I extraordinarily like. Overall i think this image is successful.

Sarah Guerra

4/8/2019 01:19:39 pm

The image is of the dashboard in a car with cracked glass and a book. The colors being used are two shades of brown, blue, and a hint of green. The lighting ha shadows while having light focus on the book in the center. The objects included in the photo are the book, the glass, and the dashboard. The image seems to be of a car after getting into an accident and a book placed neatly on the dashboard after.

The image is pleasing to look at with the book placed in the center and no other big distractions within the photo. The rule of thirds is being used by the book being in the center. The point of view is from someone sitting in the passenger’s seat. The depth of field is shallow. The focal point of this image is the blue book with the light hitting the general area of the book.

The cracks in the center of the windshield lead one’s eyes to the book. The image is balanced by being symmetrical with the dashboard not being too busy. The subject does not completely fill the frame, leaving extra space. At the edge of the image crops off the dashboard and windshield. The negative space is where the light shines on the dashboard around the book.

The story being told is of the photographer’s dad explaining how he wasn’t perfect I believe. The artist made this image to learn more about this dad. This image reminds me of movies when a car crashes. This image makes me question why the book and dashboard are so neat but the windshield is cracked. The image is noteworthy.

I do like the photo. This is because somehow I find the image serene because of the light coming through. The photo is successful. I believe the photo is successful because it tells a story and is aesthetically pleasing.

Hannah Barrow

4/8/2019 01:25:25 pm

This image is of a very cracked car windshield. There is a book on the dash that says “Church of God General Assembly.” The image is very brown but there is a pretty green in the windshield and the book is blue. The light is shining in low out of the window to the right and it looks like it is evening time. There is physical actions happening in the image but the Window makes it look like there is movement going on.

The point of view is of a person in the back seat leaning in. The angle of the image is taken strait on towards the book. The depth of field is deep. The entire window is in focus but some of the bricks outside of the car are out of focus. The rule of thirds is not being used.

The subject of the image is the book and the windshield.This image is not framed. The lines in the cracked window take my eyes all over the image. The image does not seem balanced. I feel like the book is out of place or to far back.

The story behind this image is the photographer took images of things from his father's past. This could have been a car that belonged to his father. This image could symbolize a broken relationship. This image reminds me of when someone broke into our car in an italian restaurant parking lot. This image is interesting.

I like and dislike this image. I like the windshield and the green at the top and the red of the bricks together. I don't like the book. It seems random. The color and placement of it hurts my eyes.

Joey

4/8/2019 01:26:29 pm

This is an image of an old car. The picture was taken from the inside of the car. Colors that were used in this image is slightly bright due to the sun lights. However, the bottom of the image is darker than the rest. There is a book in the car and car window is broken.

This picture is pleasing to look at because the color of the image is basically orange which makes people feel warm. The perspective of this image is a little bit lower than the driver. This picture uses shallow depth of field because isn’t any objects in this image that is far from the camera. It focuses on the book at the center of this image. This image is not really symmetrical.

This image is all about a break down car. This image is created in remembrance of author’s father. From this image we can see that the design of this car is extremely old. The blue book at the center of the image is about churches and gods. This tells us that this family may believe in certain religions.

I like this image because it is beautiful. I love the color of this image. There are a lot of details contained in this picture such as the car design and the book. This picture is successful because a breakdown car does illustrate the author’s idea that parents do make mistakes. I like it very much.

Paul Borrego

4/8/2019 01:26:37 pm

This is an image of a car with it’s glass cracked. It is using mostly warm colors except for the cool church book. The lighting is bright with sunlight except for the shadows in the lower part of the computer. Their is a wall in front of the car and in the car there is a church of God book. The car might’ve crashed and this is the aftermath of it but otherwise there isn’t anything happening.

This composition is very pleasing to look at. With it’s fractured windshield and warm colors it looks like an aftermath. The focal point of the photo is the book as it is a drastic color change and stands out. The rule of thirds isn’t being used as the book (which I think is the subject) is in the middle. This photo has a shallow depth of field.

The lines in the photo point to the center and the book is right under it. The image is mostly balanced with the radios matching and the glass being close to being symmetrical. The subject doesn’t fill the space with the car filling up the rest. †he edge of the photo is still inside the car. The frame does crop off the driver's seat though.

The theme might be fractures or brokenness in his life. Especially in his religion as that was were the cracks started. The image reminds me of an aftermath or post-apocalyptic scene with all the warm colors. The story might be that his father was just in a wreck that affected him, maybe psychological. And the glass brings the brokenness to the warm to make it he aftermath.

I like the photograph. It is very pleasing to look at because of the color combination. The glass also adds a lot of style/ interest to the picture. I believe the photograph is successful. I believe this because it gives a theme and a story.

Paolo Hernandez

4/8/2019 01:29:51 pm

This image is about a car. It shows a broken window and the front of the car. In this image the windshield is shattered. This probably came from a crash between this car and another car. There is no people, buildings, or anything besides the car itself.

This image is perfectly centered and it does use the rule of thirds. The point of view is the car. This image is perfectly balanced. This fills the space of the image. There is no negative space and it perfectly fills up the frame of the image.

The theme of this image is the car after a big car crash. There is a story being told. It is showing how bad a car crash can be if you are not careful. This reminds me of the news. The news always has stories of bad car crashes and it shows the damage that can be done to a car. This image looks cool and is interesting to look at.

I don’t like this image because it reminds me of the bad things that can happen to people. It don’t like to think about how people can die and get severely injured. It motivates people to not drink and drive and to not text while driving. This will result in a lot less crashes and and a lot less injuries and death. This photo is unsuccessful because it shows people the bad side of crashes. It makes people mad and sad because it reminds people of the bad crashes that they have experienced and seen.

I don't like this image. It makes me sad. I hate this image. It makes people mad and angry. It makes me mad that people die in car crashes. They are innocent people.

Reagan

4/8/2019 07:15:34 pm

The image is of a car. The car has a severely broken windshield. The cars interior is very clean and nice. In between the two main points is a book. The books name is “Church of God General Assembly.” The seats in the car are new and polished.

They use darker colors, and separated them with a light blue. The two darker colors are used to make your eye focus on the book, which is brighter. In the image the wind shield is caving in and the interior of the car is stuck in time. The book gives off a glow and seems heavenly. The image is very haunting.

The angle that the picture is being taken is not pleasing to the eye. The lining seems distorted and jagged. It’s not a good photo, because there is to much happening. The lighting is good, but the photo seems to compressed. The glass is the only appealing thing in the photo.

The focal point is the book. The image is very unbalanced. The negative space is the broken windshield. The positive space is the area that the light is shining on. The photo is no framed.

I dislike this photo. The background reason to why he is taking these photos may be sweet, but the actual photo is not appealing. I wouldn’t like these photos in my house. This photo reminds me of my relationship with my dad. The photo would of been better if the photographer hadn't of filled the image so much.

Jack Waters

4/24/2019 10:27:47 am

This is an image of a car with it’s glass cracked. We do not know what cracked the glass however below it is a church book. Almost all of the image is warm, except for the cool blue book. The lighting has some very bright areas and some very dark shadows. The car also seems to be much older than picture.

The image is pleasing to look at. The rule of thirds is not being used as the book which is the subject because it stands out the most is dead center. The point of view almost looks like someone who was in the car during whatever caused the cracked windshield. The depth of field is shallow as we cannot see anything past the windshield. There are lines that go across the image on either side of the book.

Depending of what you consider the subject there is lots of extra space. However the extra space is filled by important things. The image is kind of unbalanced as there are lots of things going on in the cracked windshield up top. The bottom however is very neat and untouched. The frame cuts off the right side of the car so it limits our context, we can't see if the steering wheel airbag went off which would let us know if it was a crash.

The book looks like it was sacred as it looks as if it was untouched while the windshield was destroyed. A theme could be how religion is both holy yet broken. It could also be that religion protects us as only things above the book are damaged. I find it interesting it raises many questions and answers few. It reminds me of a cheesy christian movie where something bad happens to the protagonist and then they find God.

I like the photograph. The artist was able to make things pop naturally with contrast. The windshield also has a cool look. Like i said before the image raises many questions and answers few. Overall I give this image a Buick car out of ten.

Comments are closed.

Period 7 -- Critical Analysis #18

Analyze

Archives

Categories

Home