Period 7 -- Critical Analysis #5

10/25/2018

©Kyle Thompson

Today you will be writing about this self-portrait image by artist Kyle Thompson. 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? What kind of light did the artist use to get the shot?

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

Campbell Streak-Jensen

10/25/2018 01:06:06 pm

There is a man in a suit with his eyes closed. He is standing in a river that is up to his stomach. There are twelve red balloons that are all around him. There looks to be no exit from the river. The balloons vary in size.
This photo must have been very difficult to shoot. The reason is because, he would have to get enough light which might mean a long shutter speed. If he used a long shutter speed, then he would have to stay still for a very long time without moving. He would also have to not get the top of his suit wet or it would show. He would also have to have a way to keep his camera up, which might be a tripod and a protective case around his camera.
The focal point of the photo is the man in the suit. He is the main focal point but the bright red balloons make you look away from him. The subject does not fill the frame. The way that the photographer takes up the rest of the frame is by putting in balloons. The photo is pleasing to look at because of the varying range of colors.
The image reminds me of a book by Stephen King called ‘IT’. The movie revolved around a clown following and trying to trap kids fear in the balloons which he would feed off of. The photo is beautiful because it makes me feel very serene. The photo is also noteworthy because he would have to take many shots to get all of the balloons in frame. This is very difficult to do and I am able to see the skill of the artist because he was able to pull it off.
I do like the photograph. The photograph is very beautiful to look at and also noteworthy. The image takes a lot of skill to do correctly and for that I am able to see the photographers skill. If the photograph was to make you feel calm and serene I do believe the photographer was successful. The photo also makes me curious and worried at the same time, so if that was the photographers intention, then yes it was successful. I do know that those are two contradictory statements, so only one can be correct, or they can both be correct.

Hannah Growney

10/25/2018 01:11:55 pm

This image depicts a man walking in a river. It is a self portrait. There are many balloons that seem to be coming out of the river. The man is dressed in a suit and tie. It consists of a white button up shirt, a grey jacket, and a reddish tie.

This image is uses bright red and dark greenish browns. In the image seems to be taken outside on a cloudy day. When first looking at this image my eyes were immediately drawn to the man standing in a river. The more you look at this image the more confusing it becomes because there is no logical reason for the man or balloons to be there. It is a balanced image because there are balloons on both sides.

Looking at this image I find it nice to look at. This is mostly because of the colors. The red really pops against the trees and water. The photographer is not using the rule of thirds because the main subject, the man, is in the middle of the frame. This image was taken with a smaller aperture, because you can see everything in the background. I believe that the balloons draw your eyes to the middle.

I believe that this is a strong image. I think it took another person to create this image. I think this because it would be really hard to time this right with the balloons and all. I also believe that this took more than one image because you can’t really have a lot of takes on this because of the balloons. Taking several pictures could eliminate the time and money it took to create an image such as this.

I think this photographer definitely used a tripod. If this image was taken in a real river there would be no other way. There is no other place I can think of that he could have set the camera. Even if he did use a tripod I am amazed at how the man successfully got an image of him walking in the water in a suit. On this specific day it seems to be cloudy thus almost eliminating the issue of shadows from combining images.

Andrea Gonzalez

10/25/2018 01:15:59 pm

Critical Analysis #7

In this photo captured by Kyle Thompson, he has captured himself in a body of water surrounded by floating balloons. Colors used are mostly dark tones, except for the balloons which are a bright red color. Shadows are very dark, almost black, and highlights are white. Kyle is in a suit, standing in this water while all of the balloons are rising. He is also the only person that is in the picture.
Yes, this image is pleasing to look at. The contrast between the red of the balloons and the grey of the water is sharp. The rule of thirds is not being used, as the subject, Kyle, is in the middle of the composition. A shallow depth of field is being used as all of the background is blurry. In addition, there are no lines to lead your eyes to the subject; instead, the subject is surrounded by balloons, which help frame him.
Although this image can be taken and interpreted in many different ways, I will focus on just one. To start off, it seems as if the subject is sad. Not only this, but the colors that are used in his suit are muted. This makes him stand out from the things around him, bright red balloons. While it is unclear whether he is sinking or standing still, it is common sense that these balloons are rising.
This image, in my opinion, is representative of all those in the world who feel alone, or like they do not belong where they are. They feel stuck in place, or as if they see no point in trying to get out of their situation. This is the sad reality of depression. He is being ostracized. The intention of the artist was to show that people who feel this way are not alone.
I like this image because the story that is being depicted can be something that is close to many people’s hearts. This image may question the ridiculous belief that mental illness is not important, as it can be extremely detrimental to the health of people around the globe. The photograph is beautiful as it shows how many people feel as if they cannot move on, or they cannot fit in with their surroundings. This is a noteworthy picture as many people can benefit from seeing it. By reflecting on the fact that everyone has at least someone who cares about them, many could be spared from a life of sadness and loneliness.

Shayna Bolton

10/25/2018 01:16:14 pm

The image shows a young man standing in a suit in a body of water, it seems to be a river. Balloons surround the man, floating at about head height, he has his eyes closed. It uses the bright red color of the balloons as a high contrast against the muted blue-grey of the suit and surrounding water. The lighting is slightly dark but not quite night time, possible around 4 or 5 in the afternoon. Other than the balloons, no other objects are in the picture, this is because the artist wants to draw all attention to the few things that are there.

It is pleasing to look at because it is serene and there isn’t much going on in the picture. The young man has a relaxed expression on his face with his eyes closed, he doesn’t seem stressed or in a bad position. This causes the viewer to have the same sort of feelings, calm and cool. The rule of thirds is being used, everything in the image is in the lower half of the screen, drawing the viewers’ attention to only that part of the screen. The point of view isn’t bug’s eye nor bird’s eye, the picture was taken at about the same height as the man’s face, straight on.

A very shallow depth of field is being used, the man and some of the balloons in the foreground are very sharp, while the background is blurry. The focal point of the image is the man, he is framed. He is being framed by the surrounding balloons, and the water around him. The line of where the water meets the ground draws your attention to the center of the man’s head, causing you to put all of your attention there. The subject does not fill the frame, there is lots of space around him, some filled by the balloons, however above him is all empty space.

At the edge of the frame some of the balloons are being cut off, or cut in half. This gives the image the illusion of having balloons everywhere on the river, not just in the frame and surrounding the man. The theme of the image is maybe a dream, represented by the man and the other objects. One could depict it like so because the man has his eyes closed, maybe to show that he is asleep. Also he is standing in a river with what looks like an expensive tux, no one would actually do that, and finally, there are balloons randomly around him.

The artist might have made this image to show how creative he could be, and to give readers a nice way of seeing dreaming. He may also have made it to calm people, the man in the picture is very calm so that is how the readers could be affected. The image is interesting because it proposes a theory or idea that you never would have thought of on your own, it opens your mind to new things. I like it because of the simplicity, it doesn’t have too many things going on in the image and its nice to look at. I think the photo was successful because it seems there are no flaws, the picture seemed to go exactly how the artist wanted it to.

Reagan

10/25/2018 01:16:42 pm

The sinking man

You see a man with a sad expression and in a grey tuck standing in the water that fills up to his chest. You see red balloons and the water is a murky grey. The water is a mirror to the world reflecting the slide. You also see a green bush and a brown surface underneath the trees. You also see the drops of rain dropping down from the skie and ruffling the water.
This photo has a wide aperture and a shallow depth of field. It also has gone through a lot of contrast and has added more red colors to the balloons and blue undertones to the water. The man is centered and only half of his is showing and the rest is swallowed by water. You see the man and the balloons from an outsiders point of view. It also could be from one of the ballons point of views.
The trees in the background frame the man and the water surrounding him is used as symmetrical lines to draw your eye to the man. I think the frame is very filled and that there is nothing left plane. The image isn’t very balanced and the line that the ground and the man make aren’t symmetrical, which is kind of bothersome. I would've liked the photo better if each other line were symmetrical and that the man's shoulder and the ground didn’t make a weird intersection. Although, the bothersome alignment, it is very pleasing to look at.
I think this photo is representing that one you're older and have responsibilities, which consume you and that it is no longer fun and games. The balloons represent childhood and the them being depicted flying away ,shows his loss of childhood. The water represent all the work he has and how he is literally drowning in it. His suit shows how he now grown and by him being sad you can tell he isn't happy with there being no games anymore. This picture shows a lot of loss and sadness.
I find this picture beautiful. It has a nice meaning behind it and is very interesting. It's not everyday you see a man sinking in water wearing his work clothes. I think a lot of older people can really relate to this photo and younger people can't, because we are consumed with work all the time. This picture is very pleasing and the colors balance each other out. I think the photographers goal was to get the looker to relate and feel a sort of relief of there stress, by knowing others are going through the same things. I think the photographer was very successful.

Sarah Guerra

10/25/2018 01:18:49 pm

The image seems very eerie and spooky. The image depicts a young man walking through a body of water. While walking through the water he is surrounded by red balloons. The colors mainly used are red and green. The lgh has a shadow but for the most part is natural lighting. The image seems very intricate.

I find the image pleasing to look at because it is so mysterious and interesting. The rule of thirds is being used by placing the subject in the middle of the picture. The point of view seems from maybe some animal passing by. The angle the photographer to this image is just at a level angle. The balloons draw you to look at the young man by how they are placed.

The focal point is the young man. The way the photo is framed cuts off some of the balloons. I believe the image balanced. This is because the image doesn’t seem too hectic. Theres is some negative space at the top of the photo du to there being no balloons there. Overall the image is symmetrical.

I think the photographer is trying to convey a meaning but I don’t know exactly what it is. The image reminds me of the horror film called It. the story is known for the red balloon which is held by the young character georgie in the movie. I think the artist made the image with the intention of making a statement. I find the image interesting because it has some hidden meaning.

I like this photo because of how detailed it is. The photo makes me want to know why there is a young man walking in a suit in the water. I would also want to know why there are balloons surrounding the young man. I believe the photo is successful. This is because it gives you a lot to think about.

Paolo Hernandez

10/25/2018 01:25:16 pm

This image is about a man that is about to sink in water. There is red balloons around him. His body is halfway in and halfway out of the water. The man is in the river of some sort of jungle or tree area. You can tell by the green plants and trees behind him.

He is in the middle of the frame. This image is not using the rule of thirds. The focal point is the man in the middle of the image. This image is balanced. There is no extra space in the picture.

In this image there is a ton of red balloons next to the man in the middle. The balloons were probably photo shopped into the picture. The man in the middle was also photo shopped because it is not possible for someone to be floating like that in the water. This image reminds me of the movie and book it, because of the balloons. This image is interesting to look at.

I like this picture because it makes me think differently. It makes me think of a lot of movies. It also reminds me of some sort of fancy movie or horror movie, because of the man’s suit. There are many ways to view this image. I like the red balloons in this image. This photograph is successful because it reminds people of other movies such as IT.

In conclusion, this image is very successful because it has spread to us. This image is great and it has many viewpoints. There many ways to interpret this image. This image is great. It does a great job with photoshop. This image is nice and successful.

Hannah Barrow

10/25/2018 01:26:20 pm

To answer the questions under the image, I think the artist used a tripod and the self timer. The image is taken outside and so there was lots of natural light. You can see that they added contrast to the image. This photograph was made by a river. Really he is in the river.

This image is of a man in a suit. He is in a river and there are many red balloons around him. The colors in this image are very natury colors so it makes the red in the balloons really pop. The light is pretty dark but it looks like that could have been added when the artist was editing the image and made it look darker. There are 12 red balloons in the image. I think the artist could have used the same balloon and edited them into the image because they all look the same size except for one that could have deflated. The man is in the river and the water goes to about his belly-button. He has a pretty chill look on his face, he doesn’t seem to care that he is in a river, he just seems a little sad.

The rule of thirds is not being used, the subject is in the very center of the image. The point of view looks lower than a person's view but not low enough to be a the water level. The depth of file is shallow. The trees in the far back of the image are blurred and the balloons lose to the camera are blurred. The focal point is the man in the river. The frame cuts off some of the balloons an the rest of the river. You can only see where the man is but I guess that is all that is important in the image. The lines from the balloons strings can bring your eye to the river or balloon.

I don’t see a story in this image but I have said that in a lot of critical analysis so maybe I just don’t see it. I don’t know why the artist made this image or what their intentions were but I like it. I really like the colors in the image. The green in the nature and the red in the balloons together makes me happy, it feeds my soul. This image honestly reminds me of the movie “IT” with all the red balloons around him.

I like this image. I don’t know what it means to why a business looking man would be in a spooky lookin river with a lot of balloons, but I know there is something about it I like. It makes my eyes happy. It easy for me to look at. I think the artist was successful.

Joey Zhou

10/25/2018 01:29:09 pm

There is a man standing in the water with balloons coming out of the water. The weather looks rainy because the picture is a little dark. We can tell from the picture that the water is not really deep and balloons are fixed with weights under the water. The color used in the image is mostly green, black and red. The reason for that is to make the balloons more striking.

The main character of the image is right in the middle. It’s not pleasing to look at because I don't like the colors that are used in this picture. The rule of third is not being used. The photographer shoots the picture parallel to the character. The focal point is right in the middle of the photo.

The theme of the image is “raising” since balloons are rising from the water. The artist creates this image because he is sad. He is wearing a suit probably because he is attending some sort of ceremony. The ceremony supposes to be fun because there are balloons everywhere. However, this is all ruined by water. This made the picture noteworthy.

I don’t like this picture because it makes me sad. More importantly, I don’t like the color in this image. But this is a successful image. The photographer uses a static image to present the rising balloons. This picture is impressive.

Anson Adamek

10/25/2018 02:38:16 pm

This image is of a guy in a river with red balloons surrounding him. There are green tees behind him on the bank of the river. There are small reflections on the red balloons and they seem to all be the same one. The man is wearing a grey suit, a white shirt, and a red tie. The water is a very shallow green color, almost grey color.

I think the way he did this is by taking a picture of one balloon in the river and he photoshopped the other ones in there. I think he might have tied the string of the one balloon to the bottom of the river on like a rock or something like that. I'm sure he didn't use a timer because that would be quite the challenge for him tp get in the river that quickly and not get carried away or slip. It does look like its raining too so i would assume that they would have to have something over the camera or something holding it not in the rain. He would have to probably photoshop some of the moisture and water off of his suit and hair because he probably got splashed above where the water is on his chest.

I don't think this image has any political suggesting of any sort. I think it means something though, i believe it's a metaphor for not fitting in. Everything around him iis the same thing and he is not, he is the only thing contrary to the red balloons. He seems like he is pressured and he cannot fit in the proper way because of his difference. He seems depressed and sad like he just messed up and everyone is staring at him and being judgemental.

I like this image because it has that black and weary vibe but also has vibrance.The red balloons go super well with the tie and the water. His depressed face goes well with the bland grey suit. The green contrasts great with the brown bank. And all of the colors generally look very nice and tranquil.

In conclusion i really like this image because of its great composition and vibrance. It brings me a sense of tranquility and peacefulness. Its cleansing and brings you a good sense of hope to the soul. Overall it has a good vibe to it, it's also a very cool looking picture. In the end it's just a good aesthetic picture that has several elements of happiness.

Paul Borrego

10/28/2018 05:48:11 pm

This is an image of a man in a river surrounded by balloons. The environment has green and blue with red balloons around it that stand out. The lighting has lots of shadows with it not being that bright. The image contains a man surrounded by balloons. The man is just standing in a river without trying to escape.
The image is pleasing to look at with the balloons making it stand out by choosing clashing colors. The focal point of the image is the man in a suit because he is surrounded by the balloons. The rule of thirds isn’t being used with the man standing in the middle. The image is almost symmetrical with the balloons usually having a counterpart on the other side but it isn’t perfect symmetry. The subject doesn’t fill the frame with lots of room around him that's taken up by balloons and water.
This self-portrait looks that it combined multiple images for the balloons to be there. For one all of the balloons look the same. Also sometimes the see thru part of the balloon doesn’t match up with what's behind it. That would mean that the balloon was put over the existing photo. Finally the water doesn't seem to be pushing against the man, like he wasn’t there.
The themes are maybe depression or sadness. I say this because of how he looks and that he is standing in the river without trying to escape. The story in this image might be that he had a rough day at work or doesn’t like his job. He reminds me of someone who looks like they are pondering something deeply. It doesn’t challenge beliefs but does send a message.
I do like this image because of how it looks. It is visually pleasing with the balloons being my favorite part. It also has a point besides being nice to look at which is a bonus. This is important to me because a lot of pictures with statements are solely based around that statement. I think the photo is successful. It sent a message that is attached to a good looking photo.

Eduardo Saucedo

11/8/2018 01:13:06 pm

This image is about a guy in a river with balloons surrounding him. The image is using strong and bright colors, the suit and the balloons really stand out. The lighting is bright where the guy is standing but dark on top. The objects that are included in the image are balloons, trees, and a person in the water. The guy looks like he is dreaming about him being in the river with balls, this can symbolize confusion, or sadness.

This image is very pleasing to look at because it males me want to know more about the story behind this photograph, it also makes me be relaxed. The rule of thirds is not being used because the subject which is the person, is not on the right or left. The photographer used bras view to shoot this image. The focal point is the person, because its the first thing you see when looking at the image. I think there are lines where the balloons are located, the balloons guide you to the subject which is the person. The image is well balances symmetrically and arithmetically, its an image that used different techniques to make it really interesting. The subject fits in the entire frame, because of the balloons surrounding the image and the person being in the middle of the image. There is water and trees at the very edges of the image. The positive space is on the middle and bottom, and the negative space is on top of the person which are the dark trees.

The theme of this image is that dreaming is the world where you can do anything you want to do. The story behind this image is that something bad happened in the guy's life that made him depressed. Then he went to a river and he started dreaming about balloons surrounding him. The artist made this image in order to make us feel interested or confused when looking at the image, his intention is to make you look at the tiny detail in this image. This movie reminds me o the movie "IT", because of the red balloons and the lighting the movie. This image does not question or challenge my beliefs or assumptions. This image is both beautiful and interesting, because of the colors that are being used and the fact that the artist chose ballooned and a person as the main subjects.

I really like this image because its something that I've never seen before besides when I watched the movie "IT". The photographer is successful because what he tried to do is make us have this interest in his work more, because of the subjects the he chooses with different images.

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Period 7 -- Critical Analysis #5

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