Period 7 -- Critical Analysis #6

11/2/2018

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 before your next class on MONDAY, 11/5/17.

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

Hannah Growney

11/2/2018 01:26:08 pm

This is an image of a man standing in the desert. This picture only shows a older man, cacti, and mountains. The lighting makes it seem cloudy outside. The colors used are blues, reds, greens, and white. These colors are used to show that the desert is an empty place.

From a photographic perspective this is pleasing to look at. The image is quite simple and uses calm colors. I do think this image is using the rule of thirds. The item in focus, the man, is just off center in the image. A shallow depth of field is being used in this image because just the foreground is in focus. This is an asymmetrical image. On either side of the image the man is doing different things and the background is different.

Some themes in this photograph are neutral colors, and empty spaces. The photographer wanted to show the simple life in the west. This image reminds me of West Texas. West Texas is very plain and simple. I personally think that this image is beautiful. There isn’t a lot going, but I think it correctly displays life in these towns.

I like this image. It think that it shows life in these places. I believe that the photographer was trying to display these things. The photographer was trying to show life in these tiny towns. Therefore, I do believe that the photographer succeeded in this photograph.

I don’t think this photographer used a tripod. I think this because it seems bright enough. I also think that since this was an image of another person the photographer himself could take it. I like this image because it really shows who this man is. The artist makes it seem like we are with this man on this land.

Shayna

11/9/2018 12:54:38 pm

The image depicts what seems to be an older man in a desert type background. He dresses like a cowboy, or someone who is from more Western parts, it may be photographed there too. It uses a bright blue hat to pop against the more muted red on his checkered shirt. This also helps draw the eye not only to the body and scenery of the picture, but specifically to the man’s face. The lighting in the photo isn’t super bright nor is it super dark, one can guess that the picture was taken around four or five PM.

Other than the man in the center, there aren’t any other main characters or items, a little bit of cactus is in the bottom right corner. I think the image isn’t very pleasing to look at because the man in the photo doesn’t really look happy, the feelings of the characters can affect the feelings of the viewer. He looks as if either he is confused, or as if he lost his glasses and can’t see very well so he is forced to squint. The rule of thirds is not being used in the picture, the man is right in the middle of the photo. The point of view is neither bug’s eye nor bird’s eye, it is taken about head height.

The picture has a very shallow depth of field, while the man is sharp and in focus, everything else is blurry. The man is framed by his background items, the plants behind him help put focus on him. The lines on the man’s shirt direct the viewer’s eye to his face and his expression. The main item does not fill the page, there is lots of extra space around and behind him. The edge of the frame doesn’t crop off anything important, just a few plants and things.

The theme of the photo is a western, or cowboy, theme. The man in the photo is dressed in the normal attire you would see on a farm or ranch. A plaid shirt, jeans, possibly boots, and a hat. The story being told in the image could be a man who just lost something, he has a sad kind of look in his eyes, so a tragedy may have just occured. The artist may have created this image because they wanted to show the viewer what pain or feelings the man in the photo may have been feeling at the time.

The image reminds me of the average western movie, usually about cowboys who go on some adventure. I think the image is interesting because it is unique. Usually people photograph happy things, or people who look happy with a smile on their face. I don’t like the photo very much because the man in the photo’s feelings have transfered to me and it makes me slightly upset. I think the photograph is successful though because it has the intention of the artist.

Campbell Streak-Jensen

11/2/2018 01:28:24 pm

The portrait shows that he is probably a farmer. The main is very old and he is in the desert. The environment can tell me that he is probably in the south. He could also be a farmer based on him being in the desert. He looks very rugged and mad.

The image is of a main in the desert. The man is wearing a checkered shirt. He is wearing deep navy blue pants with a belt. He has sideburns that are coming off of his head and he is wearing a blue hat. He looks like he is in a very dry desert.

The main focal point is the man. It is not pleasing to look at because of the colors used. The rule of thirds is being used. It is framed by the desert and on the right of the photo there are cacti. The man is looking at the camera.

There is a story being told in the image. The man is a farmer and he is stopped by the photographer. The photographer asks him for a photo and the man doesn’t know what he is talking about. Is could change how people think about farmers. The image is not noteworthy.

I do not like the photo. To me the photo isn’t pleasing. The reason is because the photo does not have any pleasing colors to me. Pleasing colors would be bright colors like yellow and red. The photographer was successful.

Eduardo Saucedo

11/2/2018 01:28:40 pm

This image is about an old man that is either tired or sad. its using dark colors to make the image more dramatic. The old man looks very tired and sad, this man seems like he is a serial killer or that he is traumatized.

This image is very pleasing to look at because it makes you want to know more about the person and the background or setting. This is taken in portrait mode to make the image more shady and dark. The subject fills the frame, because theres something to look at at every angle. The positive space is on the top and the negative space is on the bottom.

The theme that I gained by looking at the image is the is not about the number of times you fall, its about the number of times you get back up. The story is clearly being told because its describing a man that looks confused or traumatized. The artist took this photograph in order to show us the caused of something really important happening in your life after its gone. The image is interesting because it makes me want to know more about this person's life.

I really like this image because it describes everything that's going on is just one single photograph. This image is successful because the photographer accomplished what he wanted to accomplish, and that was to make us feel bad about his person.

Andrea g

11/2/2018 01:28:49 pm

Critical Analysis #7

In this image, I am observing a man standing in a desert setting. He is giving the photographer an incredulous look, as if someone said something he did not believe. Behind him, are cacti and dirt, both with very dark shadows. The setup of this picture is outside and in nature. I am inclined to believe that this picture was taken in the southern United States.
In my opinion, this composition is pleasing to look at. The way that the subject is framed by the cacti around him is leads my eye to him. As the man is standing to the left of the image, I would say that the rule of thirds is being used intentionally. A lot of extra space is surrounding the man, which may be an indication that he is small compared to his surroundings. The subject, the man, is being viewed from the eyes of the photographer.
The man is giving the camera a look that, in my opinion, describes how he feels about technology. Judging by his clothes, he is a native of his surroundings. This may mean that he is not used to too much internet or modern gadgets being around him. Confusion is able to be seen all over his face. He may even feel threatened by the unknown, the camera.
The artist behind this image may be trying to portray the story of those that are not used to having modern science around them. They may not know what is going on, or maybe he just did not feel comfortable getting photographed. Some people get angry when someone is taking a picture of them in their most vulnerable state, when they are not conscious of the picture being taken. This image is interesting because it helps me understand the lives of people that live in more rural areas. It also makes me feel fortunate to be in my own shoes, with all of the resources that I have been given.
I like this image. I enjoy being reminded of all my blessings. This reminder is even more special when it is given to me at times when I am down. Most people can always use the mental note of the fact that things could always be worse, and they are fortunate to be in their place. This image should be viewed by more people as it could get someone through a tough day.

Sarah Guerra

11/2/2018 01:29:10 pm

The picture is a photo of a older man out in the country area looking straight at the camera.the main colors used are green, yellow, and blue. The lighting is just natural light but not too bright. The photo includes a man and a country landscape. The man is looking straight into the camera very confused.

The composition of the photo is very pleasing and symmetric. The rule of thirds is being used by placing the man in the center of the picture. The point of view could b of someone having a conversation with the man. The depth of field is very shallow. The focal point is the man.

The cactus and bush in the lower front lead your eyes to the man. The image is balanced and symmetrical. The picture has the man centered and the background seems very balanced and not to distracting from the focal point. The frame is copping off the rest of the man’s legs. There is negative space at the top showing the sky.

The theme seem to try and capture the man’s personality. The picture is also showing about the man’s background life. I think the artist is trying to give you information about the person the photo is taken of. The image makes me want to know what the guys is doing and why he is making that face. I find the image interesting.

I like this photo and find it pleasing to look at. I find the photo pleasing because i like the colors. I also like it for the landscape. I like it also because i am curious about what the man is looking at. I also like the quality and choices the the photographer made with the photo. The photo is successful.

Paolo Hernandez

11/2/2018 01:30:40 pm

This image is about a man who is a farmer. He is wearing a collared shirt with jeans. He is in some sort of desert. There is cactus in the background. There is mountains in the background.

The man is wearing a blue hat. He is in a very big desert. He looks very tired after all the work he did on the farm. There is probably other people working on the farm. He is wearing a checkered shirt.

The main focus of this image is the farmer. The desert is blurred, because the photographer only wants you to focus on the man. This photographer made this image to show what a farmer is like on a farm. This image reminds me of some sort of movie on a farm. This image is interesting to look at.

I like this image because it reminds me of a lot of things. It reminds me of relaxation. This make me think of the country. The country is very relaxing. This photo is successful because it perfectly portrays a farmer on a farm.

In conclusion, this image is good to look at. It is interesting because it shows the viewer different ways of living. I like this image a lot. It soothes me and makes me calm. People should look at this image because it is inspirational. This image is inspirational because it calms me and it should calm anyone who sees it.

Reagan

11/4/2018 04:19:06 pm

The image is of a man wearing a blue cap. He has a maroon, blue and white plaid shirt on. He also is wearing navy blue pants. He also has a tan clothespin on the outline of his pant socket. He is also surrounded by the desert.

The man in the photo is squinting his eyes and glaring at the camera. He is shown his true self. He isn't wearing figurative mask and is showing the conclusion of a long hot day in the desert. The man is wearing bright colors so that they pop against the background colors that are darker. The bright shirt pops against the dark cacti.

The photo has a shallow depth of field and focus on the older man. The rule of thirds is being used as the man is slightly being placed to the left side of the frame. The man is the focal point of the picture. The man is framed by the mountains in the background of the portrait. I don't think there are any leading lines in this photo.

I think the image is telling about all the hardships of living in the desert. The elderly man is gripping onto his pants hunched over showing he is tired. The cacti represents danger. The way the man is squinting shows he has been through a lot. The image remind me of the song “ Papa was a Rolling Stone.”

I personally dislike this photo. The fact that the man is wearing pants and a long sleeve shirt in the heat of the deseret bothers me deeply. I think the photographers goal was to make people uncomfortable when looking at the photo. I think the photographer was very successful in his goal. He definitely made me feel uncomfortable when looking at the photo.

Paul Borrego

11/4/2018 06:42:57 pm

This is an image of a miner in a desert with hilly areas and telephone poles behind him. The background is mostly warm colors and the man is mostly cool colors. The photo’s lighting is in the sun. The picture has a man, cactus, and hills. In this image a man is standing in a desert area.
This photo is a portrait of another person. This isn’t a self portrait. The person is in a harsher more desert like environment. The man in the portrait is older and looks like the environment, harsh. The man is also looking at the camera intensely.
This picture is appeasing to look at because it has a good background. It has a shallow depth of field. The focal point is of a man. The image is not symmetrical. The subject doesn’t fill up the frame.
The idea of the image might be to show a man hardened by work. The story being told is that the man had to work a hard job. The artist made this image to show a person in a specific region. The image reminds me of the stereotypical old man who thinks we have it easy. I don’t think this image challenges any beliefs.
I do like the photo as it has a story and looks good. The photo is unique as it has a unique and pretty background with a different subject. The story is also an upside because any story gives a photo more depth. The photo is successful because it does what any photo tries to do. It looks nice and tells the person who sees it something.

hannah barrow

11/5/2018 06:45:01 am

The image is of a man in what could be a dessert. The man is wearing a blue, red, and white flannel shirt. He has on blue pants. He has a clothespin on his pant pocket. He is wearing a blue jean looking hat. He is in a place where there are not any tall trees. There are many cacti and tumbleweeds. There are mountains behind him. In the background, there are greens and yellows and greys. The light is natural but it looks like it could be cloudy because there aren't any harsh shadows. There are no objects. The main subject is the man.

This image is pleasant to look at. I like that the man is not in the city and I like images with green and yellow because the are natural colors. I don’t think the rule of thirds is being used but the subject is off to the left a bit. The point of view is at eye level with the man in the image. The depth of field is very shallow. The focal point os the man. Some lines that could be directing your eyes are the telephone poles in the background. I can’t tell if the image is balanced because the ground is very hilly and there are mountains in the background. The frame is cutting of the man's lower legs and a lot of the environment he is in.

I don’t think there is a story behind the image. The man is just standing there with a strange look on his face. The artist could have just made the image because they liked the setting and how the man looks. This image reminds me of my summer camp. It is in Leakey, Texas and the area looks a lot like this image. The setting looks a lot like the drive over to my camp to with the mountains and the dry ground.

I like the image. I like the natural colors with the brighter colors on the man's clothes. I don’t understand why he has a confused look on his face but maybe there is some sort of message that I don’t see. I think the artist is successful.

Anson Adamek

11/5/2018 12:03:43 pm

The picture is of an older man in the desert. He is wearing a plaid red white and blue shirt with a blue hat and a blue pair of jeans. There is cacti and sand all around him (probably arizona type area.) There are power lines in the back and the sky is a very light pink. There are dried out and dead trees in the back.

He has a very stern look on him and it's like a “what did u said to me boyyyy!” moment. I would guess their car broke down or they are taking a hike, not because they want to but because they are somehow forced to. They look like they have been hiking for a while because i don't see any roads or paths in sight. There are big mountains in the back so that's what they might be aiming for. There are power lines so that does mean they are near some sort of life.

The old man looks like some kind of old timey grandpa. I would assume that the camera man is his son or someone probably younger than the man. The man i'm guessing does not have the best relationship with the cameraman considering the old man’s facial expression. I do think it is challenging some sort of belief because i think it means something like a millennial always complaining and can't go 5 mins without their phone and the old man is like having a “back in my day” speech. They are probably someone from the city that isn't used to the hard conditions of the desert.

There is no rule of thirds in this picture. There is a second person view. There is a shallow point of view. The lines are the man's arms and legs directing me to his face and mountains. The image is balanced but nothing is symmetrical. The subject does not fill the frame, there is a lot of background desert and mountains. the edge of the image is the mountains and the cacti.

I do like this image, because it reminds me of my grandpa and his common mad expression.It shows the old timey personality out of someone.I have a lot of nostalgic memories viewing this picture and it reminds me of the good times of me mowing the lawn and always missing a line and mowing rocks. That same expression on his face was on my grandpa’s his face a lot, he was an engineer and when he couldn't figure something out that would be his face. I believe that this image is successful because it emphasizes the old fashioned ways of my family.

Joey

11/5/2018 09:13:33 pm

This picture shows a old man standing in the desert. He is wearing a blue hat and looking directly at the camera. The picture looks bright. The color of the picture is kind of grey. The background is a mountain full of rock. He is the only person in the picture.

This picture is not pleasing to look at. Because the man in the picture is looking at the camera in a strange way. It looks like he is confused by the process of photo-taking. This picture used shallow depth of field because the background is sort of blurry. The focus point of this picture is right in the center. The photographer took this picture parallel to the man in the photo.

This picture is all about an old man. The purpose of the image is to give us some information about him. This picture is noteworthy because this old man represents a group of people who is working in harsh conditions. The background of the picture looks like some mining area. What an interesting picture, we can extract a lot of information from the image such as the identity of the figure and where is he standing.

This man in the picture is probably a miner. He spent most of his time working on these mines. This is why he looks dirty and tired. It reminds me that there are a lot of people out there working day and night to provide us an enjoyable life. We have to remember people who works for us.

I like this picture because it precisely describes a person using portraiture. This is a successful picture although it makes me sad. The perfect lighting and the setting make the picture successful. However, the idea come from the image makes me sad. Some people worked very hard but still living in a miserable life just like the miner in the picture.

Jack Waters

11/9/2018 01:27:06 pm

This is an image of a man standing in a desert. The image focuses on the elderly man and the background is out of focus. All we can see is that there are lots of cactuses and dead bushes it appears to be late in the day, this is shown by the red hues in the sky. The man's shirt makes it so that he pops against the background. Based on what we know about the artist there is a good chance that the man is or was a miner.

The image looks nice objectively. The man is slightly off center so it follows the rule of thirds. The man's clothing makes him pop from the image, the shallow depth of field allows you to focus on the man but also to get context from the background.

The man does not appear to want to be having his picture taken. Judging by his clothing, where he lives, and his age, he probably does not like change and doesn't really like the new camera being used by the photographer. He may have also lost his job to technology as happened to many mine workers. This likely would cause him to dislike technology. Also, the way he stares at the camera gives an eerie feeling.

This picture reminds me of characters in movies and tv-shows that yell get off my lawn. This image makes me want to know more about this man. Why is he giving the camera that look, what happened to him, whats his life story? these are all questions raised by this image. This image makes me more sympathetic to people like this man so I would say it is noteworthy.

Since the author was trying to capture those who live in places like this man I would say it is successful. I like this image, everything about it is nice. I can't point out anything wrong with it. The look on the mans face is intriguing and makes me want to know more. So it is successful on that front too. Overall I would give this image a 9/10.

David Scott

11/9/2018 07:12:09 pm

This image is of a man in a blue hat standing in a desert with cacti and shrubs. Judging by the lighting this looks like this image was taken around sunset. The sun light seems very mellow and not too harsh. I believe this image is not taken with studio lighting. He also seems to have a laundry clip on his left pocket.

The man does not seem to be well shaved. He is wearing a plaid shirt and dark navy blue jeans. He seems to be scowling maybe because of photographer taking a photo of him. It looks as if a dark shadow is casting down on him and the area around him. He is the only person in this photo.

This image is pleasing to look at. I like the contrast between the bright blue had and his surroundings. The rule of thirds is in use a little bit in this photo. He is slightly to the left of the frame.This is a very shallow depth of field that blurs out everything besides the man.

The focal point of the image is not framed. There are no leading lines that lead your eyes to the subject. The image is not symmetrical. The subject does not fill the frame. There are hills and mountains on the edge of the frame.

The theme of this image is just normal blue collar working. It's nothing special and it’s not exactly pretty but that is what life is like for so many people. I think this image is successful. I like it because it shows a standard worker living his life. I feel like I can relate to

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Period 7 -- Critical Analysis #6

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