Balance, Contrast and Harmony

When this picture was staring me in the eye the other day, I realized that it has everything I was looking for in terms of balance, contrast and harmony.

The grass has amazing texture. I feel like I could put my foot out and walk on it. The picture has balance. You have Sandra's character on the right, and the helmet in his right hand that offsets his size next to her. The two buildings in the background also help create symmetry. The sun creates shadows which therefore creates contrast. The green grass really pops against the sky, as well as their dark clothing. The size difference between the two also creates dramatic contrast.

The cultural and social contexts cannot be ignored. They're extremely powerful. I love that you can see just a portion of her face. In her face you can see love and concern. The picture tells the story of something happening between the two that could be moving. Clearly both of them are incredibly different people, but the way the lighting comes together and the peace you can feel when you look at the two of them together, allows you to see that the two worlds have been brought together(cultural context). The picture is warm in colors, while the actual colors used could actually be very cold. The hand on his back pulls the two of them together allowing the viewer to see the connection between the two of them.

I love this picture!

Visceral Response

I've looked at this image several times, and each time I see it, I feel something new. This image makes me sad and I still get teary-eyed everytime. The expression on the father's face explains more than enough. I was so moved by the photo the first time I saw it, that I had to search for the caption on the photo. I was hoping the baby was asleep, but my fears were confirmed when I read that he had died. I am also reminded of why I am grateful to live in the US.

(And I apologize for the "gettyimages" in the background.)