This photo and some of the comments can be used as an example on appreciating art. I would like to add something about the colours: it´s a great find that the red vest on the kid´s back is the opposite of the blue water and sky; and his clothes are blue also. I guess it can mean that the hardships of life (the red) which go against the mainstream (the blue of everything) have to be carried on one´s back/shoulders, while trying to melt in society (the blue of clothes).
But, when you really think about it (reflect - the reflection), the entire life is blended into a boring dark brown, fragmented into unconnected pieces. And the proof of the existence (ripples) disappear or get mixed with other ones.
And as the photographer, I am watching myself, since this photo "rippled" from my actions. And as a viewer, you become the photographer watching himself. I need a drink.
Well, you have three of my top three favourite photographic subjects: water, sky, and children. So I can't help but say this is an awesome photograph. I really love it. With a composition like this, people usually say, "Subject too far right/left/outside the golden mean", and end up completely missing the point. Your "subject" is almost incidental to his environment, it seems, and is so completely part of it, advancing as he does from the painfully beautiful concentric swell beneath him, that thrusting him into the centre of the frame or somewhere other than where he is would completely destroy the effect, for me. His captured stance is dreamy as he looks into water. The radiating ripples are breathtaking, making this image for me. They originate with your subject's gaze, and go out to touch the edges of the visible water. The dead vegetation at left pushes the scene to the right and touches the small strip of sky (awesomely coloured, by the way). I love, repeat, love the tilted horizon, and would not like to see this "corrected". It isn't razor-sharp, and who needs it. His life preserver adds a really subtle nuance to this scene that grabs me, somehow. What a tender, thought-provoking image. I'll admit that your comments really helped me to appreciate this all the more, but this already has so much, for me, that it wasn't really needed.
The way I understood your alegory is that he's looking at his reflection, distorted by the ripples that he created. Am I missing something?
Well, once you mentioned his reflection, it seemed obvious. But actually when I came up with the title I was only thinking about his ripples. In a sense, he created the ripples (as we create art, create photos), whereas the reflection is more passive. Though in another sense, the reflection is caused by light waves rippling out from us, so really isn't that different after all. So, no, you're not missing anything. We have two elements now: the ripples and the reflection, and we can combine them any way we wish to create various meditations. :)
And we are watching the boy as the boy watches himself. And as the photographer, I am watching myself, since this photo "rippled" from my actions. And as a viewer, you become the photographer watching himself. I need a drink.
No I wouldn't expect you to get it from the picture. The title is kind of its own poem meant to interact with the picture. Hopefully, the picture has its own merits. To be honest, I sincerely doubt the boy IS looking at his own reflection.
What matters is the illusion, created by the picture. Even if the boy is simply trying to recite the multiplication table in his head, if it *looks* like he's looking at his reflection, that's good enough. :)
Just to make sure you understand, I'm not trying to shoot the picture down. It's a beautiful picture with a mood.
Originally posted by posthumous:
Oh, and another obscure point: you could say he is looking at his ripples, not his reflection!
The way I understood your alegory is that he's looking at his reflection, distorted by the ripples that he created. Am I missing something?
A very nice alegory, I'll need to remember it. Would not get it from the picture, though;
No I wouldn't expect you to get it from the picture. The title is kind of its own poem meant to interact with the picture. Hopefully, the picture has its own merits. To be honest, I sincerely doubt the boy IS looking at his own reflection.
Oh, and another obscure point: you could say he is looking at his ripples, not his reflection!
A very nice alegory, I'll need to remember it. Would not get it from the picture, though; it would be helpful if the boy's reflection were somewhat in front of him, to infer that he is looking at it, and not something else. The composition is good - you have your fore-, middle, and background going nicely.
Add photograph to your favorites
Add photographer to your favorites
Photographer found comment helpful.
