Wk 4 Texture and Positive and Neg space Artists

Edward Jean Steichen 

(27 March 1879 - 25 March 1973)

An American photographer, painter, art and museum curator.  He revolutionized celebrity fashion photography in the 1920's and 30's.  As chief photographer for Vogue and Vanity Fair Magazine, his work included portraits of writers, artists, actors, dancers and politicians.   At that time, he was considered the best known and most paid photographer in the world.

Below is a portrait of silent film actor Gloria Swanson.  The textured veil positioned perfectly on her face creates an interesting mood.  Her facial expression seems quite piercing, her eyes appear strong as she looks straight into the camera. Her mouth clench tight keeping her lips together.  The pattern over her left eye appears darker, with a bit of blur over it.  Shes looks as though she's waiting behind leaves for the right moment to pounce.  I like how this texture adds another dimension to the photo,
as if an alter ego - showing us the inner person of the subject.  More than just a pretty face!

The texture on Edward Jean Steichen's subject adds drama to the photo.  The texture uses negative space to draw attention to the main subject while providing areas for the eye to rest.

Title: Gloria Swanson 1924, Artist: Edward Steichen,

“A Steichen photograph is first a study of light,” wrote Alexander Liberman, Vogue’s art director, in a 1959 tribute. “The secret power of his work is in his instinctive knowledge of the exact moment when illumination fully reveals the subject.”

Title: Wind Fire - Marie-Theresa Duncan on the Acropolis 1921, Artist: Edward Steichen, Medium: Photograph

 The texture of the leafy branch is very strong, it is in focus and acts as a pointer to the subject.  The curves of the dress formed by the wind adds drama leading movement upward and around the subject.  The smoothness of the dress sits in contrast to the roughness of the rocks, the furry grass and the lumpy movement of what appears to be the sea.  These contrast of textures reinforce the subject, making her stand out even more.

This photos awesome, i like how he captured the dress flowing in the wind.  The curve of the arm melding into the top of the mountains in the distances reinforces the movement of his subject.  Her hair is mirrored by the leafy branches at the bottom of the picture which is positioned leaning toward her.  Her position leads the eye easily around her body, which keeps your eye moving around the picture to see details you wouldn't have seen at first glance.

Eikoh Hosoe

A Japanese photographer and filmmaker.  Known for his psychologically charged images, exploring subjects of death, erotic obsession and irrationality.  His black and white photos are very haunting as if capturing a glimpse of  spiritual beings existing among the living.  You can watch a short interview  of Eikoh Hosoe sharing a brief background of his works.

These images illustrate how Eikoh Hosoe uses negative and positive space.

Title: Man and Woman #33

I really like this photo, the composition is perfect and my eye easily moves in and around this photo.  The birds are the first thing you see, they sit on the intersecting line, the birds are also being framed by the mans hands.  The vertical line defined by his torso, leads the eye up and around to the arm which then directs the eye to the birds.  The man's body contrasts with the black background  which further reinforces the birds in the foreground.