Galina Karasoy -weekly post #8

Elliot Erwitt

 SPAIN. 1995. Madrid. Museo del Prado.

USA. 1955. Colorado.

USA. 1974. New York.

Elliot Erwitt is an advertising and documentary photographer known for his black and white candid shots of ironic and absurd situations within everyday settings. He is one of original Magnum members and former president. Photography has been his career for over 50 years. His works are primary focus on street photography and documentary, subject matter is always witty and humorous.

First image is not exactly balanced composition with inclination on the right side. Artist emphasizes on the right side of the image by locating most of the people in there and the object that force them to stay mesmerized.  Left side of the picture is lacking viewer’s attention because of “boring” subject matter.  Moreover, in order of perspective, image tends to be overcrowded on the right, because woman is located on the middleground of composition while the rest of the “curious museum goers” on the foreground.

Second image however, awakes mixed feelings. This time artist focuses on foreground. Shallow depth of field lets the viewer to examine all small details of cracks on the window. Young boy is looking intense straight to the photographer, but his sad expression tells us that he might be involved in some sort of complicated life situation may be with his family, maybe with society. Placing his eyes right behind the bullet’s mark on the glass has tremendous impact on the mood of composition. It leaves us with a question about what exact message could be transmitted through this shot. Maybe it is Erwitt’s attempt to say that violence in this young boy’s life could damage or even pervert his psychology.

Third image is again taken with shallow depth of field focusing on middleground. This time photographer experienced with perspective of the subject matter. Viewer is asked to look at the world around him from tiny Chihuahua’s eyes. Placing this dog right next to his owner’s boots and another dog’s legs is great play of scale. Therefore, the elements that stay in focus such as boots, some dry leaves and mud on the ground, cloths of Chihuahua refer to fall season unmistakably. Even though image is black and white and there are only details of middleground available to the viewer, we have almost precise idea about weather and season. Another thing that should be mentioned is linear feature of the image: anything starting from foreground to the lines that are out of focus like trees and blurry poles on the back are straight perpendicular to the ground. This effect creates stability and settled composition.

I personally enjoy Erwitt’s works, I have found that it is very hard to pick only three, while he has so many smart and meaningful storylines in every photograph. I would like to learn how to create such stories by pressing shutter release button, because I, honestly, prefer composition with hidden clues to abstractive images.