Image Essay #10

This photograph reminds me a lot of my “Story of this Place” painting. Even though the actual image is quite different, the setup is very similar. Both depict an open, outdoor setting with an illusion of space. Illusion of space can be shown through definition and overlap, but it can just as well be depicted through a defined foreground, middleground, and background, and the utilization of value. These elements were used in our “Story of This Place” projects.

In this photograph, the foreground (what is closest) contains the tree. The dark-colored tree trunk against the light-colored grass and sky create a situation of high contrast (dark against light). Areas of high contrast work best in the foreground because they generally seem to “pop” forward in space. The tree also shows detail of the bark and leaves; detail is another element that is effective in the foreground. The grass makes up the middleground, with some detail up-close but fading as the field stretches further and further away. In the background, the viewer can make out some rolling hills, although they are very subtle. Because they are so far away, the hills have a very low contrast in value against the sky. This low contrast makes them appear to recede back into space as opposed to coming forward like the tree.