Light & Shadow

This weeks assignment was to observes how light and shadow can create different moods, atmospheres, or become the subject of a photograph.

Photograph by Gregory Crewsdon. Title Unknown.

This photograph was taken by Gregory Crewsdon. It can be found in his book Twilight which features several photographs where light creates a bit of an erie mood, or completely changes the idea of the image. I find this photograph appealing because of its use of bold lighting, its almost creepy idea, and its composition. The lighting in this image draws your eye to the subject as well as takes what would be a very flat image and gives it a whole new life. I think the lighting of the room is what makes the photograph so successful.

Photograph by Flor Garduno. "Torsos". Mexico, 1999

The next photograph is a photo by Flor Garduno. It is featured in her book Inner Light along with several other nudes and still life which feature a similar style of lighting. What draws me to this photograph is the light. It's bright light creates an almost palpable feeling of warmth when I look at it. It also seems to help create a feeling of weight between the two bodies where they meet and a deep shadow is created. While its simple composition seems almost obvious I think that it only helps contribute to the feeling of weight thats created by the shadows.

Photograph by Philip Lorca diCorcia. "Cuba Libre". W. March 2000

The final photograph was taken by Philip Lorca diCorcia. I found it in a book called Fashioning Fiction. What I find interesting about this photograph is it's simple composition but more than anything his use of light. The way he has use the light not only creates an interest within the simple composition but also changes the mood completely. The light now changes the image of a women alone at a bar from alone to complete isolation. It seems as if she is starting out at a world she can never get to.