Interpretation is often defined as the act of explaining the meaning of something, the explanation itself or a particular view of an artistic work, especially as expressed by stylistic individuality in its performance. In photography it is possible to pick up on an individual quality or an element of an image and by utilising the endless variations of light & shade, and colour & tone, convey an idea that such element might symbolise. It is also possible to create new links and build new associations through photographic images. It is about having a conversation, a dialogue that might extend way beyond a single photo or even a series of images.
My three chosen variations of this image of the Cornish coastal scene reflect on my personal experiences of time, space and harmony. They embody my own interpretation of these natural processes and are expressions of my way of thinking, living and experiencing life. In a way, they are very much a part of my continuous thinking and reflecting on the nature of things in life.
Image 1: Space (showing adjustments panel)
For the full image, go to the Gallery.
For the full image, go to the Gallery.
What was I trying to achieve with this image?
I wanted to create an image that explores the experience of space through the measures such as scale and perspective. I also wanted to draw attention to the way the different elements of an image interact with each other, exploring the concepts of borders, the beginning & ending.
Has this been achieved?
The elements of this image represent space differently, from the sea (immeasurable, immense, massive) to the large rock (black, heavy and huge in comparison to people, but small in relation to the sea) and two people (tiny specs in relation to the sea; small and fragile in comparison to the rock). The image gives a good sense of scale and perspective and is a good choice for starting to explore the ideas of space, scale and perspective.
I’ve chosen a black and white interpretation to have a greater focus on the conceptual elements of the picture: the sea, the rock, the beach, and the people – as different spaces interacting with each other. I think that the black and white image worked well to convey the idea of the image.
The image was shot at 1.2 sec to smooth the waves but keep the rock and the people sharp. The contrast between the sharpness of the dark-toned objects and the softness of the light-toned sea emphasises the difference and invites the viewer to look out for the deeper meaning of the interaction between these different elements. These contracts (dark-light, soft-sharp, small-large) also introduce an element of tension into the picture. The people look small and insignificant, fragile and unprotected against the blackness of the rock next to them. The sea appears as one vast uninterrupted and unexplored space. There is a border line that links all three objects; this border is blurred in places, for example, it’s hard to tell where the beach begins and the sea ends.
With regards to the techniques, I used the Curves, Clarity, Contrast and Blacks tools to achieve the described effect.
I think that my work on this image has achieved the desired outcomes and that I’ve managed to show a stronger emphasis on the space, perspective and scale in comparison to the original.
