For my project I really wanted to incorporate my dog into it because I love my pup. Given that he is a guard dog, I was thinking of him guarding the land at night because where I live, it can be pitch black so I always feel much better when my dog isn't barking like a maniac in the middle of the night, he is very much my security system. I took several long exposure photos of him at night when we were playing with his ball, my boyfriend held up his ball while I captured this picture and luckily he remained still. I combined several pictures I got of the stars to make them more visible and just to add more stars to the sky then I added a gradient to it. I forgot to add this to the GIF but there were originally houses and trees in the background so I disregarded those and added the trees and gave the overall picture a little blue glow.
The untitled work by Madyson Young is a landscape oriented photograph with the main subject being a large, furry dog standing centered in the grass outdoors. The time of day is during the nighttime with bushes and trees in the background as a starry sky is overhead. While the work is set in the nighttime, the illumination is cool toned as it mainly consists of blues. The only area of warm-toned colors that are in the photograph comes from the fur of the dog. There is an even balance of light and heavy shadows throughout the composition.
ReplyDeleteFrom the elements in the frame, the work could possibly be about the dog and its watchful eye as it stands outside almost like it is in a position of observing. It appears alert, still - almost like a portrait but with a wide scope of the environment around it. And as it is standing outside, the colors of the environment could allude that the scenery could be peaceful but almost lonely and mysterious as it’s the only dog standing outside watching in an open area surrounded by trees and bushes. And with the light source mainly coming from the right, the dog could also appear to be watching at the light source, curious of what it is. With the work taken at nighttime, it’s often the time for leisure and downtime towards sleeping but the dog here is far from looking tired or sleepy.
The content itself is transformative in how the lighting and color interprets the mood of the work from the original photo as we get a more cinematic, almost moody perspective. In terms of the technique, overall it was executed well. One thing that could be fixed could be the lighting of the trees and bushes. Following the light, the middle section of the area could be dimmed down more since there is hardly a light source that hits the section.The top edges could also decrease in brightness as well for it to blend in more with the night sky to make it look more realistic given how the work resembles of an actual photograph. I would think the edges could also be masked out slightly more to fade as an alternative method to dimming down the brightness since the edges seem harsh especially during the night time where edges tend to get lost.
In our larger culture, dogs have been a popular subject in our culture as we have an unwavering adoration towards our pets and showing others their quirks and personalities. This work showcases that aspect as we see the dog interact with its environment, allowing us to get a glimpse of their personality. In this case, the dog is alert, cautious, and curious. In terms of this assignment, this dog could potentially be on the watch like a guard dog during the dark as their owners are off to sleep and potential dangers are harder to detect at the time of day due to the lack of daylight. This work shows a glimpse of something getting the dog’s attention as it watches throughout the night which is something that most guard dogs would do and experience.
With the work containing the dog as the main subject, it gives an idea of how it behaves during the nighttime as it appears to be curious and alert during the peaceful yet lonely time of day. With the blue lighting, it gives a sense of mystery and eeriness as the dog keeps an eye out of potential dangers. The concept was executed very well in displaying its intention and transforming the environment. Technique-wise, there are some aspects that can be fixed with minor changes that don't take away from the viewing experience and overall concept of the piece. Overall, the photograph was pieced together with great intention and makes it believable and nearly unrecognizable form the original image with lighting and color playing an integral part.