Descent
For this project, I wanted to explore the feeling of surrender — that suspended moment between falling and finding calm. I chose this image of a falling figure surrounded by floating rocks and clouds to represent the struggle between control and release. The upward movement of the clouds and rocks contrasts the figure’s descent, creating the illusion that the world is moving on while the subject drifts freely through it. I used After Effects to animate the slow rise of the elements, giving the piece a dreamlike and weightless motion.
Images:
Background:
https://unsplash.com/photos/green-trees-covered-with-fog-V-cRTBktmwc
Rocks:
https://unsplash.com/photos/large-boulders-sit-under-a-bright-blue-sky-TuT1KGY6Y3c
https://unsplash.com/photos/gray-rock-formation-on-white-sand-during-daytime-zFZBN5JF3Jk
https://unsplash.com/photos/two-large-balancing-rocks-under-a-clear-blue-sky-1bOPbQttu24
Clouds:
https://unsplash.com/photos/white-clouds-and-blue-sky-during-daytime-A9_IsUtjHm4
https://unsplash.com/photos/a-white-cloud-floating-in-a-blue-sky-DI0lcyNziMA
https://unsplash.com/photos/a-white-cloud-floating-in-a-blue-sky-1420aJRYzJk
https://unsplash.com/photos/a-white-cloud-in-a-blue-sky-kP-BEkRHsOw
Gabriel‘s Work takes place on a light gray background, where soft clouds litter the background. A figure whose face and features are nonexistent seems to be falling in the bottom half of the page. Moving in the opposite direction of the figure, we have falling rocks/debris of various shapes and sizes; the rocks and the figure are moving at a steady pace.
ReplyDeleteThe figure in this piece has no discernible features, therefore could be any one of us. The figure also seems to be in a somewhat precarious position, falling through a field of rocks. Yet none of the rocks are hitting them, which means that the figure is very lucky or they have found a way to ignore the rocks altogether. Which makes me think the figure is a mixture of careless and confident.
In terms of the overall composition, I do wish there were a couple more visual cues to help the viewer decipher the piece. Something like an extra element or changes to a current element (Ex.adding color to an object) could really elevate the piece. As for the motion, I would have been interested to see a change in the pace of the figure and rocks based on their weight. For example, the rocks that are bigger than the figures fall/rise faster than the figure.
Like I said before, I believe the figure is either careless or confident. That may be because the knee-jerk reaction to us is that this person has no control, and that leaves a sour taste in our mouths. A lot of people crave control in their lives, especially with how uncertain the world is today. Yet, looking at the way this figure is managing to fall without getting damaged; I feel the figure in this piece wants the opposite or doesn't care, which is an interesting diversion to what we see in modern society.
Overall, the piece is simplistic and effective in terms of subject and motion. Therefore, adding some small but deliberate details to the composition and speed of the piece could go a long way.