For my transformative portrait, I wanted to portray a more confident version of myself. I was contemplating how to depict this in a fun way. I imagined a more self-assured Emily doing something I would never do. This thought process led me to create my composition. In the video, this version of myself is skydiving and has just jumped off the plane. Another me stays inside the plane, watching a better Emily fall from the sky.
The duality of the composition also represents two extremes: the future version of myself, watched by a past Emily stuck in the plane. In reality, I am somewhere in between in the present. In retrospect, I would say the act of jumping off a plane shows more courage than confidence. I would argue, however, that it takes confidence to be brave.
All images are free to use under a free license.
https://www.pexels.com/photo/tandem-skydiving-15703514/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/happy-skydiver-in-air-19074422/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/aerial-view-of-cumulus-clouds-in-blue-sky-36127992/
The backpack was generated by Adobe Firefly
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ReplyDeleteEmily Farlow’s Transformative Portrait shows Emily skydiving out of a plane surrounded entirely by a cloudy blue sky. As she jumps out, there is another version of Emily watching. Both are dressed similarly, but the one skydiving has goggles, a helmet, and a parachute.
ReplyDeleteThe key to the piece lies in how there are distinctly two versions of Emily. One is jumping out of a plane high in the air as one only looks on. It highlights two personalities - one brave and couragous, the other longing to be just like them. With the two personalities, it can be interpreted from the perspective of both sides. The primary perspective from the skydiving one would highlight growth, whereas the perspective from the one in the plane would depict a desire to grow.
The extreme situation of skydiving gives the work a strong hook that can be easily interpreted to mean confidence, bravery, or courage. By showing more than one side, it makes the portrait more engaging and prevents the personality of the subject from feeling static, which fits perfectly with the motion of the piece. The motion is subtle yet effective, giving the piece a dynamic quality that fits the subject matter. As Emily comes into the front of the frame, the plane slowly gets smaller, putting the viewer in the skydiver’s perspective. There is also a subtle motion to the clouds which further adds to the motion of being so high in the sky. Without every piece moving, the energy of the composition would be significantly lessened.
As a culture, we place so much pressure and expectation when it comes to what others are capable of compared to what we are capable of. When it comes to dangerous activities like skydiving, it is seen as inherently brave. But bravery looks different from person to person, and often we place impossible expectations on ourselves to always be better and doing more that we forget why we want to be better.
In conclusion, Emily’s piece is a really well done piece that highlights a central theme around growth in a very clear and concise way. The dual personalities add a lot to the piece by depicting a past and future in motion - enhanced by the literal motion added to the composition.