Critical and Contextual
Lonely Metropolis- Herbert Bayer
Bayer is referencing the feelings of claustrophobia, insecurity and exposure felt when living in a metropolis. This is shown by the lot of generic and repetitive windows facing the viewer. At that time in 1928, Bayer made the move from the countryside Dessau to the busy capital of Berlin. The feelings of being watched are reflected through the windows that face the viewer directly, creating feelings of voyerism and possible feelings of uncomfortableness- there is no privacy.
Herbert Bayer intended to convey the loss of identity that comes with this constant feeling of being watched and the subsequent loosing of ones identity whilst living in a big city. He did this by having at the central focus of the image, two hands, belonging visibly by difference in sleeves, to different people. In the palms of their hands are each of the owners eyes, staring at the viewer. The hands are not connected to a body. The effect of the isolated hands convey ideas of detachment from oneself, contributing to the overall idea of loss of individual expression and identity. The eyes, belonging to two different people, furthers this theme by implying that those attitudes towards the city and identity are shared- not just limited to one persons viewpoint.
To create this piece, Bayer used
Herbert Bayer intended to convey the loss of identity that comes with this constant feeling of being watched and the subsequent loosing of ones identity whilst living in a big city. He did this by having at the central focus of the image, two hands, belonging visibly by difference in sleeves, to different people. In the palms of their hands are each of the owners eyes, staring at the viewer. The hands are not connected to a body. The effect of the isolated hands convey ideas of detachment from oneself, contributing to the overall idea of loss of individual expression and identity. The eyes, belonging to two different people, furthers this theme by implying that those attitudes towards the city and identity are shared- not just limited to one persons viewpoint.
To create this piece, Bayer used
Framing
Framing is a particularly important aspect of photography photographers need to consider when taking and then cropping their image. The framing of a photograph has the ability to manipulate the message or meaning of the photo and heavily influence the viewers attitudes towards it. It is the photographers way to create reality within their image.
Spencer Platt
Young Lebanese drive through devastated neighbourhood of South Beirut, 2006
Young Lebanese drive through devastated neighbourhood of South Beirut, 2006
The image was taken in the Lebanon as the title suggests, during the conflict in 2006 between Israel and the Hezbollah. The image sows some glamorous looking young people drive round in a convertible through