Threshold

Image Critiques
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1

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Threshold #1

Critique Style Requested: In-depth

The photographer has shared comprehensive information about their intent and creative vision for this image. Please examine the details and offer feedback on how they can most effectively realize their vision.

Self Critique

I like the colors in these images, the way they contrast so deeply with each other, and I like the sense of a bright foreground and dark, warm interior space.

I’m not liking the way the greens turn to gray/blue at edges, but that’s one of the things about ICM: things get in the frame, and when you mix green with a bit of gray, that’s what you get.

Creative direction

I’m continuing to play with abstract expressionist photography achieved through the use of ICM in natural and built environments, hence the non-nature tag for this and for the Odes to Rothko from a few weeks ago. (which was grass but also a bucket)

In these images, I hoped to convey the sense of moving across thresholds of various sorts. Just a sense of two places, contiguous and yet very different, separated by a barrier. I like the vertical composition as I think we see foreground and background and fit our bodies into such a shape more naturally than in a landscape orientation, where we tend to scan side to side as well as foreground to background.

Specific Feedback

I’m always open to any and all feedback, including a loud, digital yawn, but in particular, I would love feedback on the following:

  1. Do you find this at all interesting to look at (regardless of technical curiosity)
  2. Does the inclusion of a barrier between the colors (in this case, the white with dark streak) create interest or break things up too much, make it feel too divided?
  3. Do you move down through the image or up into it? Or neither? Is directionality determined by space (top to bottom) or color/brightness?
  4. As you look at this, does it feel like a space you would go deeper into, move through, even walk over and into? Why or why not? What would add to that?
  5. Do diagonal lines make it more or less interesting?

Technical Details

Canon 5DIV with 24-105mm at 24mm

ISO 100, f/10, 10 sec

Literally, this is an ICM of my back porch wall, doorway, and kitchen wall/red chair–rotated 90 degrees from a landscape orientation to a portrait orientation. Minor adjustments to exposure, contrast, saturation in LR.

Description

About 6 years ago, with a broken wrist slow to heal and a pandemic well underway, I started playing with this approach and this objective of creating Abstract Expressionist Photography in a kind of color block style inspired by the painter, Mark Rothko. At that time, I found myself seeing any scenes of juxtaposing colors as possible ICM projects. It’s quite a different way of looking at the world!! Very distracting as artistic potential appears everywhere when holding this perspective.

A few weeks ago, I went to the Rothko exhibit at the Portland Art Museum (the new Rothko Pavilion is open, and there is a Hockney exhibit now as well). The next day, setting out to do yard work, I was struck by the color contrast of a home depot bucket on the grass and next thing I knew, I was back into Abstract Expressionist ICM world.

I have a few of these I will share over the next few days. Right now, I’m just looking at doorways in my house where colors stack up and back from each other. It’s a great way to get through my Shingrix vaccine side effects (“take it easy and move your arm a lot”).

ML

2

Marylynne,

Let me first say, and be the first to openly admit, I’m a simpleton. What I know of literature, philosophy, famous painters and even famous, historical photographers… I’ve learned here on NPN. I don’t study these things. Having said that, I’m grateful and growing my own sense of art that goes beyond “pretty pictures.” So, I want to say I appreciate your efforts and if anything, for me (and others?) to learn and see things in new ways.

I don’t think I’m seeing things, but your original post had two versions, now I only see one. Thankfully, this is the one I preferred. I felt the other version was too “mechanical” - what I mean perhaps is more geometry and hints of manufactured (not nature) items. This one you’ve kept, I hope to answer your questions and provide some feedback.

First, I think the color combo is bold, yet comfortable. I think the colors for the flag of Italy, among other countries. (not that this reference matters…)

  • I do find this very interesting to look at. Alghough there’s little to keep the viewer engaged. Most likely more engaging as a series, or in a gallery setting; much like your Rothko exhibit reference.
  • I don’t find the transition between colors as barriers. In fact, the blend together in a couple of ways - color transition and transition of boldness, stark, almost dark emotion, to the lighter and calming of the light green.
  • Yes, I move downward thru the image. Two factors I believe. First, by Western upbringing, we read left>right and top>bottom. But more importantly, the dark, ruby bold color is demanding and draws immediate attention. If that was the bottom, I expect the eye would go there first. Hmmmm… try flipping to see the effect.
  • The only feature that makes me think at all about “moving through” or going deeper, is the darker streak within the white area. That looks like a hole, a “portal” or something that one may want to go thru - mysterious element

What I really think that is significan with this, is that you are actually thinking, planning, even contemplating results of abstract photography BEFORE actually picking up the camera. Kudos to you as this is really something unique in the world of abstract and certainly ICM photography. Contrasted to my, and most ICM work… play around until you get something cool… I’m not yet in the space of attempting to portray a concept AHEAD of time. That’s on another level. Keep at it!

I hope I made even just a tiny bit of sense.

3

Hi Lon,

You made sense. Thank you. I’m not well versed in the arts either. I hit upon Rothko after my sister said 6 years she liked something I did because it was so abstract, like a Rothko, I am no Rothko, clearly, but i do find his work inspiring. He lived in Portland and the art museum here just remodeled and named a major section after him, so right now he is on my mind.

And yes, there were two images, and the one I removed was less interesting (it took me a few days to see it). It was the thumbnail image for the post, and since feedback was slow to arrive, I adjusted based on my own evolving thoughts about the two images and the series.

Your insight on the two colors is especially helpful. I need to think more about which direction (emotionally) I want to emphasize. Probably different emotional directions in different images, but now I can chew on that variable too.

Thanks!

ML