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| Benjamin Kennedy. "Earth Bound Galactic Reflection". 05/17/2011 |
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| Lady Clementina Hawarden. "Young Girl with Mirror Reflection. c. 1860s |
Recreation Assignment 01
- Original Photograph:
- Biography: Clementina Harwarden (b.1822- d.1865) worked from her home studio in London during the late 1850's and early 1860's where she quickly gained prowess as an expert portrait photographer.
- Significance: Her work garners significant recognition for many reasons. Her prowess as a portrait photographer not only inspired Lewis Carroll but she also received an award from the Photographic Society of London in January 1863 for her stunning composition.
- Composition: The subject stands in the middle of the photograph where most of the detail and interaction is happening. The bland details around the photograph borders allows for the attention to be placed on the subject. Natural light floods the room creating a sense of balance between the subject (right) and the shadowed wall (left). Although primitive in equipment and technology, this photograph is vast in composition and technicality.
- Concept: "Young Girl" stands against the mirror, embracing the mirror and ultimately herself. The mirror, representing the internal being, allows the viewer to establish an emotional connection with the subject.
- Method: The photographer takes the composition head one. The split between tangible subject and represented subject takes place at the photographs center, being split by the mirror post. The lighting of the window allows for natural highlights and shadows, as well as the mirrors ability to shed light upon the face.
- Motivation: I believe that the motivation of the artist was to instill into the viewer more than just an aesthetically pleasing image; the goal was to use the mirror as a tool for inspiring true emotion and connection between the subject and the viewer.
- Opinion: I thoroughly enjoy this work for many reasons. I enjoy how the mirror is used as more than a prop. I also favored the idea that most of the detail remains in a specific area and is flanked by imagery that compliments but does not detract from the specific area of greater detail, the center in this case. I would not entertain the way in which the mirror was placed and used, do not confuse this with the concept of using a mirror.
- Recreation:
- Composition: I placed the subject on the side of the composition. Using the light from the computer screen and the perspective, I made the work seem more three- dementional and hyper-realized. I placed the focus at a point where I could capture the detail of one element and leaving the other to be complimentary. Balance lies on the weight being on one side and the color/detail being on the other.
- Concept: A recreation to a re-invention. To state again, I thoroughly enjoyed the use of the mirror in the original composition. I used surfaces of contemporary technological objects to capture reflections and from which, hopefully emotions. This assignment was more of technical skill than artistic expression for me. I am satisfied with the outcome.
