Critique a photography show

Introduction As my project, I chose to study an artist by the Ben Fullerton from the Unites s of America. He iscurrently the staff photographer for the Active Interest Media Outdoor Group which includes Backpacker Magazine, Climbing Magazine, Rocky Mountain Journal, and the SIA Snow Show Daily. The gallery can be found on the following link.
http://www. pentaxphotogallery. com/photos/artist_gallery/benfullerton
Looking at the images that he has captured, one gets a feeling that he was trying to convey a sense of adventure. Specifically, if you study an image showing a lady surfing, one gets a feeling that the artist was trying to portray freedom brought about by the feeling of exhilaration one gets when one is surfing. He was trying to put across excitement. Looking at the way the woman’s hands are spread out, one gets the feeling of balance and exactitude. The woman’s hands are positioned in a way to give her perfect balance as she tackles the wave. Looking at the wave that the woman in the image is riding, one could say that the roughness of the wave is intended to portray challenges and she appears to be taking the wave head on. One could further say that the image portrays one who is facing life’s challenges head-on while knowing full well how to go about it; they have achieved balance in their life.
The image can be found on the following link.
http://www. pentaxphotogallery. com/photos/artist_gallery/benfullerton#/carousel
Looking at another image of a lady who is clasping her hands, closing her eyes and tilting her head to the sky as if in prayer, one gets a feeling of innocence. The artist was trying to convey synergy. This can be shown by the simple way the lady is clasping her hands, the simple way she has closed her eyes as she is not doing it forcefully, and the serene environment that seems to surround her. All these coupled with the warm radiant colours of her clothing serve to convey calmness. She seems to be tilting her head to the sky as if seeking something that she knows is there.
The image can be found on the following link.
http://www. pentaxphotogallery. com/photos/artist_gallery/benfullerton#/carousel
Looking at another image, this one of a painted man’s face, one gets the feeling that the artist was trying to convey aggression. From the use dark colours to paint his face, and the pattern employed in the painting; diagonally across his face, one gets the feeling that the man is getting ready for combat. From his untidy hair, one gets the feeling that the artist was trying to convey hostility. This is also achieved from the dark colour of his t-shirt. The grey background also adds to the feeling of aggression.
The image can be found on the following link.
http://www. pentaxphotogallery. com/photos/artist_gallery/benfullerton#/carousel
Opinion
In all the three images, the artist has beautifully used colour and shape to put across different emotions that one instantly connects with on examination of the images. The first image seems to have a union within itself that is internally consistent within the whole photograph. The stark contrast developed in the first image between the waves and the surfer work beautifully to put across the feeling that the surfer is able to handle whatever challenge the waves throw at her.
The use of colour in the second image is striking to say the least. From the background of the image where the artist has included warm colours to the clothes on the woman in the image, the artist portends peace and innocence through the use of colour. From the way the woman has positioned her hands to the angle of tilt of her head, the image seems to be in unity with its purpose. There exists a pattern within the image as shown by the consistent background infusion of colour that leads one to the conclusion that the artist was trying to instil uniformity within the image.
On examination of the third image, one too gets an inkling that the artist has achieved something marvellous through contrasting colour. The background and the actual image of the man whose face is painted are of different colours although both have the same effect, they convey aggression. The artist captured aggression through the pattern of the man’s hair, which is unkempt; the pattern of the paint across his face, the man’s clenched jaw and the pattern that his lips form. There is a union achieved through colour that is internally consistent throughout the image.
References
Fullerton, Ben. PENTAX Photo Gallery. 2011. 8 March 2013 .