Saturday, 29 October 2011

This is a photo by Henri Cartier Bresson called Quai De Javel.

Content - In the photo you can see four men standing in a pit of what looks like rubbish. Due to the smoke in the photo and the sweat on their face it looks quite hot. They have working class outfits which look unclean which could suggest that they are working class.

Form - The picture is black and white with a high contrast, this creates the very define lines between the rugs/rubbish surrounding the men. This also makes the texture very sharp. The framing is interesting because the people are not centred, in ways it follows the rule of thirds with the man in the ending hitting both left hand side sweet points. The framing also doesn't allow you to see anything outside the location but due to the high light exposure you can assume that it was taken somewhere with an open roof.

Subject - By the peoples dress I would say that they are working class maybe edging lower class, I think this can link to the framing, and the placement of the people, the people are surrounded by the rubbish/rags their at the bottom with no chance of getting out (the framing only allows you to see inside the pit). i think this could be the photographer commenting on the social status of these men, at the bottom of the social ladder and they cant advance from that position in society.

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