Assignment 4 - Composition

Line

SS: 1/50

F4.5

ISO 100

Shape:

SS: 1/100

F8

ISO 400

Repetition:

SS: 1/25

F5.6

ISO 100

Contrast:

SS: 1/60

F11

ISO 400

Texture:

SS: 1/250

F5.6

ISO 400

Rule Of Thirds:

SS: 1/25

F4

ISO 640

Complementary:

SS: 1/100

F11

ISO 400

Analogous:

1/30

F4.5

ISO 500

EXHIBITION REVIEW:

Press Release:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5a96b1fc3c3a538b735eff25/t/5d64001b252f130001cb32b0/1566834716122/ME+2019_PR.pdf

Gallery: Sikkema Jenkins & Co.

Exhibition: Property Rights

Artist Displayed: Mitch Epstein

The gallery was located on the Lower West side of Manhattan. From the street, I was unsure if I had come to the right place. It did not look like a photography exhibit existed inside. However, I saw “Standing Rock Prayer Walk” and recognized it from the gallery’s website. As I entered, I observed that the photographs were very spread out on the wall. There were only two photographs in the first room. The ceilings were very high and the rooms all echoed.

The photographs were very large chromogenic prints on the wall. The prints were almost square in shape and spanned feet across. This allowed me to stare at a picture and always be able to find something new to observe. According to the press release, Epstein began this series while he traveled to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in Sioux County, North Dakota. This was during the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline. Epstein took many photographs of the indigenous tribes in the area. Similarly, Epstein traveled to Pennsylvania to take photographs of local residents protesting an energy companies’ use of eminent domain. After this, Epstein traveled the country and photographed “the current relationship between humans and natural land as one fraught with contradictions.”

As a whole, the pictures were mostly open landscapes or houses. Many of the pictures featured the subject matter of loss or sadness. Most of the photographs were shot using a very deep depth of field. Specifically, “Ironwood Forest” shows the compositional element of repetition. Hundreds of cacti can be seen before becoming too small to pick out. I did notice, however, that Epstein lowers the shutter speed for “Veterans Respond Flag”. The flag can be seen slightly blurred. This decision made the flag feel like it was actually blowing in the wind.

The one photograph that stood out to me was the “Veterans Respond Flag”. It shows an American flag hung upside down and blowing in the wind. The flag, flagpole, and house are in focus, yet the icy mountains in the distance are slightly blurred. Additionally, the contrast between the completely white/gray background versus the bright red and blue creates a feeling of loneliness. The photograph is my favorite simply because of its meaning. An upside down American flag symbolizes distress or danger to your life or property. The Sioux tribe felt their land was in danger from the Dakota Access Pipeline. The photograph fits beautifully with the theme of this exhibition.

In addition to Epstein’s photographs, there was a sculpture in the last room of the exhibit. The sculpture was made of thin, black sheet metal and was intended to look like 2-D. It resembled the picture I linked below. When viewed from the side, two faces were able to be seen. One face looked as if they were laughing, while the other looks distraught.