Post-Critique Writing Challenge 3
On my final composition...
The use of my material developed greatly from the beginning to the end of the challenge. I ended with a dynamic form which was created by repetition of reflections. The reflections of suckers, their sticks, and the wrappers, create a mirror image of the composition beneath the glass, which through symmetry creates a larger shape with a circular motion. Once I added the wrappers, my composition became more dynamic because an unexpected shape developed on the right, which brought more attention to the contrast between positive and negative space. The composition was also dynamic because of the way I attempted to create a circular motion by depth and space (left), however the reflections there could have had more emphasis. I did include eight distinctive hues using complementary colors, and grouping primary and secondary hues next to one another for transitions.
The overall form of the composition is working because it creates a clear circular movement without being an obvious circle. From the light blue tinted sucker that is the focal point, the eye follows the bottom reflections, whose sticks are oriented at diagonals upward to continue the circular motion. From there, the blue wrapper on the left created a mirror image with an inner black circle, which furthers the motion and also creates a defined curve. The clump of suckers above similarly have their sticks oriented at a diagonal angle, which furthers the motion. The arrangement of sticks on the left was meant to finish the motion by use of proximity and colors that are complementary and similar in intensity. I also think that I utilized light source well by taking advantage of natural lighting, giving the light source an obvious direction, and experimenting with minimal under lighting to create drama. Finally, I also tried to take into account viewer position. Cropping allowed my focal point to be strengthened, which gives more detail to a viewer looking close up. From farther away, the composition is still eye catching due to variety in scale (of suckers), use of depth, and emphasis on contrast through complementary colors and the relationship with the background.
I believe that the weakest part of the composition is on the left side, starting from the back and continuing on the small arch of suckers. My previous images utilized the reflections of those sticks more and once I discovered the reflections created by the wrappers, I began to gave them less attention and forgot about ‘what was working’ in that area. The orientation of those four suckers is also different from that of all others in the composition, which creates too much of a visual pause and a slight disharmony from the rest of the overall form.
I achieved the rhythm and movement in the composition mostly through use of reflections, but also by repetition of highlights and light source. The reflections on the lower half of the composition mimic those of top to create the overall circular movement. Whether following the lines of the sticks, or the curves created by the wrappers (which have contrast and are accentuated by the black background), the image has a clear circular motion. Even the circular shape of the suckers themselves adds to the movement. For example, the focal point sucker contains high contrast in value to the surrounding black negative space, so the shape of its curve on the left is noticeable and causes the eye to continue that curve around and down to the reflections. The repetition of the objects and their reflections creates an overall visual unity and harmony. Gestalt theory can be applied here, as the objects and reflections each grab the viewer’s attention in specific areas, and can then be seen as an overall form and visual movement. Rhythm is also created by the repetition of highlights, as the highlight and shadows of different values are mimicked by the glass reflections in the lower half.
The overall form of the composition is working because it creates a clear circular movement without being an obvious circle. From the light blue tinted sucker that is the focal point, the eye follows the bottom reflections, whose sticks are oriented at diagonals upward to continue the circular motion. From there, the blue wrapper on the left created a mirror image with an inner black circle, which furthers the motion and also creates a defined curve. The clump of suckers above similarly have their sticks oriented at a diagonal angle, which furthers the motion. The arrangement of sticks on the left was meant to finish the motion by use of proximity and colors that are complementary and similar in intensity. I also think that I utilized light source well by taking advantage of natural lighting, giving the light source an obvious direction, and experimenting with minimal under lighting to create drama. Finally, I also tried to take into account viewer position. Cropping allowed my focal point to be strengthened, which gives more detail to a viewer looking close up. From farther away, the composition is still eye catching due to variety in scale (of suckers), use of depth, and emphasis on contrast through complementary colors and the relationship with the background.
I believe that the weakest part of the composition is on the left side, starting from the back and continuing on the small arch of suckers. My previous images utilized the reflections of those sticks more and once I discovered the reflections created by the wrappers, I began to gave them less attention and forgot about ‘what was working’ in that area. The orientation of those four suckers is also different from that of all others in the composition, which creates too much of a visual pause and a slight disharmony from the rest of the overall form.
I achieved the rhythm and movement in the composition mostly through use of reflections, but also by repetition of highlights and light source. The reflections on the lower half of the composition mimic those of top to create the overall circular movement. Whether following the lines of the sticks, or the curves created by the wrappers (which have contrast and are accentuated by the black background), the image has a clear circular motion. Even the circular shape of the suckers themselves adds to the movement. For example, the focal point sucker contains high contrast in value to the surrounding black negative space, so the shape of its curve on the left is noticeable and causes the eye to continue that curve around and down to the reflections. The repetition of the objects and their reflections creates an overall visual unity and harmony. Gestalt theory can be applied here, as the objects and reflections each grab the viewer’s attention in specific areas, and can then be seen as an overall form and visual movement. Rhythm is also created by the repetition of highlights, as the highlight and shadows of different values are mimicked by the glass reflections in the lower half.