Elephant’s Foot

 Posted on August 27, 2016      by Jay Ahrend

 5

Jay Ahrend “Elephant’s Foot” 08/27/16

Light is the most important resource a photographer uses when capturing an image, without it there is virtually no image. Light creates depth, color and creates mood.  And it is the photographer’s job to use, manipulate and enhance it to make the photograph tell a story whether the source of light is natural, artificial or a combination of both. I might use the term “Seeing Light” when discussing the work of other artists, saying something like, “he gets it, he sees light”. For those who “see light” it is a skill that comes with experience and not something that is learned in an ‘Aha moment’ but is mastered and acquired after making many thousands of images.       For this image I was able to take advantage of the afternoon light that filtered through nearby leaves to help soften the harsh cross light, saturate the colors and give more texture and depth to the image.

5 Comments for Elephant’s Foot

Daily Photo Game

Alright I’ll Bite what is this thing you call Active Framing????

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Eliot Crowley

There are two types of framing in photography, passive or active framing. One or the other is an integral part of every photograph. Stephen Shore speaks of this in his book “The Nature of Photographs” along with the other parts of every photograph.

Simply put, passive framing is where the viewer can imagine the world continues beyond the border of the photograph. Think of a landscape with a broad view where you, the viewer, can see in your mind the vista would continue.

Active framing suggests that the photographer deliberately chose to crop the photograph to limit the space for the viewer.

Jay’s photograph here does not let me, the viewer, to see the edge of what I think is a tree trunk. I have no idea how thick the trunk actually is. My view is limited by the edge of the frame. The photographer manufactured that, through the deliberately active action, of framing.

Jay’s title Elephant’s Foot indicates everything about his framing was deliberate to force the viewer to think differently about a familiar object.

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Daily Photo Game

Seems funny to give a name to an something we do every time we take a picture. “Active framing suggests that the photographer deliberately chose to crop the photograph to limit the space for the viewer.” I guess its like Active framing Vs Careless framing? 🙂

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Daily Photo Game

You’re right, it is a more intellectual way to speak about photography. I would question the word careless when it comes to photographic art.

Imagine if you will, a photograph with different framings, and each crop of the photograph changes the narrative of the photograph. That would certainly suggest the simple act of cropping, or choosing to include or exclude details or symbolism for the viewer to see, has tremendous power.

You are also correct, it is funny, there is something we do every time we, photographers, make a photograph intuitively employ, but can’t verbalize the intention. I think it is important for photographers, to understand their medium beyond what we do so naturally, so quickly, so intuitively, because of our years of practice. That is exactly what separates photographers from everyone with a camera. Being able to verbalize with intention is what separates photographers from photographic artists. Eliot Crowley

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Eliot Crowley

Nice use of “Active Framing”

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