Blog Entry #1

Blog Entry #1
Photograph by Ben Gest
Sam & Jessica, 2002
Archival ink jet print: 40"x 41"
http://www.bengest.com/page/work2002/work-2002a.html

A) Primary Subject Matter:
Two women and dog in a bathroom that appear to be getting ready for the day.

B) Form:
I. Line- Starting with the younger women in the left corner there is a line that moves up the page to the older women creating a diagonal that carries you through the photograph and out the top right of the photograph.

II. Contrast- This photo has a high contrast intensity that makes the in focus part of the photograph, like the two women and the reflection in the mirror sharp to the point where they almost pop out of the photograph.

III. Point of view- The point of view that you get in this photograph is that of a void er. You feel as if you are looking in on life as it's happening, and they don't know the camera is present.

IV. Focus- Focus is a big part of his process because when you look at the photo since it is so many photographs made into one there are various sections that are in focus.

V. Depth of field- Depth of field is also a big part of this photograph, there is both shallow and deep depth of field in this photograph because its taken from so many different angles, and is so many photos of the same put together to create one. It is actually really interesting to see all the different aspects and focus's of the photo.

D. I have attended a Ben Gest show and the photos are larger then life. He photographs families and couples in domestic settings creating narratives. Also after learning more about his works I better understand what he was trying to achieve. He's trying to tell a story of human life. Looking at his photos I felt as though there is something about them that's different but I couldn't really put my finger on it. Then I learned he photographs his subjects separately for example the two women in the photo were originally taken separately and then he digitally arranges the photographs into one photo creating his own reality. This causes the people in the photos to look some what emotionally disconnected and detached from each other. He alters proportion, focus and perspective.