Photography that Excites

CONTEXT: Photographed by Chris Burkad. I am unable to locate exactly when the photograph was taken or where. A reasonable guess can be made on geological features that this may be Iceland but cannot confirm this information.

CONTENT: A Land Rover Defender is pictured amongst an unusual black sand. The photograph has darker themed colors with fog coming off the water which adds texture and confusion to the photo. Light and clarity can be seen to the left and behind of the mountain. This portrays a light versus darkness theme and if you notice the car’s tracks they are coming into the photo and turning towards the light, towards the clarity. This could represent a choice, either stay where you are because it is dark and foggy and the uncertainty of what the future holds or the road ahead is troubling or you take the bold step of pushing through the uncertainty to make it into the light. A better place that holds clarity and understanding.

FORM: The simplicity of this photo allows for interpretation in any reasonable direction. Neutral colored tones bleed throughout this photo which makes it all the more simple and elegant in its own way. Instead of vibrant splashes of color that excite the eye, the photo is calming and mysterious enough for the viewer to feel engaged. 

CONTEXT: Photographed by Charles Sexton in Da Nang, Vietnam. The still shot was taken on a Nikon D3400. This photo was taken while I jumped in front of traffic for a moment. While very risky, it was very much worth it.

CONTENT: Photographed is a mob of moped, bikers, and a sprinkle of cars. In Vietnam the most convenient mode of transportation is a bike. Not only is it easier to park and store while at home, maneuvering through traffic is only possible if you are riding a bike. This photo however has a deeper contextual meaning behind it. As I walked the streets of Da Nang I noticed that the streets were always packed and people where always going somewhere.

FORM: This photo represents the chaos of life. Everyone is trying to get somewhere, most speed by on bikes and weave their way through the mob of people while others sit back and take it slow and easy. Finally, few are daring enough to lead. That is why there is a small focus on the man whose face is shaded out. The biker could be anyone, man or women, old or young. Never the less they set the pace and direction for everyone else. 

CONTENT: Photographed by my favorite artist Chris Burkad. This was taken somewhere interesting but there was no information about the location this was taken or when. There is a surfer in frigid water with a volcano behind him. The shot also captures the coastline of grassy fields. 

CONTEXT: The photo captures the beauty of nature and how lucky we are to get to live in it. The photo has so many simple yet complex focal point about it That it is hard to choose just one to talk about. The surfer is shredding a nice wave in some frigid water with not only a majestic Hobbit like coastline behind him but a freaking frosted VOLCANO. The focus point of the surfer is small but tells a big story. From a humbling perspective I can easily view myself as the volcano and think wind bends around me because I am so mighty, but in reality I am just like that surfer dude, being tossed around by a wave  that was set in motion by God a long time before we were around.

FORM: Perfectly timed, this photo was taken while the surfer is kicking his board around while dominating the wave. Surfing photography typical just has a monster wave with someone doing their best to conquer the wave. With this photo Chris puts a unique twist on traditionally surfing photography. The wave isn’t giant but it is the setting that makes this photo different.  The color scheme runs with cool, calm, but dynamic colors that are breathtaking. This photo invites adventure and pushing one to their limits for the sake of exploration. Most people will never see something like this in their life, but this piece of art should invoke a desire to witness something this beautiful in person.