Kirsten Alana is well known for her travel photography, producing images as she travels from city to city. By documenting her travels, she is able to capture journey as a theme in her work, by exploring scenery along with subjects and objects. I picked her because I feel her work allows the viewer to feel as though they were at the scene and in her picture. She achieves this through her use of angles, which is mostly straight on - this lets us see enough of the scene to imagine ourselves there. Furthermore, I have noticed how she frames each of her photographs very carefully, this allows her to show off her use of colour and captures her subjects exactly how she wants to. Another reason why I've picked this photographer is because she is very good at showing the element of shapes in her work, this outlines the scene and gives it more structure. Once again, this is done through the framing of the image, which is something Alana is very good at.
This image immediately catches the viewers' eyes through the use of colour, both from the graffiti on the wall and from the bikes. The angle in which the picture was taken uses a depth of field technique to exaggerate the bikes and making it look as if there are more bikes than there really is. It has the same effect on the graffiti, making it seem as though there are more drawings than there is on the wall. Kirsten Alana has chosen the framing ver carefully, ensuring there is a subject in the scene, so that she may add some life to her image. However, she has made sure that her subject does not restrict the viewer's view of the bicycles, keeping the picture exciting whilst adding another aspect to it. The subject has a backpack, suggesting she is on some sort of journey, maybe taking a walk around the city. This theme of journey is further emphasised through the movement of the subject - Alana captured her walking in order to show that she is travelling and highlight the fact that she is on a journey. By placing her next to the bike, the theme is further emphasised, due to the connotations of journey from the bike. The graffiti creates a contrast between the colours and the bikes, making it obvious to the viewer where they should focus in the picture.
Like most of her other images, this picture was taken at a straight angle, allowing the whole scene to be seen and explored by her viewers. The technique of depth of field has been used once more, to make the path look longer and wider than it really is. Although when this technique is used, a low angle is usually practised, Alana has challenged this and used a straight angle, which has made her image even more exciting. The bright light at the end of the path evokes feelings of curiousity and makes the viewer wonder where this leads to. This has been done deliberately to show the theme of journey, with the path acting as guiding lines, starting at the bottom centre of the image and guiding the viewer through the picture. By placing the light in the middle of the picture, Alana has ensured that the viewer's attention is mostly there, wondering about where it leads to. This has been done purposely so that the image gives out an adventurous atmosphere, further involving and attracting her viewers to the photograph.
Kirsten Alana uses the same techniques in this photograph - her straight angle is used with very careful framing, which allows her to show off the shape elements found in this picture. The use of colour is also very smart, where the green creates a significant contrast with the golden yellow colour of the bricks. The lighting has been used in an interesting way, as it shines directly onto the castle. This emphasises the technique of depth of field as the path leading up to the building is not as lit up as the actual building itself. This gives the building a majestic look, giving out connotations of royalty and importance. The gates further emphasise this and Alana has made sure that the black colour of the gates contrast with the building so the viewers may notice them a bit more. The fact that the main focus is exactly in the middle of the image forces her viewers to pay attention to it and prevents them from giving the surroundings any importance.
The use of colour in this image creates contrast throughout the whole picture. The blue colour found on the building contrasts with the yellow bike, which compliments the warm orange colour from inside the window. There is also a contrast between the lighting, the lights inside the building suggest that it is night time but the natural light outside says otherwise. This confuses the viewer, which forces them to pay more attention to the image and try figure out the context. The way the photograph is framed restricts the viewer to a large extent, only allowing them to see the shop but not the area or street it is based in. This further engages the viewer and encourages them to pay more attention to the details in the image. Alana has also included other elements other than light in this image, such as the element of shapes, tone and lines. This creates patterns and repetition all over the photograph, keeping it exciting and attractive to her viewers. This also makes the image seem like there is a lot going on even though there isn't - once again, this keeps the viewer excited.
This is my image, which I think is very similar to Kirsten Alana's work in terms of techniques. The element of colour has been used to create contrast between the green and the dark brown soil, which compliments the greyish colour of the stairs. The element of shadow has also been shown - I used the sun to my advantage and added shadows to keep my image exciting and creating a mysterious atmosphere.
In summary, Kirsten Alana has great use of colour in her photographs and I have chosen her exactly for that reason. Her framing is well thought of and has given me ideas as well as inspired me within my project - I have also started focusing on my framing in order to produce the best picture possible, allowing me to work on my angles and fitting everything I want from the scene in my picture. He also has great use of colour and emphasises only the important colours, making them stand out from the rest of the photograph - this is a technique I am also hoping to use more and more in my project and it will give more significance and symbolism in my pictures, which is what Alana has achieved with his images. Other techniques such as tones and shapes have also been repetitive in her woek, making her pictures more exciting and have more of a surreal feel, giving her work work diversity and creates unique images.
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