Place: Ludington Michigan
Setting: Sterns Park Beach
Issue/Problem: The beauty of the landscape and surroundings often causes tourists and beach goers to ignore the dangers of the water.
Relevance: Drowning, riptides and dangerous currents cause numerous deaths each year for tourists and locals
Goal: To introduce and bring awareness to the relationship between the attractive features of the beach and swimming and the dangers of swimming without caution.
Introduction:
Growing up
in a town that thrives off the attractions and tourist magnetisms, I tended to
take advantage of the beauty of the beach and the magnificent sense of nature
that I grew up with. My intensions for this project were to bring awareness to
the issues and dangers of water.
Individuals often overlook the power of riptides and currents that take
the lives of so many expecting swimmers. Your size, strength, or athletic
ability is no match for the power of water and within these three compositions
I plan to present the viewers with the interdependent relationship between
beauty and caution. The alluring beauty of the beach is desirable yet with that
quality, it attracts so many people and sets the risk of drowning high. That
being said the unpredictable and beauty of disaster among the surface of the
body of water is a phenomenon like no other.
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Back of Postcard:
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Postcard 1: Repetition
For the first postcard, I introduced concepts of repetition and the beauty in perfection adapted in the work of Tom Bamberger. Based on the location of the beach and the central theme of danger and beauty, I chose to focus on the natural attractiveness of the beach and water in a way that exaggerates the concept of beauty through repetition. I decided to replicate the lighthouse because of its simplicity. Often overlooked because of its lack of dominance, the South shore lighthouse incorporates the carried theme with accents of red, yet the repetition seems to soothingly guide your eye out into the calming water. The depth and forged perception causes curiosity to the horizon where your eye meets the fantasy-like sky mirrored to perfection. The colors of the scene are enhanced to imply the perfection of the beach and waters to all audiences.
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Postcard 2: Transformation
With the works of artists such as Sandy
Skoglund, this composition focuses on the opposing idea of the first image
displaying beauty, and serene perfection. It introduces the issues and dangers
of the water. Appearing calm and composed, the water is welcoming, yet the
strangeness of the color and tint of the water gives an eerie feel. The boat in
the water at first glance seems normal for the body of water, yet with a second
look, it is noticed that it is a coast guard boat used to address emergency on
the water. A red buoy sets stationary on the safe shoreline suggesting a hint
of danger on the horizon, and almost leading the viewer back to safety. Just
when the viewer begins to really engage in the image, they notice a consuming
cloud approaching from the left hand corner readily available to stir up chaos
in the water. My goal for this image was to introduce the negative side of the
seemingly perfect beach and water. The beauty is still within the image, yet
danger lurks around each corner.
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Postcard 3: Text
Referencing artists like Barbra Kruger, and Jenny Holzer, postcard three focussed on using words to enhance the image and its anticipated message.
Sticking with the theme of danger within beauty, I faintly placed the words,
“Lifeguard not on Duty,” on the surface of the boardwalk falling back as the
picture fades. By creating a message of “warning upon advancement,” I aimed to give
the viewer a form of notice as they proceed into the water or onto the break
wall. I also sharpened the texture of
the image and enhanced the contrast of the image to give a rough, risky feel,
while casting a red mask over the entire image to reiterate the idea of red,
danger, and stop. The background of why I chose the image I did and the words
that I did roots back to growing up in Ludington and near the beach. A sign
before walking out to the lighthouse reads, “Warning, Structure is not designed
for public access, proceed at your own risk.”
Despite the formal warning locals and tourists continually jump off of
the break wall and venture out on to the structure.
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Concept map:
The second postcard is my favorite. It feels the most natural and well integrated of the three. Though I will admit, it demonstrates less the dangers of the water itself so much as storms. Be that as it may, I understood what you were going for. The spectacle of it is what I admire most.
ReplyDeleteOverall, each of your images fit cohesively with the theme you wanted to explore. The solutions you created were intriguing and very nice to look at. Well done.
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ReplyDeleteYour second postcard is my favorite
ReplyDeleteThere is a clear feeling of danger and distress.
The image has clearly been altered and yet it still feels fairly natural.
Great use of photoshop and technique, the edges are clean and everything is immigrated nicely,
The construction of this postcard is unique and I think that it was very creative. The placement of the objects is what strikes me the most in this image.
I enjoyed the first image the most – the repetition showcasing these pillars that catch sunlight and are beautiful to look at. They sit above dangerous waves unaware of the death that can be caused from seemingly inviting waters. I enjoy the concept but I feel that it could be accomplished a bit better visually. Repetition doesn’t really add anything to the image – I’d get the same feeling from only one lighthouse.
ReplyDeletePossibly mirroring the image of the lighthouse down the middle? Showing a chasm of waves in between that seem dark and dangerous. Just a possibility.
All of your images and postcards are very beautiful. It was nice to see the juxtaposition of the beauty of the photos and the danger of the message you were trying to convey. Your concept was very well thought out and you can tell you really focused on making your transformed photos look realistic, drawing the viewer in and making them interested in what you're trying to say. Very nice job.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite image was the third one. The other two were done well, but the last one resonated in me because I know a few people that have died from jumping off the pier. Having the words on the ground with the view of the water on the sides is so powerful. The Photoshop skills are great, everything is realistic and the color change in the second photo is super appealing. I like that you bring about the beauty of the beach as well in the first photo and then the storm in the second.
ReplyDeletepostcard 1: I liked how when the lighthouse gets further away that it is less focused and how they got smaller in the background to create depth and I also like the contrast. It looks very real
ReplyDeleteYou’re second image is very beautifully done. I think that it does a good job illustrating what you stated on the back of your postcard, “The calm before the storm.” You feel a true sense of danger with the hue of the image, red and dangerous. The storm in the background gives a sense of impending doom, while still looking beautiful which I think solves the problem of “How do I show that the lake is beautiful but yet still very dangerous?”
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that I can say would be a critique is that it almost looks like a real image, not really like something from “fantasy.” But really, fantasy is all arbitrary and it looking “too real” isn’t that much of an issue at all, its just a statement toward you having great craft in your photoshop work.
You’re second image is very beautifully done. I think that it does a good job illustrating what you stated on the back of your postcard, “The calm before the storm.” You feel a true sense of danger with the hue of the image, red and dangerous. The storm in the background gives a sense of impending doom, while still looking beautiful which I think solves the problem of “How do I show that the lake is beautiful but yet still very dangerous?”
ReplyDeleteThe only thing that I can say would be a critique is that it almost looks like a real image, not really like something from “fantasy.” But really, fantasy is all arbitrary and it looking “too real” isn’t that much of an issue at all, its just a statement toward you having great craft in your photoshop work.
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI liked your second postcard the most. There is a lot of different things going on in this image like the color change and the added lifeguard image that you added into image to make it feel like something is there that should be but, it’s in the wrong place. I also thought the changing colors really made the beach look beautiful.
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI like your theme! My favorite postcard is the first one. It has a nice aesthetic feel to it. Your technical skills are solid in Photoshop. It looks as through it was pieced together seamlessly. It looks as though you’re acknowledging how photographs of lighthouses have become so popular, and you’ve responded with a bit of sarcasm and exaggeration. Love it!
Emily,
ReplyDeleteNice ideas! My favorite is the first photo card. I too enjoy the rows the trees seem to grow in – I often wonder if this was planted by man in rows, or does nature want to create these perfect rows. What grabbed me about your piece is at first the garbage looks like it’s part of the forest floor, but then there is some unsettling feeling when it has been noticed. The garbage should be unsettling! Strong message in your image. Good Job!
JESSICA,
ReplyDeleteI Love your pictures, they were all very stunning. It was hard to decide which was my favorite between the first and the second but I think I loved the Light houses the most. I thought you did a very good job with repetition, creating distance, and different moods given that it gets darker in the back. It was also nice to see another take on the beach theme. Well done over all!
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteYour second Image has to be my favorite. The use of the additional imagery, and the way you changed the color tint of the water definitely gives off a feeling of uneasiness. The use of red tones in this image are well utilized, as the whole scene screams caution and danger.