The Square

Emotions Through Photography- Contextual Studies

This morning, after being given the brief, we had a short session where we spoke about emotions within photographs. One thing that makes a great photo in my opinion is being able to convey emotion. I think emotion is what helps the viewer to the photograph, if that emotion is prevalent in the viewer. We looked at images and videos recreated from the First World War. Watching some of the videos, made me feel such strong emotions, such as sadness, guilt and depressed. We looked at 'The Black Square' by Kazimir Malevich. The painting itself sits in The Tate Modern. Malevich said alot about this piece of work, that it is an end and a beginning. It was the end of every attempt to feebly imitate the world of nature. When i look at this piece of artwork, it makes me feel calm, but at the same time make me wonder the story behind this painting.

After discussing different emotions and how they can be shown within photography, we were then given the task of going out into Plymouth, where we had to take images, which we felt showed emotions.

This photograph was taken around the back of the Barbican. When looking at this photograph, the first thing that comes to mind is the way it looks so old, the way the paint has peeled off and the rust all over the metal lock. Although, i don't feel just one emotion from looking at this image. To me, yellow is a happy colour, the way it is so bright. However, in the middle of the image you have this crippled, rusty lock, which gives of more of a dark, depressing feel.

When looking at this image I took in the back of a church yard, it makes me feel depressed as it is dark and dull, it also makes me feel this way because it was a very overcast day, which gives off a gloomy feel. There are no bright colours, to portray happiness and joy. Personally I think that because the stone has '1639' engraved on it, that makes me wonder what has happened here over the years and who has stepped through the door.