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02/14/2007 01:54:02 PM · #1 |
Ok, perhaps I've given this too much thought, but I thought I'd bring this up to see what others think.
Quite often people like to take shots of girls in some pretty creepy places, like dark alleys, abandoned buildings and so forth. I like these kinds of shots, but for the life of me I can't figure out why. I mean, these kinds of shots don't often make a whole lot of sense when you think about it.
What story is such a shot is trying to tell? Most girls I know don't get the urge to get naked and hang out in a dilapidated warehouse. Maybe I just don't understand women... that's quite possible!
So I guess my question is... what is the thought process behind such a shot. Is it to show the contrast of beauty in an ugly environment? Is it merely to create a shot that shows something that's out place? The exploration of feminine frailty? Help me out here! Again, keep in mind that I'm not criticizing this genre of shot... just wondering what prompts such a thing. |
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02/14/2007 01:55:52 PM · #2 |
it just looks really cool!
Message edited by author 2007-02-14 15:08:37. |
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02/14/2007 01:58:17 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
So I guess my question is... what is the thought process behind such a shot. Is it to show the contrast of beauty in an ugly environment? Is it merely to create a shot that shows something that's out place? The exploration of feminine frailty? |
I think you have the idea. Likely these are all reasons for those shots. That and it's just cool to get women naked in odd places. Say for instance a garage with a side grinder :-)
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02/14/2007 02:01:03 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Say for instance a garage with a side grinder :-) |
Heh, yes, your work definitely came to mind as I was posting this! :) And for the record, there should certainly be more naked female side grinders in this world! |
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02/14/2007 02:06:39 PM · #5 |
Seeing pictures like you've described tend to give me pause.. I stop and pay attention to them and I think the first reason is because they arent the norm. Its not something most women would do, so yeah its kind of like what you said: one of these things is out of place.
Second its the contrast, someone soft and curvy and beautiful against an industrial background breathes life into the background.
You bring up a good point.. its not something i've ever really given much thought.. I'm gonna have to think about this some more..because those images appeal to me too... I take comfort when looking at them knowing woman x isnt alone..that there is at least the fotog with her.. so its kind of a fantasy set up..but still.. Hmmm |
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02/14/2007 02:07:23 PM · #6 |
From Wikipedia (hence probably not entirely truthful, but close enough for our purposes):
"A foil character is either one who is opposite to the main character or nearly the same as the main character. The purpose of the foil character is to emphasize the traits of the main character by contrast, and perhaps by setting up situations in which the protagonist can show his or her character traits. A foil is a secondary character who contrasts with a major character but, in so doing, highlights various facets of the main character's personality.
A foil's role, as a contrast to the hero, may be emphasized by adding physical contrasts. Don Quixote is dreamy, impractical, and thin, and Sancho Panza is realistic, practical, and fat. Sherlock Holmes is tall and lean; Doctor Watson, although at first described as lean (on his return from Afghanistan), is described "middle-sized, strongly built."
Take the literary term and cogitate it photographically.
Message edited by author 2007-02-14 15:35:04. |
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02/14/2007 02:09:15 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Say for instance a garage with a side grinder :-) |
Heh, yes, your work definitely came to mind as I was posting this! :) And for the record, there should certainly be more naked female side grinders in this world! |
Since we are on it, my goal there was to contrast her softness with the harshness of the environment. I think that is a clear motive with most shots of this type. But, it also does go with the "odd thing out of place." It was certainly out of place for her as was the photo in that challenge.
This photo from the same challenge, IMO failed to make the contrast of femininity vs machine. Had she been wearing a pink teddy instead of black or it the machines were less static, I think it would have been much more successful.
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02/14/2007 02:12:17 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
Had she been wearing a pink teddy instead of black or it the machines were less static, I think it would have been much more successful. |
Wow... I can't believe how poorly that one did in the challenge -- I gave it an 8! |
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02/14/2007 02:13:21 PM · #9 |
Foil yes, and juxtaposition, and contrast.
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02/14/2007 02:13:47 PM · #10 |
Have you been hanging out over at deviantart?
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02/14/2007 02:19:10 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by alanfreed:
Wow... I can't believe how poorly that one did in the challenge -- I gave it an 8! |
I've studied that shot quite a bit, trying to figure out why mine scored so much higher than it did. My conclusions were that it was too static and that there wasn't enough contrast between woman and machine.
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02/14/2007 02:34:08 PM · #12 |
| Just another quick thought: I think women in scary places tend to imply that the ladies, themselves, are probably dangerous, too. Nothing quite like a dangerous lady, y'know? |
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02/14/2007 02:56:49 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by EducatedSavage:
Just another quick thought: I think women in scary places tend to imply that the ladies, themselves, are probably dangerous, too. Nothing quite like a dangerous lady, y'know? |
I agree :-D
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02/14/2007 02:58:30 PM · #14 |
I think it is mostly the visual contrast that makes them interesting. Much the same way the complimentary colours increase the colour contrast and both end up more vibrant, the juxtaposition of the woman and surround makes one more beautiful than perhaps it is, in contrast to the other.
Same with Larus' water/ battery shot. It doesn't make sense, other than the fact we expect the two not to mix together, so there is more surprise, more contrast and more visual interest as a result.
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