Contrast, Balance, Hamony.

This is an image of  a Lake Powell sunrise. What really grabbed me was the assumption that the photograph was captured at sunset.  After researching the origin of the image I was able to discover the time of the photo. Being an avid fly-fisher I began to connect the dots  The flat surface of the water is a dead giveaway.  It is much harder to find glass like conditions in the evenings versus mornings. This explains why fisherman are known to leave so early in the morning.

As for relating this image to the Gestalt principles, I would like to begin with the Law of Pragnanz. Upon review, I continuously return to the surface of the water.  At first glance I just see a calm surface. After surveying the image as a whole, I begin to see the paramount importance of the reflection on the water. If you look at the bottom right hand portion of the image you are able to recognize the silhouettes of rock formations on the surrounding shoreline.  Between the formation and reflection an almost perfectly straight line catches the eye. The line almost entirely separates the image into two different panes.  One could interpret the line as being associated either as the Law of Continuity or the Law of Closure.  Personally, I take the separation as the Law of Closure because it creates the contrast between the surface of the water and the stormy sky. Similarity, the lakes surface contains the diverse spectrum of color reflected and mimics the color of the sky. The differences between the two is texture.  The contrasting texture of the sky is linked to the distinct separation of color, where the lake has more of a smooth flow of color.  The reflection on the lakes surfaces appears to slowly merge one shade or color into the next..  The last aspect I noticed were the shrubs in the lake.  These shrubs almost mimic the land features in the background. Upon final review, I began to see four different perspectives.  These are the lake, sky, land, and bush perspective. Each time I reviewed this image my eyes would immediately travel to a different location. This is a part of the reason why I enjoy outdoor photography.  A photographer can use the same location and landscape to create so many different perspectives based on time off day, year, or weather conditions

Visceral Response

This is an image of Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River.  The first characteristic I noticed within this image is the horizon line. The horizon line separates the red rock from the cloudy blue sky. The cloudy sky is somewhat of a negative space because the eye immediately moves to the river and the island.  The spectrum of color in the sky is what creates the benefit of using a stormy sky versus a clear blue sky. The time of day this photo was taken adds shadow which influences the perceived depth of the canyon.  The blue water correlates with the blue sky and the rust color of the iron in the rock creates beautiful contrast which signifies the beauty of  Utah itself. The island creates a centerpiece for the image that allows for the circle shape of the river even though the river continues on.  If someone had never seen this image they might assume this is a lake or a pond because the on first appearance the viewer does not see where the river enters and exits. Also, the smooth texture of the river may lead a first time viewer that this is a lake. Also, the cloudy sky complements the ruggedness of the canyon landscape by having a similarly rough texture. Overall, this is a great image that was captured at a precise moment in time that creates these specific characteristics never to be seen again.

Background Info

Obviously, my name is Alex Jones. I was born and raised in Utah.  The majority of that time was spent in South Jordan, where I would graduate from Bingham High School. Being the youngest of three boys, I spend most of my free time with my brothers or my dad fly-fishing. Also, I enjoy any opportunity to do some snowboarding, though Saint George is not the ideal location.  I am a senior Integrated Studies major. Hopefully, I will be graduated after fall semester 2017.  I am excited to learn visual communication skills that will translate to greater success within the professional world after graduation.